After all, they are not the United States or Israel, so their actions pass with relatively little comment -- even though their actions do, in fact, violate Geneva, something that is not the case with the criticized actions of the US and Israel.

FIFTEEN British sailors and marines arrested by IranÂ’s Revolutionary Guards off the coast of Iraq may be charged with spying.

A website run by associates of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, reported last night that the Britons would be put before a court and indicted.

Referring to them as “insurgents”, the site concluded: “If it is proven that they deliberately entered Iranian territory, they will be charged with espionage. If that is proven, they can expect a very serious penalty since according to Iranian law, espionage is one of the most serious offences.”

The warning followed claims by Iranian officials that the British navy personnel had been taken to Tehran, the capital, to explain their “aggressive action” in entering Iranian waters. British officials insist the servicemen were in Iraqi waters when they were held.

However, as Captain Ed points out, this announcement is a clear statement of intent to violate international law as found in the Geneva Conventions.

The Iranians cannot try the men for espionage if they captured the sailors in uniform. Article 46 of the Geneva Convention states this clearly:

2. A member of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict who, on behalf of that Party and in territory controlled by an adverse Party, gathers or attempts to gather information shall not be considered as engaging in espionage if, while so acting, he is in the uniform of his armed forces.

The indictment of British sailors in uniform as spies will violate the GC. Can we expect the same level of outrage over this explicit violation as the supposed violations of the US government?

Now since the status of those captured in uniform, as opposed to those captured out of uniform (like, for example, al-Qaeda jihadis), they cannot face criminal charges but must instead be treated as POWs. On the other hand, those captured out of uniform can be so tried, according to whatever for their captors see fit. If this situation does not make the matter clear to even the most dense of observers (including BDS-suffering American leftists), then nothing will.

Oh, and by the way -- the Iranians attacked US and Iraqi forces INSIDE IRAQ recently. Sounds like an act of war to me. Too bad Congress won't let us respond appropriately.

Personally, I like the suggestion at the Jawa Report for dealing with this act of naked aggression by the Iranians. So what if we have to print maps that read "Sea of Glass" where "Iran" used to be.

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Posted by: Greg at 07:56 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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The winning entries in the Watcher's Council vote for this week are The Contranomics of Global Jihad by Big Lizards, and Four Years In by American Digest.  Here is a link to the full results of the vote.

Here are the full tallies of all votes cast:

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News from the Watcher himself.

As a result of a coming shift in blogging focus, Jimmie Bise of The Sundries Shack has chosen to vacate his seat on the Watcher's Council.  It's been great having Jimmie on board for all this time and I wish him the best of luck with his new blog, but now that he has decided to step down, there is one open seat and I need to find a blog worthy enough to fill it.  Anyone that has a blog, please read the up-to-date version of the rules here and contact me if you are interested in applying for membership.  I plan on choosing a replacement in time for that person to participate in the March 27th nominations process and that week's vote.  (Quentin Tarantino's 44th birthday...  w00t!)

Posted by: Greg at 06:33 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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The winning entries in the Watcher's Council vote for this week are Serving While Republican by Eternity Road, and Tenured Deceit by Sigmund, Carl and Alfred.  Here is a link to the full results of the vote.

Here are the full tallies of all votes cast:

Posted by: Greg at 06:07 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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The winning entries in the Watcher's Council vote for this week are Between Iraq and a Hard Place -- Why We Went, How It Got So Screwed Up and Where It's Going -- Part 2 by Joshuapundit, and Uncomfortable Questions: Was the Death Star Attack an Inside Job? by Websurdity.  Here is your link to the full results of the votet. 

Here are the full tallies of all votes cast:

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The winning entries in the Watcher's Council vote for this week are Germany and Iraq, Part 4 by Done With Mirrors, and The Blame Game by From My Position... On the Way!.  Here is where you can findthe full results of the vote.

Here are the full tallies of all votes cast:

Posted by: Greg at 06:07 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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