Why is it soo hard for the Bushies or the Blairies to appologize?

[napi21]

For God sake. If all the Iranians are asking for is an appology and they'll release theBritish soldiers that they're holding, why not just damn do it? So you don't believe they were in Iranian waters, and they say they were. Who cares? Say we didn't believe we were trespassing into Iranian waters, but you do, so we're sorry! It wasn't done on purpose.

Is this one of them UNMANLY THINGS?

[BlooInBloo]

1. Nah - women aren't any better at apologizing... Arguably worse..

.... but that might just be the fact that I'm a guy talking.

[cali]

2. Oddly enought bush did apologize to the Chinese

when they were holding our folks.

[Colobo]

3. Very simple: Power.

If you are in a position of power, you try to avoid any possible sign of weakness, which is what Iran is actually looking for. Iran is trying to show the world they can make the West apologize.

Sorry if I sound Machavellian, but that's the way the world works. Jimmy Carter tried to be honest with Americans in his Malaise Speech, but instead it was perceived as a demonstration of weakness from his part.

[napi21]

4. I don't dispute what you said, but it sure sounds like "damaging

hismanliness" to me! After all, what else is manliness but power?

[RL3AO]

5. Appologize for what?

The Iranians captured 15 British sailors which is an act of war. The Iranians should be thanking Blair for not nuking them yet.

[napi21]

6. Have YOU never appologized to someone just to keep peace?

You know, you wife, husband, dear friend, boss...

I HAVE! Sometimes being right and stubborn just isn't worth the consequences!

[Bluedogvoter]

7. Not the same situation.

Lets say your wife is cheating on you with your boss, will you apologize to them saying it was your fault because you didn't keep them both happy?

[napi21]

11. Not an equal comparison. I don't believe there are 3 parties involved here.

There are only 2. Yes, the US could stick their nose in, but right now, it's only 2.

I still think if the Brits would say they still don't believe they did anything wrong, they are sorry the Iranians believe they did, and they weren't trying to provoke anyone.

I'm not buying the "terratorial waters shouldn't be disputed" argument either. What the hell do you think the US would do if Iranian or any other enemy ships trespassed into what the US believes to be US teratorial waters?

I understand Iran is an enemy, but I still feel it's wrongto try to play the gamewith two sets of rules!

[RL3AO]

8. Maybe appologising will hurt Britain more than it will help

because it will give Iran more propaganda to use.

[Igel]

9. It will hurt Britain.

They will lose respect (call it "honor"). It will make it easier for the Iranians to make demands, and make it more likely they'll try to push Britain around. In some views, honor is more important than life, and certainly more important than the truth or trivial things like love.

It will help Khameinei and the mullahs in Iran. Surely not a good thing.

It will have Britain go on record as saying those waters aren't disputed at all, but Iranian.

[RL3AO]

10. Also Britain would be admiting they lied to the world.

[Igel]

13. At this point, yes.

The problem with lying in this context isn't so much not telling the truth, as admitting doing it. It's better in some circumstances to tell obvious lies, since that's the only honorable thing to do (think "Baghdad Bob", whose lies were far too obvious, and yet who was respected in the ME for telling the lies that honor demanded, even though he was ridiculed in the US).

[CJCRANE]

12. If Blair nuked Iran

the rest of Europe would throttle him for destroying half the world's oil supply.

Killing the captured sailors, hundreds of thousands of Iranians and bringing the global economy to a grinding halt doesn't make a lot of sense.

A bit of quiet diplomacy and the captured sailors will be home soon.

[LeftishBrit]

14. Huh? I don't like what Iran is doing with our sailors; but you can't be serious!

It's not, I repeat NOT, worth ending the world over. Which is what nuking Iran would do. Even Blair wouldn't be that daft.

[Solo_in_MD]

15. Why do you think that is the only thing on the table?

[Cha]

16. They want WAR.

And they're not the "bushies"..they're the bushits.

And the fucking toady blurs.