Iran has seized 15 British sailors from Iraqi waters in a blatant and provocative act of war. The British immediate response, allowing the 15 to be taken without a fight, has not covered themselves in honor. But let's look at the response of some interested observers, the European Union and the United States. The ordinarily less than staunch appeasement crowd at the EU has come out with strong demands for the immediate release, backed up with an unspecified but definitive looming shadow of action, including a possible military response.
BREMEN, Germany (AP) -- The European Union on Friday called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally release 15 British sailors and marines and warned of undefined "appropriate measures" if Tehran does not comply.
A statement from the gathered EU foreign ministers in Bremen, Germany, supported British Prime Minister Tony Blair's statements that the naval personnel were not in Iranian waters when they were seized a week ago after they searched a civilian vessel.
The ministers also called on Iran in a statement to "immediately inform" the British government about the whereabouts of the captives and give British diplomats access to them -- a British request that Iran so far has denied.
The EU statement read, "all evidence clearly indicates that at the time of the seizure, the British naval personnel were on a routine patrolling mission in Iraqi waters" in accordance with a United Nations mandate.
The seizure, the statement said, "therefore constitutes a clear breach of international law."
"The European Union repeats its call for the immediate and unconditional release of the British Royal Naval personnel."
If the British sailors are not released, the EU "will decide on appropriate measures," the statement said without elaborating.
Another interested party is, or rather should be, the United States Congress. But a statement of support for the sailors, demanding their immediate and unconditional release, was left without a vote as the House adjourned for a recess.
WASHINGTON - Members of the House left Washington on Friday for their two-week spring break without weighing in on the international crisis tormenting the nation's closest ally: the capture of 15 British sailors and marines by Iran.
The omission by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is being noted by some Republicans, who say they should have gotten the chance to join the Senate in denouncing Tehran's bold actions.
"I am very disappointed that the speaker chose not to act," said Rep. Charles Dent, R-Pa.
"I believe it's important for us as Americans to show our solidarity with the Britons," he added in a phone interview Friday. "The British are our closest allies, and I think we have to stand next to them in a moment like this."
Not enough time? The Senate made an appropriate statement - thank you, Sen. Harry Reid.
The Senate on Thursday, before adjourning for its one-week break, passed a resolution condemning the act "in the strongest possible terms" and calling for the sailors "immediate, safe and unconditional release."
Actually her excuse, according to her spokesman, was that she didn't want to deliver a message that might do more harm than good.
"The leadership discussed it and agreed that inserting Congress into an international crisis while ongoing would not be helpful," Daly said.
As much harm, perhaps, as unconstitutionally usurping the Chief Executive's foreign policy prerogative?
Pelosi and her travelling (sic) buddies are meeting with Bashar Assad of Syria, one of the biggest backers of terrorism in the world (I think Iran edges them out), and I would be tremendously surprised if the topic of how a Democratic government would deal with Syria never came up.
It should be noted that Syria is on the State Department list of nations that sponsor terrorism, has dominated Lebanon for decades, is implicated in several high-level assassinations, has been a sponsor of Hezbollah and Hamas, and has been supplying terrorists in Iraq with weapons.
So, just what the hell is Pelosi doing? I have my theory.
So the EU, and even Sen. Reid's US Senate, were able to step to the plate and do the right thing. The EU even added the hint of consequences for failure by Iran to comply. Ms. Pelosi? It's a sad day when the third most powerful member of the US government (and therefore likely the world) gets pwnd by the European Union.
3/31/07 1700: Yes, that Syria.
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