As I have already written, Britain has demonstrated it's political and military weakness by failing to respond to Iranian sponsored bombings of British forces in southern Iraq, and the kidnapping of the British sailors/marines in Iraqi waters.
I had questioned the wisdom of Blair in his decision to announce that he would conduct no further negotiations with Tehran. Of course, today we hear of ... his continuing negotiations with the Iranian government. Why are we not surprised?
So, where has the Labour policy of 'muted diplomacy' got us? Yesterday, the UN Security Council failed to support British demands for the immediate release of the kidnapped Britains. A watered-down statement merely called for an "early resolution". Whilst Chiraq has voiced his support of Britain, France is refusing to consider economic sanctions against Iran.
The questions is where does this leave us? Germany, Italy and France are Iran's biggest trading partners. What is clear that our leading European partners are far more interested in their short-term economic benefits, rather than a longer-term consideration of community strategic interests. As I have written previously, Russia is fast becoming a destabilising country in the world, whereby they sponsor murders and and conduct economic warfare against those countries who refuse to follow the demands of Moscow. It is interesting that China, meanwhile, begins to show it's political maturity by distancing itself from Russian intransigence, and would have accepted greater pressure being applied upon Tehran.
Certainly events surrounding Iraq, Sudan and Iran have shown that the UN is well past it's 'sell-by date', and world security is in the hands of the big players. Only China can satisfactorily deal with North Korea, and the US with the Middle East. The UN is irrelevant, and the EU is self-serving!
Britain must decide whether it wants to reverse recent defence cuts, and help shape things for the better, or allow decisions to be taken by those who are happy to see our position relegated to that of 'puppet state' of the EU Commission. Tomorrow sees the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands Invasion. The contrast of our responses could not appear starker!!!
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2 comments:
Mark
Taking the QE2 over the pond I saw the plaques from the Faulklands victory.
Ben, I've never had the opportunity to take the QE2. I'm sure it was an experience.
For those who don't know, the QE2 was requisitioned, by the British government, for the Falklands War as a troop transport.
On 12th May 1982 she set sail for St Georgia, from Southampton, with 3,000 troops aboard. The QE2 returned safely to Southampton on 11th June 1982.
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