God knows why we got involved in the US’ bidding in the first place by seizing the Iranian tanker off Gibraltar. I think it’s only right to send the PM-elect to Tehran in person on a mission of mercy to release the ships and their crew. Do they like vacuum-packed kippers?
I would normally worry about this type of thing, and whether this could end badly. But with Bojo at the wheel and the Trumpmiester general doing his thing, we can sleep easy tonight
And so we go to long slow hostage negotiations and eventually everyone backs down. The crew will be on Iranian tele before day break and by then the Iranians know with civilians involved we won’t dare attack them ******* embarrassing
What on earth is British shipping doing travelling unaccompanied past Iran? There are 4 warships there and 2 on the way, and if they needed help the US has 2 carrier fleets and god knows how many aircraft. Total incompetence.
It's an international industry and it isn't always easy to identify a "British" owned ship as country of registration only refers to the administrative rules that they owner chooses to work within. The ship impounded now, the Stena Impero, is actually a Swedish owned ship, I think, but flagged in London. I would have thought that any British naval protection would have been concentrating on ships that were symbolically British such as BP ships, but they tend to be registered in Douglas rather than London. I don't think it is "total incompetence". It is an act of piracy, and like anti terrorism, it is very difficult to protect every potential target in one of the busiest shipways in the world.
If it's not a British-owned ship, it wasn't in British waters or under British protection and there are no British crew on board we should leave well alone. No need for macho statements from Hunt, COBRA meetings or anything else to give Iran's actions further legitimacy. We should offer Sweden our moral support in securing the release of their ship and the same to the countries from which the crew originate.
TBH I'm not sure whether we are meant to "protect" ships under the "British Flag", there may be some responsibility there. Maybe it is a bit blurred. The P&O cruiseship Britannia is not registered in the UK, but I would think our Navy would be wanting to "protect" it.
True, I don't know for sure either. But presumably the myriad ships flagged in Panama (or Liberia like the other one Iran had a pop at yesterday) aren't banking on those countries riding to their rescue?
