Opinion
An own goal for Iran
Margaret Beckett
Published: 25.04.07, 10:40
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30 Talkbacks for this article
1. PATHETIC.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (04.25.07)
2. Is Beckett trying to convince others or helself?
Ram ,   London   (04.25.07)
3. Meanwhile Europe Trades with Iran
semsem ,   New York, USA   (04.25.07)
Nice article. However Europe helps this wicked regime by trading in the billions with them. They indirectly support them. As to the sanctions they are the mother of all jokes.
4. I still say Iranacted wrongly confiscating the Sailors IPOD
Alan ,   SA   (04.25.07)
5. Iranians acted unfairly by confiscating Sailors IPODs
Alan ,   SA   (04.25.07)
6. This time it was yellow card next time it will be a red card
Reza ,   Tehran-Iran   (04.25.07)
First of all we are all aware in Iran the Zoinesit element is hard at work to cause harm and terrorize are great nation and people. Secondly we had the decency to releas these zoinesit elements against the will of our nation. The zoinesit USA have not release the deplomat wich they have taken hostage for 5 month, please don't pretend you understand they way our nation think. Thank you The Voice of Freedom against Zoinesit Racisist.
7. A cobbler should stick to his last!
Konrad ,   London, UK   (04.25.07)
Dear Margaret you sound like a schoolmaster. Your analysis is extremely shortsighted and laughable. Who are you trying to deceive? You have no right to lecture anyone, the government you are serving is rotten to the core. You operate under the guise of democracy but you are as despotic as Ahmadinejad.
8. Reza, Reza, What are you babbling about
Cy ,   Reading, Berks, UK   (04.25.07)
Stop whatever drugs you are taking immediately. Its doing your head in.
9. #6. Reza
Ram ,   London   (04.25.07)
I assure you, you only represent a minority in Iran. One day soon your long suffering peaceful brothers and sisters will regain control of the great Iran and people like you will be banished.
10. Revolutionary Guards serve the clergy!
josef cohen ,   bkk thailand   (04.25.07)
Iranian Revolutionary Guard are subordinate to the Ayatollah. They are separate from Iran's Army navy et al. Ahmadinejad has no control over the Iranian Revolutionary Guard . They answer to the clergy. Despite his performance at their release he had nothing to do with their capture and probably had little to do with the decison to release them. You have a responcibility to make clear to the public where the power in Iran resides. Mr. Ahmadinejad is a distraction. The world can't be allowed to delude itself that the problems with Iran will be gone with Ahmadinejad. Respectfully, Josef Cohen
11. #6 reza
(04.25.07)
if all iranians speak, think and write like you, i am not surprised you live in the squalor you do, have no jobs, have no economy and have very high unemployment. i am not surprised your internal situation is dismal and so very bad. a country cannot be ruled by religion, hate and political dirty tactics. your leaders are uncivilized, dirty liars, pathetic to their own people who are suffering from all the above mentioned problems. your country is on its way downward economically and politically. it is a shame that some of the intelligent ellemnts and people in iran do not realize this downfall.....but wait! most of your inteligent people already ran away to europe and the usa. what is left is brainwashed scum people such as those you represent that encourage terror and backwardsness throughout your country. you are a basic desert without your oil....and that too will dry up one day. where would you be then? what do youb have now to fall back on. your country is in shambles. the intelligent element that was once part of your country is gone away and what is left is an idiotic regime who is hanging by a thread. it is not about zionists, israel, etc... it is about iran wanting to be a middle east power and the only way to do it is by ENTICING ALL ARAB NATIONS TO KILL THE ISRAELIS AND ISRAEL. IRAN IS USING THIS PLOY KNOWING THAT MOST OF THE ARAB UNINTELLIGENT MASSES WILL ONLY GLADLY DO ITS BIDDING. do you think eliminationg israel off the map of the middle east will make iran stronger> no! you people will still starve and be uneducated and unemployed and dissatisfied. instead, look towards israel, a beautiful democratic and extremely advanced country in every major fireld and instead of being jealous of its many acheivements, try to learn how the israelis did all this in 60 years' time and what is the secret of their extremely high success in every walk of life, despite the thousands of death wishes you send its way.
12. The British fought over a tiny island
Michael   (04.25.07)
off the coast of Argentina, the Falklands. However, to save its soldiers it capitulates. What is the Foreign Secretary trying to say?
13. #6 Brainwashed muslim
(04.25.07)
14. was I dreaming
israeli   (04.25.07)
or did PM Blair issue a 48 hour ultimatum? as per Murphy's laws - it is much easier to have someone make up their minds by pleading with them and holding a gun to their head, than just by pleading with them. That much for diplomacy!
15. #6 Reza ,remember to fight zionist, they
Mina ,   Iran   (04.25.07)
will say anything, will call you name, and will use any langyage they prefeer, but remeber be strong and never give up. They think everything should be in there way, but guess what together , we won't let that happen.
16. International cohesion
(04.25.07)
Only works when a European Country needs is, if the world was smart enough to do the same with the Israeli soldier in Gaza (which was kidnapped from Israeli soil), Israel might even given the world a chance with the kidnapped soldiers in Lebanon, but when the world failed to do so, Israel had to go to War. Still HIzbullah gets arms from Iran through Syria and the UN forces there do nothing about it. International Cohesion towards the situation in Lebanon can be helpful and might save many lives in future conflicts to come.
17. Reza & Mina
Barry ,   Tokyo   (04.25.07)
Congratulations Reza & Mina, you have won the prize for the most ignorant award ever. Now you can exchange your information on this "Zoineist " post and go stick it to eachother. There is nothing but darkness and hate in your Islamo-terror nation. Iran was better off with the late Shah. He was a great man! Reza & Mina - go stick to yourselves. You deserve eachother. You
18. #17.Jealousy hit.........Barry from Tokyo!!!! don't cry baby
Casey ,   Germany   (04.25.07)
19. #2- Europe is indeed a joke
Cameron ,   USA   (04.25.07)
It did not surprise me at all to hear the mullahs appealing to Europe for help with their nuclear program. The Europeans always run like a tired old prostitute after a gold coin every chance they get. Lets hope the East Europeans prove to be a more honorable & self-respecting crew than the West EUnuchs like France & Germany
20. Hmmmmmm #17
An observer ,   EU   (04.25.07)
You are way out of line ... an forgive me an a waste of space like some others...
21. THIS IS NONSESNSE
observer ,   paris   (04.25.07)
dick cheeney of white house said that the capturing of the british soldiers was a double victory for iran,not saying about the shame & humilation the british got during these two weeks & it was obvious that they didn't know how to behave & what to do
22. mazal tov
i ,   jerusalem   (04.25.07)
reza 6 and Mina 15 its a match made in a)heaven b)hell (not the spice) c)the zoinists (zionoids, sionitstas,zionits zionesit ZIONISTS DID IT!
23. A Fundamental Issue of Freedom against Hamas Violence
Steve ,   USA   (04.25.07)
B"H Dear Madamme Beckett, It is definately a great honor for YNET to have your esteemed commentary. I am always impressed with level of fluency and clarity of writing that comes from your level. Second, Great Britian has had a fundamental role with freedom. From Newton forward, Great Britton has sought G-d. From the Clock Tower in the center of London that resembles the Temple of Jerusalem in its unifying the city in coordination, England has been an inspiration to the world. Indeed, Madamme Beckett, I can trace my ancestry directly from your shores. I can assure you that Britian has been a country very close to my ancestors before we found our new home. It must be admired that Britian through its communications channels as well as great strength was able to get its soldiers back who were captured. It is a great shame that the Israeli soldiers are still captured along with the BBC journalist via Hamas. Any efforts and assistance you can provide to help Ahmadinejad -- who aids and abbets Hamas -- confront his difficulties I think can reap great results. Already, I am greatful to hear fewer headlines concerning Ahmadinejad's cries for help in annihilating the Israeli State and the 7 million Jews inside that State, and I am greatly appreciative of the role Great Britian as well as the other nations have had to reduce Ahmadinejad's verbal panic. I know that Great Britian has a history of involvment in Israel, having been directly involved in the region for many years especially before Israel's recently celebrated Independence in 1948. But in the interests of the world's freedom, it must not be that Hamas (which in Arabic means "violence") becomes the norm on which states in the Middle East, and indeed world-wide are newly founded. It is a fundamental issue freedom. I hope and pray that England understands the gravity of the Hamas approach to Israel's personnel as well as its own BBC journalist, and that it supports instead the true structure of freedom in the Middle East that does not succumb to such faith in senseless violence. With heartfeld thanks, Stephen
24. Spin Master
James McNamara ,   The Lucky Country   (04.26.07)
She and Olmert both turn disgraceful routs into winning. The Iranians were out to impress their own people and the rest of the Muslim world and they suceeded,they made a mockery of the British and the RN.She has a lot to learn about the ME.
25. What a CROCK OF SPIN
malcolm   (04.26.07)
26. another "bad" joke
Jack Bauer ,   Superpower#1   (04.26.07)
Britain was done a massive injustice Its military hostages were used in a poorly played game of international proportions. Beckett, showed the world that she was weak! And so was the UK. Now there credibilty is even less then before. There isn't a British national on earth that can now honestly expect their government to actually stand up and be prepared to defend them! No wonder huge swaths of the UK are being lost. The simple fact that they did not immediatly DEMAND the release of the hostages that they claimed were in international waters under threat of open war is a joke. A few small boats with guns captured them? And the Brits had a ship nearby with missiles. A helicopter, and guess who was else was nearby? THE AMERICANS with a task force including an aircraft carrier. One of which could destroy the entire Iranian airforce in no time. But instead of showing strength and demanding their return or risk war...what did they do? Beg and then when that didnt work they begger the europeans to do something. What a suprise! Oh and by the way I thought it was people in her department that told the hostages to "surrender" ????? WTF. That certainly shows strength, wisdom and character ? does it not? When idiotic politicians can tell the military to "surrender" when they ask for proper ROE even when being attacked or kiddnapped!
27. 3rd Carrier Task Force
Ben Graham ,   NY, NY   (04.26.07)
The U.S. brought in a third carrier task force in the Persian Gulf shortly after the abduction of the Marines. Perhaps Margaret should have the decency to thank the Americans for providing some backbone to the British diplomatic efforts.
28. Ah, Yes, Minister!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (04.26.07)
Minister, when are you going to realize that the Muslims don't play the same game that you and for that matter, the Europeans and the Americans play? They simply do not respect human life and rejoice in death. It makes no difference whether it is the Iranians, the Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, the Syrians or the Palestinians. Their watchword is "KILL". Where is the wisdom in kidnapping Alan Johnston of the BBC? Is this stupid and barbaric deed not a "shot in the foot" of the Palestinians? By your standards and those of the "civilized world" it is but they don’t see it that way. They see strength in terror. You mentioned UN Resolution 1747. Madam, UN Resolution 1701, which you and the Americans forced on Israel, called for the immediate release of OUR kidnapped soldiers, Eldad Regev and Udi Golwasser. A fat lot of good that piece of paper has done. As you know, Hezbollah is re-arming under nose of the UN and are smuggling arms, which the Iranians have supplied through Syria, to Hamas. You mention “your allies”. When are you going to wake up and see that the only reason that the Saudis, the various Emirs and Sultans of the region and the puppet Iraqi Government are on your side is that they a looking after their own skins? Without President Bush’s big stick and Tony Blair’s umbrella they would be deposed by either Al Qaeda or the maniacal Iranian regime in minutes. Her Majesty's Government shot itself in the foot over the Iran debacle and Ahmadinejad and every Arab and Muslim are laughing at you over your weakness and at your Royal Marine officer, Captain Chris Air for stating publicly that "fighting was not an option". My question, Minister, is did Capt Air study military tactics and warfare or is he a graduate of the Neville Chamberlain Institute of Appeasement? You Government, the Europeans and the Americans have forgotten how Chamberlain’s “diplomacy” got the world into World War II, allowed 6 million Jews and countless others to be massacred while you all stood by and watched and appeased!
29. G'veret Becket, Oi!
(04.26.07)
You are falling into your usual British trap of arrogance, thinking you've got the answer, because something SEEMED to work. YOU are not Middle eastern. They let go of your people for a reason: Now U.S. will not be able to surprise attack. You botched it for the U.S. You played RIGHT into their hands, you dupe.
30. One Big Pantomime
#Silvana ,   Scotland <Note   (04.29.07)
As far as I am concerned Iran made a laughing stock of the UK and everywhere else for that matter. I have never seen such a farce in my life. Diplomacy is not going to help any nation once Iran has nuclear weapons............
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