Iran is a rogue state at this time. The president is looking for ways to cause trouble to draw trouble away from himself as well as to increase his stock with the Arab states. He found it. Capture some people, hold them for awhile and before an attack, release them as if doing so from the goodness of his heart. His stock has increased where he desires it most - the middle eastern Arab nations.

As for treating him with respect, (as noted by another contributor) I was taught by parents of English descent that repsect can be given at first but when lost it must be earned back. Iran has not earned any respect. Why? They will not give respect to others nor will they negotiate with integrity. In some respects, the government is acting like a spoiled child eanting someone else's toy.

William Jones, Fort Worth, Texas

The fact of the matter was that British soldiers were abducted in Iraqi waters. This is an example of pure piracy. Iran knows fully well exactly how to play on the western media and did so, framing Britain as 'foreign invaders'. The fact that people are applauding the Iranians for their clemecy is appauling, through Iran's actions they have not only gone against their own religion (As Ms Kar correctly pointed out) but against U.N. Charters stating that soldiers are not to be filmed or paraded around.

What was the wests reaction? Exactly what they knew it would be.

"We're such terrible colonialists."

David Smith, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

To Bjorn Palmen, Finland:
"The results of his gesture to free the 15 Briton are spectacular." Oh, if only that were true. I'm so glad the soldiers are free, but if you recall Blair, on Tuesday, said the Iranians had 48 hours to make a decision. He said that because he and King George (Bush) had already made a plan to use military force against them. That is why the Iranians so graciously decided to "gift" the soldiers back to the UK. There is no doubt in my mind that it was the threat, behind the scenes, that tipped the scale.

I certainly agree that diplomacy should be used whenever possible. And believe it or not, the vast majority of Americans want peace. We are not the warmongers that we have been portrayed to be. We are victims of our leader...and I use that term loosely.

Americans are the bleeding hearts of the world. We are forever trying to help the underdogs at our own expense. We have a dying economy and 40 million of us have no health insurance, etc.

Joie McDonald, Cincinnati, OH, USA

It was NOT Ronald Reagan's threat of force that got the US hostages released.

It was because he ROLLED OVER for the Ayatollah and did as the Ayatollah said. He gave in to the Ayatollah's demand that the Shah be expelled from the US and all nearby countries which were allies of the US.

Only then did the Ayatollah release the hostages. They were not released under Carter because Jimmy Carter refused to bow to the Ayatollah and refused to give in to his outrageous demands!

JT, London, England

Salaam to you, Mike:
You are right. The majority of Iranians feel no ill will or hatred towards Americans (or the rest of the world, for that matter), quite the contrary. This whole incident has been a great source of anxiety to the Iranian "man on the street" and yet another international embarrassment. In view of the British sailors' release, we are now all breathing a great big collective sigh of relief.

In response to Maldain:
No, it is not fine. I have no great love for the Iranian government, but nobody can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the sailors were not in Iranian waters. The whole problem with this so-called fight for democracy is its selectiveness. How come the US raises all this hue and cry about human rights in Iran (no argument there) but keeps silent about, say, Saudi Arabia? Oil, anyone? We, ordinary Iranians, have no desire for any "arms" to kill anyone, be they American, British, or otherwise.

Rima, Tehran, Iran

They were right, it was a triumph of diplomacy, the diplomacy of the captives themselves, certainly not the scouring of the diplomatic world by Blair for the support he lacks at home. 'Name, rank and number' may apply to PoWs, but the captives were not PoWs, there is no war between Britain and Iran. They had the personalities and sense to establish good relations with the Iranians where Blair just went for aggression and confrontation. They also knew, and the British people agreed, that they were not fighting for their country in Iraq, but for a purpose not worthy of putting their lives at risk.

Tom, London, UK

Those people criticizing the sailors for their confessions: have you ever had a gun pointed at you, with no means to fight back, and the knowledge that you were completely at the mercy of your captor? Or had 14 of your friends and coworkers under the same threat, with it implied that if you didn't cooperate they would suffer for it?

It's real easy to blow bravado until you're in that situation.

For that matter, it's unclear what members of the British Armed Forces are instructed to do in such situations; they could have been following textbook doctrine for enemy capture.

Please cut them some slack until we hear their side of the story. They went out to serve their country and wound up as pawns in a power game; rather sad that they have to endure this rush to judgment as well.

Mike, Henderson, NV, USA

If I were training British forces on how to behave if captured, I wouldn't want them to give away any useful information to the enemy. On the other hand, I wouldn't want them to endanger their own safety unless it was necessary to protect others. It would be unreasonable to expect the sailors and marines to submit themselves or their colleagues to torture rather than read words which cleary weren't their own in a pathetic and transparent charade.

As regards appeasement, the simple truth is that Britain could flatten Iran in an evening. Having that power, but using it sensibly, is hardly a sign of weakness. What would you think of a man who responded to a pinch from a little girl by punching her in the face and breaking both her arms rather with a few stern words? Would he be sensibly avoiding the appearance of weakness? As the hostages have now been released, it seems as if the British approach was entirely justified.

Jem, London, UK

It was mentioned in the media that the capture took place in the disputed area between Iraq and Iranian waters.(overlapping 3-mile zone?) I think it started as an attempt to assert sovereignty over that area by Iran, and got out of hand. Mr Behi probably has it right. They're saber-rattling (something you Brits would know about, Dagobert) over future fishing rights in a few square miles (or is it the French term - Kilometers?)

Phillip, Hagerstown, Maryland/USA

Guess the question is,... was the return of prisiners honorable both for Iran and Britain. The answer is yes. A gesture, maybe, but lives were saved, the most important thing. The British and Iranian Govt.'s actions allowed both Govt's to save face. That's the important part. The art of diplomacy...no body gets everything they want, and everybody walks away mildly disappointed.

D. Smith, Princeton, IN

As his premiership limps to an end there could not have been a more pathetic illustration of Blair's (and Brown's) slavish following of Washington's confrontational policies in the Middle East as he and his hapless foreign minister Margaret Becket emerged from Downing Street to welcome the release of the British sailors. How pathetic they both looked and sounded. The incident has been a national hmumilation for the UK and sadly also for the Royal Navy. Welcome as their release is, in professional terms none of the sailors or marines released has anything to celebrate.

Robert Bailey, London, England

Iran's lawlessness notwithstanding , the British sailors and marines were poorly trained , poorly led and in the end folded like a cheap suit . If they're the best Briton has to offer God help us all !

Sectionhand, Columbus, U.S.A.

It's amazing how much people have to say about something they know so little about.

Ken, Staten Island, New York

Whilst travelling as a tourist in Iran I met a man in Shiraz , who told me an old saying" mountains can not see each other but the people on the mountains can."

Judith, Greenway,

I really think it is wrong to judge the British sailors for what they said while they were captured. They were obviously coriced, so what does it matter what they said? If you actually take anything they said to heart, you are giving credience to Iran's behavior, which frankly, I thought very embarassing on thier part.
Name and rank I would assume has more to do with actual military information: mission, objectives, armourment, ship deployment. The remarks that the sailors made where strictly political and obviously meaningless. More important was the fact that Iran's main political objective, the British government's public apology, never came to pass and they had to give the sailors back before they could force any kind of public statement. Welcome to the new hybrid world of politics, war, and the media.
Truly, the less uproar over this situation the better, Iran's government is acting like spoiled child looking for attention.

Zach , Chicago, IL,

What is true here is what is true there - sometimes the government does boneheaded things, and the people do not always put them up to it, or even agree with it. If we can keep the people and the government separate in our dealings with these types of issues, we'd find that people there are pretty much like people here - different cultural norms, but they want to live, raise their familys and get on with things like the rest of us. May they get a government that reflects them better!

Sheri, Wolverhampton,

The Iranian government and Ayatollah Khomeini are the ones we must come against, not the people of Iran. Britain has helped Iran in the past, and we have been repaid with hostility, and by the Iranian government helping terrorists to kill our soldiers (some of which died within the last day) by allowing the trafficking of illegal arms through their borders.

For the voices of reason within Iran, I am glad that we did not retaliate in an offensive way. I believe we have proved that Britain is not hostile, that Britain desires peace, and that Britain cares for every one of its soldiers -- which cannot be said of so many other countries. I cannot see Britain taking a similar stance if an incident such as this was to occur in the future.

Chris, Suffolk, UK

In regards to the American Hostage crisis and one American viewpoint on how the threat of force by Reagan was the turning point It truly amazes me at the lack of history that is behind so many comments. For all US history students there was an episode called the Iran-Contra scandal which illuminated how the US sold missiles to Iran for the return of our hostages. So to feel that they were scared in some way is a sad commentary on history. Oh and by the way, the same leaders of that hostage crisis are now political leaders in Iran including possibly Ahmadinejad.

student , central, US

how many silly remarks have been made here? Just goes to show the attitude of some. May i remind the people that like to comment like this of the Korean War? Where thousands of captured UN/US/SKorean Soliders were brainwashed and said things actually against their own country. This was done without torture as well!!!

All these situations are different, so before commenting it would be advisable to think before you post such tunnel vision remarks. First thing you do, is get your personnel home, then you get the facts. You don't know the complete picture, only the one that the media portray, so you DON'T have all the facts!! Makes me sad to see such short visioned remarks by people without all the info. No wonder this worlds a mess!

Simon, lincoln,

To Cleve, Trung Le and Dar: How fortunate you are to be making such damning criticisms from the comfortable surroundings of your office or home. No-one except the individuals involved and the respective governments know the true nature what was going on behind the public eye. Their next public appearance could have been in orange boiler suits. May I suggest you read between the lines of their comments and conduct and recognise that your concept of duty and honour bears little relation to the reality of their situation.

C, london,

Remember the British blowing up an Argentine ship as it was sailing AWAY from and was outside an area of conflict? By comparison the Iranian response to a potential if not actual (nobody knows) infringement of its territory was mild. That aside, some of the comments above show just what utter loonies there are in the USA. Name, rank and number my arse! Grow up and stop watching RAMBO! The British captives and the British government played the Iranian leaders mentality like a violin, knowing courtesy and respect to be a far more powerful weapon against these proud people than arrogance and threats. Court martial my other arse! How smug can anyone be?

Dagobert, London, UK

I was surprised at the amount of words used by the hostages in interview. I hope they have been exposed to techniques to destabalise their training. If not the future for all includung their Officer looks bleak. (Especially the clown pantomiming on TV and knuckling a fellow servicemans head).
For all that, I withold personal judgement until their return and debriefing. But, so far this has not reflected well on the Senior Service.

Van de Merve, Somerset,

We're closing dozens of hospitals and schools so we can afford to upgrade our nuclear strike capability.

When are we going to get our money's worth Tony? What's the point of squandering millions on missiles if we're going to roll over and let any tinpot dictator tickle our collective tummy instead of flattening one of his cities as a little aide-memoire not to mess with us?

Gordon Brown, Downing Street, Near Scotland

To R A Martin of fairplay, Calif:
Remember that it was Ronald Reagan's threat of force that got those hostages out. Not the Appeasement attitude and therefore total fecklessness of Jimmy Carter and most of the Dems still in congress today.
I've been to most of the middle eastern countries and can tell you that they respect only superior force. If they see a reaching out to them by anyone, they see that as weakness and will attack. There is no way to reason with these people who desire to bomb us all back to the 14th century that they so desperately miss.

Robert Wheatley, Hurst, Texas U.S.A.

This incident has no relationship to the Am. hostage crisis in '79. I can't for the life of me fathom why the captured sailors would so readily cuddle up to their captors and serve as such willing propaganda puppets. I think a full investigation and poss. court martial proceedings would be in line.

R.K. , San Hsia, Taiwan

America and Britain stay out of other countries the world in general know what your ulterior motives are. Pride and Ego will be the downfall of both countries When people retaliate on Countries who want to dominate others its called terrorism. The sailors and Marines did the right thing by apologising after all they were there not the British government and a humble attitude goes a long way to keeping peace.

czes, cape town, south africa

This should never be allowed to happen again! An enquiry should be launched as to who =was responsible for their capture, how did the leader of this group allow it to happen? Where was the air cover? Our navy not good enough to look after a couple of dinghies full of Rev guards?
Some heads should roll...... and heroes?? dont make me laugh! Name rank and serial number thats all that should have been said by these "captives" their performance on tv was pathetic!

mike , glos, uk

+i was just laughing at some guy that said we should negotiate when we can, well i agree to a point. However, was this gentleman unaware that that there were no negotiations until we started cruising the USS Nimitz their way? Iranian people are way cool, their government is way wrong...wow, sounds like us.....

Sean, Anaheim, USA

They did not appear to have been abused or torured, yet they make statements against thier government ....These members seem to have forgotten what "Duty, Honor and Service" really mean.

-Cleve Belyeu, Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam-

I guess that they dont teach about the "Hanoi Hilton" That held americans a couple of decades ago, and who also made those soldiers/ airmen state some similar remarks. I find it mildly amusing that the very countrys that have commited horrific human abuses always seem to have something to say about those who actually have "Honor". You dont see the British media parading around enemy soldiers, or coercing "confessions" for their supposed "terrible actions".

Jason Rehling, Portland, OR,

Name, rank, and number. That is all the informations you can give to the enemy, not to aid and betray your county. They deserve to be court martial. If they can not handle the heat they should not enlist. A very sad chapter for the proud British service personnels. The incident was very humiliating to the United Nations as a whole. Instead of "talk softly but carry a big stick", they talk softly and carry a pillow. United Nations is a joke.

Trung Le, La Mirada, CA, USA

These sailors must face a court martial trail on returning to UK for alleged collaboration with the enemy. There open confessions on Iranian state T.V. was totally in contradiction with the Official British stance and it brought shame to there honourable and valiant profession.

Dar, karachi, Pakistan

rember nov 4 1979 iranian thugs invaded the us embassy in teheran and took 50 plus americans hostage and kept them for 444 days what did the american government do what did the american do nothing so dont belittle what the brits did 13 days is better than 444days

r a martin, fairplay, california

I am a US Soldier and US Forces are required to keep a lid on anything that could damage their country in any fashion, but only to the best of their ability. I imagine Britain has a similar policy and though it is disgraceful that they broke so quickly, I hold nothing against the Sailors because I can only imagine the treatment the extremists were giving them. Just because there aren't cuts or bruises doesn't mean they weren't tortured in some shape or fashion. I'm glad for the Iranian people though, there country managed to avoid destruction this time.

David Day, Jacksonville, Florida

how many Billions of dollars in oil profits were made off this fiasco. If any of you actually believe that this is anything but a staged event, look to whom this all profits.

Yasser , Brussels, Belgium

While I am happy that the servicemen and woman was released, and soon to be returned to thier families, a bigger question is this. Thier statements, actions and remarks were an embarassment to the people of Brition, to thier service and to thier country. They did not appear to have been abused or torured, yet they make statements against thier government (stating thiey admittly was in Inranian water). I do not know the protocol for captured British military personnel, but I am sure it is not "make any statement you like". Britions are proud of thier military histroy. These members seem to have forgotten what "Duty, Honor and Service" really mean.

Cleve Belyeu, Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam

To those of you who where critical of the British personnel for "confessing" on Iranian T.V., you don't know what hell those people were put through to bring them to the point that they would say anything to get out. In Hollywood they train military personnel to resist giving anything but your name and rank but in real life it is alot different. What mysterious training do you think there is? It is cultish behavior to put ones belief before ones life. Aside from that. the man that will blow himself up for his beliefs will die instantly or nearly instantly. Torcher on the other hand is alot different.

It is easy for us here in our safe setting or relatively safe setting to sit there and be critical of someone else in a situation we know nothing about. Shame on you.

Randall Whisnant, Warner Robins, Ga

I think both countries are probably at fault here and am glad it's over. Biggest disappointment has to be the sailors and marines confessing and apologizing on TV to Iran. Tortured, threatened or whatever, aren't they trained in what to do in a situation if captured? Whatever happened to only providing name, rank and serial number? I think the military needs to be more selective with the personnel they are putting on the front lines like this. Who knows what other information they provided to Iran.

Tom, Hartford, CT/USA

Front door, back door,whatever. Main thing is they are
freed and didn't have to spend 400 plus days.

Cowboy Bob, Houston,

Here's how this played out: Jihad*s will blow themselves up for what they believe in, Westerners will say or do anything (convert to isl*m) to stay alive. That's what this was about and that's the message that was sent. Make your choice Dhimmi (Spain, France) or Warrior (US, UK, Aust.)

RR, Tehran, Iran

The world is so full of hate it is a ticking timebomb waiting to explode over any crisis and we need to find a way to defuse it. If all of the time, money, and energy that we put into killing one another was used for peaceful purposes there would be no hunger and no diseases taking the lives of millions each year. I played University soccer with two Iranians and we remain good friends to this day over 30 years later..............We all need to step back and look for the good we can do and not the harm we continue to do and find some way to reinvigorate some sort of trust.

Michael, Calais, USA / Maine

The viewpoints of my fellow Americans on this comments board are very disappointing, as they show how ego-centric our country has become.

If Iran invaded Mexico or Canada, would we detain their sailors who might be operating between Nova Scotia and Maine and/or in the Gulf of Mexico. Yes, we would!

Mike Cassio, Milwaukee, WI

Iran and its goverment have shown that they are not invincible, yes the mullahs can be defeated and guess who will strike the first blow? those iranians who have endured the despotic rulers yoke for so long , yes the Iranian intellectuals and students who are not fooled by the mullahs, now that the Mullahs have capitulated to the british political pressure the Iranian people will see that freedom is in their hands to get.

Anthony Martin, Lewisburgh, Tennessee

Hello to the Iranian people from the United States. Please, understand, we want peace between our nations. We do not hate Iranians, and we do not believe that you hate Americans. We do not want this war in Iraq to continue, but our president and his Republican party apparently no longer have any regard for the will of the people. Democrats in our congress are taking steps to stop this war. We know that Iranians do not want a war with the U.S. or Israel. It is the leaders of both of our countries who are lying to us and trying to lead us astray. Iran and the U.S. do not need nuclear power. The U.S. and Iran should work together to develop solar and geothermal power. Do not believe the lie that patriotism to a false regime is a greater virtue than peace. Our leaders are using Iraq and Palestine as an excuse to try and disguise their greed and lust for oil and uranium. Let us stand together and demand peace and change from our governments. There has been enough killing.
Salaam

Mike, Tallahassee, Florida, USA

When saying the British Lion has been embarrased and tamed, what did you really expect them to do??? They could send a few bombs over there and find the 15 sailors decapitated and floating in the water a few weeks later and everybody loses. The Brits stayed rational when dealing with irrational people and guess what... the 15 sailors are coming back healthy and alive. I call that a victory in my book.

I really don't care whose terms this was solved on so long as they come home alive. In my opinion the Iranians really took a black eye on this one. Their government is a joke and this incident proved that. What exactly were they trying to accomplish??

Bob, Portland,

we should negotiate when we can

mike, Los Angeles, USA

We agree with those who believe that diplomacy can work with fasicist dictators who call for the destruction of another people. If only the stupid cowboy Bush administration would listen to us
Signed: Neville Chamberlin, 6,000,000 dead jews, 2,000,000 Cambodians and the American and European left

American Thinker, Los Angeles, USA

This is history repeating itself. It comes from the depth of humanity and it will continue until we are all willing to feel the truth. If we are all seen as living creatures, with purpose, with feelings, and depth, humanity has a chance to grow and survive.

tom, atlanta, ga

It's just further proof that humans, as a group, suck. Individually, some of them are nice, but on the collectively, humans aren't worth the air it takes to talk about them.

That's why I am going to become a recluse and surround myself with cats, and give them all interesting names, such as Chairman Meow and Charles Kittykins. And I realize that if I die, they may be forced to eat me, but that's all right. It is their nature and at least you know where you stand with a cat. One heartbeat away from becoming dinner.

Arnold J. Rimmer, JMC Red Dwarf,

Understand the apparant Iranian agenda! It's about *power* which means it's about *money*, since the two are virtually inseperable. The only interest in the _people_ in Iran that the current Iranian regime has is the extent to which they can use and manipulate them to enhance and extend their grip on power and money. They will use religion as one pretext just as have counteless miscreants before them.

That won't change unless and until a somewhat more altrusic leadership is installed in Iran. It can't be imposed from without - witness US & Iraq. At least if the Iranian populace suffer at the hands of their own countrymen, it's hard for them to blame anyone else - though they will continue to try.

Ed Hew, Kitchener & Molino, Canada & Philippines

As an American who still recalls the Iranian religiously driven audacity of 1979, I wonder how much the West can be expected to take. Not only have countries in the East refused to take responsibility by confronting factious elements they've permitted to flourish in their midst, elements that include al-Qaida and other primitive minded zealots, some, like Iran, have actually installed religious fanatics as heads of government who use staged televised posturing a child would have difficulty believing as propagandistic self-promotion. Wake up world. Wake up before they are knocking at your borders, ramming your planes into your skyscrapers, sending their own bomb-wrapped children into night clubs to murder your innocents, decapitating your missionaries and social workers and journalists because they are "infidels." I wish it were a small group of "extremeists." The alleged "non-extremists" must step up to the plate and help cure the ills they allowed to proliferate for far too long

J. Ennis, Bergenfield, USA

Some intelligent and dumb comments posted in my book. Did someone say Iran was a glorious nation? WOW, they sure did show good will huh? What a bunch of crap.. Wait until the British sailors come home and explain the REAL story. To the person who was inquiring about the Iranians captured in Iraq. Yes, they are prisoners who are helping fund a civil war. Dop. Britain doesnt sound like USA does it? To the guy who thought US warspips are 2 miles to Iranian shores... You better add atleast 10 more miles to your unrealistic number of 2..lol..m16 propoganda. You're right, there are no Iranians online in Iran... And let me guess, the landing on the moon was done where?
Bottom line, Iran is playing more of you like flutes. And I strongly disagree that Irans hands are becoming stronger. Sanctions are definetly taking a toll. Dumb one if you think different. And to J.W Randall.... Deport to Iran if you think they are so great. You'll be brainwashed soon enough.. opps,beat me to the punch

David, Tacoma, Washington

So what is next?

Oscar Toscano, Los Angelesq, Ca

In response to Rima. I guess funneling arms to people who use them to kill British citizens is a fine activity and should not under any circumstances be interferred with in any way, shape or form? I'm going to guess that you're thinking these arms only shoot Americans but guess what a bullet doesn't care about the nationality of the victim and neither do these terrorists who murder children with out batting an eye or losing a wink of sleep.

Maldain, Salem, Oregon

This can still backfire on the Iranians. The real story will be what these people say once they are safe at home.

jerry Doyle, Killeen Texas, USA,

Iran has the American and the Brits number. They utilize the Bush/Cheney threats to stir up their own radicals. They support Hamas and Hezbollah because they know we can't do a thing about it, being bogged down in Iraq. They win Arab favor standing up to us and become more influential every month. They enrich Uranium just because the West doesn't want them to. They know the Russians need the money from trade and the Chinese need oil, so they could care less about sanctions. Unfortunately, this administration doesn't realize the more we stir the pot the stronger Iran's influence in the region grows.

Sluis, Twin Lake, MI

Somebody's really got to paint a bold, red line down the middle of the Persian Gulf (shouldn't it be renamed something more benign as it's current name gives the Iranians an inappropriate message?).

gump, Somewhere in New Jersey,

I find myself wondering what kink of electronic equipment that was on the English boat when it was captured. Certainly the Iran military conficated and/or checked out anything that would be of use to them. Years ago the United States had one of its smaller ships captured in a similar incident. All the top secret electronic equipment was disassembled, flown to Russia, copied, and then reinstalled on the United States naval ship. The ship nd crew were later returned. Stalin read our mesages for 17 years before a Russian agent alerted the United States. It is a known fact that this was the most serious breach of United States military planning in Europe during the Cold War.....Philip A. Provost, United States

philip a. provost, north las vegas, nevada

At the end of the day, the Brits will be free from their captors. I am happy for them and their families. I just hope all parties involved will now step back, take a breath, and realize this whole exercise was for naught. Well, then again, it does plant the seed for the countries to act rationally and to dismiss any future ideas of provocation.

Matthew, Yuba City, California

The mistaken premise many Americans and others start with is that Iran wants stability in the region. The greater the instability, the greater the vacuum it can fill -- especially with so many Americans wanting to exit the region regardless of the longer term consequences. Iran is in a "win-win" situation. It can defy U.N. mandates, kidnap British sailors and marines, support organizations that target the killing of civilians, deny the holocaust, etc. with little to no liability. This recent hostage stunt is merely meant to humiliate the West and send a message to regional neighbors that if the British won't immediately rescue its own sailors and marines, don't expect the British to rescue them. In the end, Iran's stature rises among Islamic and developing nations without expending much capital and Western democratic influence wanes. The Iranian leaders might not seem rational to Westerners, but they are politically saavy, smart and willing to tgamble to achieve their goals.

Mark Mathias, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA

The hostage situation has been resolved ,but on Iranian terms.

In my view the British Lion has been humiliated by a third class country.

The mouse has roared and the lion has run.

Neville Chamberlain has taken over. When will Wiston return.?

Saladin, Greenwich,

MI6 propaganda? How paranoid are you? This entire affair has been consistent with the Iranians insistence on isolationism, and the Iranian people know the government is out of their control. The Iranian military simply made a mistake when it picked up the crew and the administration has been figuring out how to save face ever since. If you want to secure international support, try a little humility.

David, Houston, USA

It's too bad that many governments (my own included) do not truly reflect the will of their people. Instead, we get a bunch of ridiculous posturing and "mine is bigger than yours" nonsense. These guys need to get beyond their third-grade mentality.

Violet, Boston, MA,USA

I am happy to read these sane comments of the iranian bloggers. just some of the comments of our liberal americans are just as ridiculous as always. and as always there are more concerned about the rights and safety of the terrorists then of our own people.

amanda pergola, New York, Usa

I think this phoney crisis was all manufactured to simply try and force the Brits to "lose a little face". Not too much face, mind you--just enough so that Iran can claim a little power for itself. It's all a game.

n. b., Nyack, NY

Iranian propaganda is bad, but our propaganda is good. Their diplomats are terrorists, but our soldiers were just minding their own business.
So the prisoners are freed. Bush had nothing to do with it and it seems like he did his best to obstruct the diplomatic process. I'm sure he's angry that they let them go because he just lost a golden opportunity to spark a war with Iran.
Iran does not park ships 2 miles off the UK coast interdicting shipping, but the UK and USA do so off Iranian waters with little concern for the potential impacts of such actions.

Steve Savage, Oklahoma, USA

diplomatic talks can achieve alot more in the middle east, and need to be ongoing.

ramona, carson city, nevada, u.s.

I believe this is the first time that president Ahmadinejad has shown himself to be a great statesman.

The results of his gesture to free the 15 Britons are spectacular: suddenly good will is pouring out everywhere and all kinds of prisoners are being released in the region.

Bjorn Palmen, Helsingfors, Finland

How wrong these bloggers are. Do they not realise this is all the UK's fault. They may live in Iran but they are obviously blind to the true nature of Iran. These bloggers should be made to talk and listen to some of the liberal elements in the UK and the west who, even though they don't live in Iran, could tell them what Iran and its government is really like. If only they knew, they would understand that this is all the UK's (and of course the US's) fault. They shouldn't have been in Iraq, oops, i mean Iran, in the first place. They are just warmongers. As seen today Iran is a peaceful and gracious nation who even in the face of such unwarrented aggresion can show their true nature. If only our own countries were like Iran with leaders like theirs, instead we have the war mongers Bush and Bliar.

J W Randall, Edinburgh,

Weaver, you are hilarious.

Alvin Lucier, London,

LOL, weaver, man, you've got to stop staying up late reading all those conspiracy theories on the net. First of all, the Times listed the sources right there in the text for all to see. Secondly, if the Government was going to go to all the trouble to set up several web, they would cover their tracks much better than that technologically from a simple source check (i.e, you would never know). Thirdly, the Bloggers on these sites are well known, talk about diverse topics (most of which can hardly be considered the least bit subversive) , and have for quite some time. Fourthly, and most importantly, These Bloggers, when they do complain, have done so for quite some time as well, on topics ranging from how poor everyone is to how crazy Ahmina-whatever is. Face it. Iran sucks. Case closed.

Russ, san francisco, US

Ah, yes, Weaver! But perhaps it's clever Iranian propoganda. They set up anti-government blogs, which we'll obviously think are MI6 plants, so we disregard everything they say! Or maybe they're written by some secret society, the Illuminati, to subversively control world events. Or maybe the Atlanteans. Or maybe .. just maybe, though ... there are some real, live Iranians writing blogs out there who don't agree with their own government. I hear some folks in this country don't see eye to eye with Tony Blair, so it's possible ...

Conspiracy Theorist, Huddersfield,

Does any one see a link?

Iranian diplomats get kidnapped in Iraq and in turkey.

British solders captured in the Persian Gulf.
Iranian diplomat released in Bagdad after being kidnapped by police forces linked to US forces.

Then the Iranians get access to Iranian diplomats captured by US forces in Irbil.


Does this behaviour set a precedence of things to come?

Rima, Coventry, UK

One wonders whether the release was due to the Iranians just wanting to release the hostages with the maximum of propaganda effect for them or to the pressure (and threat of military action if must be) exercised by British diplomacy.

If the former is right, be prepared for more hostage takings.

Roberto Ruggeri, London,

The " imposed headscarf" on Faye Turney was a sign of submission to Islam. It was a humiliation for a Dhimmi woman to have to wear it, and was intended to degrade her from warrior to the status of women under Islam. Their use of the headscarf shows what the status of women under Islam is. Its a mark of submission and humiliation to men and to Islam.

Jill Carroll had to wear such a headscarf too while she mouthed her captor's words. They want this scenario of submission acted out. For them, this is Islam. That's why their religious police can beat or arrest their women for not wearing it. We need to recognize what this constant humiliation and mark of submission to Islam means.

Old Atlantic, Atlantic City, NJ

And did the US military release the two mis-captured Iranians at the same time, one wonders.

mike, leicester,

Clever MI6 grey propaganda?
Any fool could set up such websites and operate them in any language. The Times prints the subject matter not knowing its authenticity.

Weaver, Hong Kong,

Information is power!!!!you got to love it…

Pete, Palm City, Florida,USA

Nice article. Shows the other side. Which is what we expect in British newspapers.

If only these Iranian bloggers were in power. Just for once I'd like to see a leader around the world behave rationally.

Yes... I know... I ask too much.

Antony Peyton, Fukuoka, Japan