Britain's feeble response
British government shows weakness, helplessness in face of Iranian audacity
The story resembles a disparaging script written with the sharp talent of a BBC series. An Iranian marine force surrounds the boat of 15 soldiers who are on a regular patrol of Iraqi waters.
Under the threat of firearms they surrender unconditionally, they are taken away, moved to Teheran, displayed on TV and publicly ridiculed. A headscarf covers the head of the only female soldier and her announcement, which is undoubtedly coerced, attacks the forceful policies of Britain and the US in Iraq.
In addition, senior Iranian officials are making announcements as if they are planning to put the soldiers on a show trial, an act that defies every international law.
Limited response
Meanwhile in London, as well as in other European capitals whose foreign policies are united, weak protest against Iran is being sounded - protests that clearly won't budge a single hair on the head of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. A complaint is being filed with the UN Security Council, but its recent resolutions are being treated as though written on ice during a heat wave. And that's it. This is where the boldness and response of those who sent the abducted soldiers to battle ends.
Is the initial instinct to fold and the helplessness against unflinching terror by an insane ruler once again working against the British government and its European allies?
I am not saying, heaven forbid, that the solution has to come from the arsenal of military responses at this point in time. There are other options, and they too are unequivocal in character.
Free on the streets of London
For example, it is well known that the Iranian ambassador is still walking freely on the streets of London, free to enjoy the theatre and excellent Indian restaurants, as are Iran's diplomatic representatives in other European countries.
They continue to come to work, according to rigid protocol prevalent between normal countries – as if it was such a country and as if nothing had occurred in the Persian Gulf. No one is threatening to take them to the nearest airport and to politely but firmly put them on the next plane back to Iran.
By the same token, Western diplomats are continuing to sip mineral water or grapefruit juice at cocktail parties in Teheran, and representatives of large European economic enterprises are rolling economic opportunities from side to side. Wouldn't a freeze on of all this activity hint to the sane people in the Iranian government that it's about time they do something about the radicals who are leading them by the nose?
It is incumbent on the leaders of the West to at least try, before they turn into a laughing stock.
