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... And Prepare To Use Your Guns

Submitted by jim, Mar 29, 2007 04:30

Daniel Johnson needs to realize that he is fighting armchair warfare of a past era. Gunboat diplomacy was a bully kind of "warfare" against people who were virtually helpless against overwhelming power. Mr. Bush, with just the sort of machismo Daniel Johnson admires and relishing the power of the presidency, thought he had at is disposal such power so he indulged his schoolboy *"gunboat" fantasies; remember "shock and awe", "mission accomplished", "bring èm on"? If I recall correctly he ambled about ground zero in New York wearing a cowboy hat. A cap pistol strapped on his hip wouldn t have been out of character. And what has it cost us? And the "brave" Mr. Blair followed alongside like a poodle. The British press even noted that he had adopted Bush body language. "Why didn t your guys defend themselves?" attributed to an American officer. Let s hope his advancement is curtailed and that in any case he is kept on a short leash. The result of a small boat, as I understand it, having only small arms and surrounded by heavily armed Iranian craft doing so would have been a sunken British boat and fifteen British bodies floating in the water. But hey! That d be okay. Americans admire that kind of courage and we would have grounds for another perilous expedition. If that also became a debacle which we couldn t defend rationally, we could have John Bolton assert huffily that "we re damned proud of what we did." Increasingly, around the world, we Americans are becoming thought of as fools. Maybe Instead of responding with reflexive rejoinders, we should do some calm, self questioning reflection.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Okay, so the Iranians have 1. "Kidnapped" British sailors 2. May be physcially abusing and humiliating them 3. Are likely to stage a... [MORE]	matt	Mar 29, 2007 21:45
What would Lord Nelson say: "England expects that every man will do his duty ..." Duty, honor, we once knew what... [MORE]	Jason Pappas	Mar 29, 2007 12:42
As an Australian living in London I've watched this circus for the last few years with sad amusement: A president... [MORE]	Karajaal	Mar 29, 2007 12:36
I'm inclined to agree entirely. As an Englishman, I too am stunned that our brave troops are sent to operate... [MORE]	Andrew Morgan	Mar 29, 2007 04:41
Well, you certainly have THIS American's support, and just about every other American I have talked with as well. It... [MORE]	Chris Kennedy	Mar 29, 2007 09:52
why is the british government sending our armed forces to quite rightly help with the war on terror with one... [MORE]	Colin slade	Mar 29, 2007 04:39
Daniel Johnson needs to realize that he is fighting armchair warfare of a past era. Gunboat diplomacy was a bully...	jim	Mar 29, 2007 04:30
Jim, please get a clue. Appeasement is not the first word in the "A" section of the dictionary, nor the... [MORE]	John	Mar 29, 2007 08:02
It is sickening to here this phrase: "UN mandate". US and Briton defied UN and world openion and attack IRAQ.... [MORE]	Rehmat Kundi	Mar 29, 2007 03:56
Why are we (as an international community) pacifying the school-yard bullies of the world? There is no excuse for the... [MORE]	D Smith	Mar 29, 2007 03:41
The business of war is a serious human tragedy. People die following decisions taken by leaders, thousand and thousands of... [MORE]	JJ	Mar 29, 2007 03:41
what was the hms cornwall doing to protect there people doesnt radar pick up from distance approaching unidentified boats a... [MORE]	gray tom	Mar 29, 2007 03:28
First off, Would the British have opened fire, the 4 Iranian boats equipped with Machine Guns and Rocket Launchers would... [MORE]	HELLBENT	Mar 29, 2007 03:25
Your article assumes a simple but questionable preface - that the American way is the right way. The British do... [MORE]	clive davis	Mar 29, 2007 03:18
Over 90% of the world at large think the USA is wrong to be involved in Iraq, over 90% of... [MORE]	John Sinclair	Mar 29, 2007 03:07
You want us to behave more like Israelis, where shall we start ? Lets try running roughshod over neighbouring countries human... [MORE]	Andrew	Mar 29, 2007 02:58
Another intelligent suggestion by Daniel Johnson published in the NY Sun. Perhaps Iran should also give the US/Britian an ultimatum to... [MORE]	Amin	Mar 29, 2007 02:42
"President Bush does not want a showdown with Iran until he is ready for one" Excuse me, of course he does!... [MORE]	Jim Eaton	Mar 29, 2007 02:37
Mr Johnson has definitely struck paydirt on his grasp of the situation. I honestly doubt we will see any... [MORE]	John Cogswell	Mar 29, 2007 02:25
Total rubish and propaganda to support war with Iran. The waters where the Brits were captured are very close to... [MORE]	Misha Goldsmith	Mar 29, 2007 02:24
Let us not forget that incoming president-elect ronnie reagan conducted secret talks with the hostage-takers and others and struck a deal... [MORE]	tucanofulano	Mar 29, 2007 02:23
I suggest gung-ho people like you should not be in the news making or opinion business. Because of stupidities and... [MORE]	Malik	Mar 29, 2007 02:23
I was just wondering all of you Islamist apologists, where is you indignation when Muslims force their religious values on... [MORE]	PRO USA	Mar 29, 2007 12:54
The failure to automatically answer this IMPORTANT question is ALWAYS present in popular news media, so I ask: "on the... [MORE]	illya	Mar 29, 2007 02:19
At the same time, a BBC journalist is a hostage in Gaza. It is all jihad. [MORE]	Richard	Mar 29, 2007 10:20
where is the International Red Cross to condem the Iranians over lack of access to these POW??where is Amnesty International... [MORE]	xzavier brown	Mar 29, 2007 01:51