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fpbThe context is scary. The situation is potentially deadly, and will inevitably grow worse. But what seems to have led up to it is simply too hysterical for words:
From The Guardian:
The committee that recommended Salman Rushdie for a knighthood did not discuss any possible political ramifications and never imagined that the award would provoke the furious response that it has done in parts of the Muslim world, the Guardian has learnt.
It also emerged yesterday that the writers' organisation that led the lobbying for the author of Midnight's Children and The Satanic Verses to be knighted had originally hoped that the honour would lead to better relations between Britain and Asia...
One of my first pieces when I started this blog four years ago was about the ludicrous incompetence of the British ruling class. It was not welcomed then - http://fpb.livejournal.com/4790.html. I rest my case now.
From The Guardian:
The committee that recommended Salman Rushdie for a knighthood did not discuss any possible political ramifications and never imagined that the award would provoke the furious response that it has done in parts of the Muslim world, the Guardian has learnt.
It also emerged yesterday that the writers' organisation that led the lobbying for the author of Midnight's Children and The Satanic Verses to be knighted had originally hoped that the honour would lead to better relations between Britain and Asia...
One of my first pieces when I started this blog four years ago was about the ludicrous incompetence of the British ruling class. It was not welcomed then - http://fpb.livejournal.com/4790.html. I rest my case now.
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Date: 2007-06-20 11:40 pm (UTC)Indeed. It is almost certainly strong enough to take down the Iranian Navy by itself, though it would need air cover from the Americans to safely operate surface and air combatants within range of Iranian naval land-based aircraft. And while the British Army is no longer up to invading and occupying Iran, the special forces could carry out raids, and of course Britain can hit Iran with SLBM's, while Iran has no missiles capable of hitting Britain.
What happened recently was a failure of British political nerve, not military might -- much as the Iranians would like to pretend that Britain trembled in fear of Iran's mighty power.