Ahmadinejad's Gift to the British People

In a showing of his humanitarianism and benevolent intentions toward the west, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has given an Easter present to the British people. Yes, even after British Royal Navy sailors had the gall to invade the sovereign waters of the great and peaceful nation of Iran, Ahmadinejad proved to be this generations Ghandi. After having the sailors brought into an Iranian resort community for some fun, sun, rest and relaxation, he sent them home even after the ungrateful British failed to offer an appropriate apology for sailing into their waters. This has been the story that I have been reading in the national media!

Unlike many in the conservative movement I am not an optimist. This whole incident has deepened my fears that our way of life is in great danger. Ignore the media spin and take a look at what really happened here. British soldiers sailing along in Iraqi waters were taken hostage by Iran! When the British sailors asked for permission to defend their own people they were told not to provoke those who were attempting to take them hostage. Then when the sailors were taken hostage the response was to NOT confront the hostage takers. As a matter of fact when President Bush used the word "hostages" to describe the hostages there was more outrage than there was to the initial incident. I kept waiting to hear of Royal Navy ships cutting off the gasoline supply to Iran or air strikes against their single refinery. Hell, I would have been happy to have heard some tough talk! No, what was heard was the west bowing down on their knees and kissing the feet of an insane dictator! Oh, I forgot, the United Nations issued some tepid blather that was supposed to scare Iran into releasing the vacationing sailors. On television I saw a female sailor wearing Muslim clothing and then one by one these sailors were apologizing for entering waters that they never had. I waited for the media to slam Iran for these blatant violations of the Geneva convention but the media were silent. I guess if the Iranians had made them pose for embarrassing photos then we would have heard some outrage.

Then Ahmadinejad, having thoroughly embarrassed the west, let the sailors go. He called it a gift to the British people. After being released, the soldiers talked of steady and tough interrogations. They told of being threatened with seven years of prison time if they refused to make statements. I am sure that the American left will be outraged that the soldiers were not simply allowed to give name, rank and serial number as they would have as the standard for captured terrorists. No, for the left, only enemies of the United States are due these rights.

The lessons here are simple. By showing weakness to an irrational and dangerous enemy the west has opened the door to more of these tactics. Lunatics such as Ahmedinejad are free to act without fear of reprisal. It is more imperative than ever that the United States sends a clear message that if an act such as this is tried against us there will be severe ramifications. Touch our soldiers and you will no longer have a navy. You will no longer have the benefit of gasoline and we will shut down your entire economy. As a matter of fact why haven't we used these simple tactics in regards to Iran's nuclear endeavors. The answer is painfully evident. Although it is clear what MUST be done, our leaders on both sides of the aisle do not have the stomach to do it. Even those on the right who talk a tough game have proven unwilling to fight a war on terror that is designed to defeat the enemy. Instead we have fought a war to placate a press which has proven time and again to embrace our enemies. I sit here discouraged. A simple question passes through my mind. How many innocent people, innocent Americans, have to die before this country wakes up to the threats that face us? At one time I would have thought that 3000 would have done it but the majority of our own people have forgotten those that gave their lives on September 11th 2001. God help this great nation.