Re: [Marxism] LESSONS IN CAPTURE, RELEASE OF BRITONS, by Jim Lobe

[<g.maclennan@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Fred is thinking of going to amber on whether there will be an attack on Iran 
or not.  His argument here is pretty convincing.  Though as he points out 
adventurism could win out in Washington.

I am inclined to think too that the capture and then release of the Brits 
strengthened Iran considerably. Debka.com argued that their release was a 
victory for the pragmatists in Iran over Ahmadinejad and that the subsequent 
killing of British servicemen near Basra, was a retaliation from the 
Revolutionary Guard element around him to compensate for that defeat.

I am not so sure about that.  It seems to me that Iran demonstrated they could 
hurt the British and the Americans and then they showed they could be talked 
to.  The killing of the Britons also served to remind everyone that if Iran is 
attacked then all bets are off in South Iraq.

So I am looking at amber too. But as always we shall see.

regards

Gary

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