New School Politics

Is Kidnapping an Act of War?

Zach | 25 03 2007

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This summer, Hezbollah, a terrorist organization operating out of Lebanon, kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed several others. After days of scrutinizing the reasoning and organizations behind the attack, Israel decided to authorize a “severe” response against Lebanon, the country harboring Hezbollah. After the world condemned both countries, Israel continued bombing Lebanon, at one point commencing in a ground campaign aimed at the destruction of Hezbollah. The US tried to remain impartial but couldn’t help but get involved on the side of the Israelis. The “war,” as Israel has just officially declared it, caused grave public relations disasters for both countries throughout the world as images of dead children were broadcast throughout the world by international news agencies. Weeks after intense rocket barrages, Israel decided to end the war even after they didn’t achieve their goals. The conflict should have served as an example to countries around the world about the risks of keeping enemy soldiers as POWs.

Fast forward to March 23, 2007. After British Navy soldiers from the HMS Cornwall boarded a boat in Iraqi waters to search it, they were captured by Iranian Revolutionary Guard soldiers. Britain has tried to resolve the conflict amicably, but Tony Blair has continually chastised Iran for what he calls an “unjustified and wrong” act. Recent UN sanctions have put Iran under pressure to eliminate their nuclear program. As usual, however, Iran has stood firm, calling the sanctions “unlawful” and “unjustifiable.” With the sanctions adding more fuel to the fire, one must wonder how far Iran plans to go. Will the UK, like Israel, react to the Iranian conflict with force? Senator John McCain suggested that the UK take “very decisive action” against Iran while the US provides “moral support.”

Iran has been bullish, taking the soldiers to 15 British soldiers to Tehran. Even worse, Mohammed Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, has announced plans to try the soldiers for espionage. One could easily presume the public relations fiasco that would ensue for Britain throughout the Arab world as Middle Eastern news organizations reported news of the trial. Surely, Iranian media would love to portray the West as a monster eager to spy on them.
Pajamas Media, a well-respected conglomeration of political blogs, claims that the US is holding 300 prisoners linked to Iran. This kidnapping may be an effort to recover the Iranian agents caught in Iraq. Still, is it right to capture British soldiers as a bargaining chip for Iranian agents captured by US soldiers? Why involve Britain in the conflict?
Even more importantly, the world must wonder whether the UK finds this kidnapping worthy enough to go to war. If not resolved diplomatically, I believe the UK has a responsibility to get their soldiers back, no matter what action is required. One must recall the Iranian hostage crisis of the Carter Administration. This fiasco, right in the middle of a crucial war for the hearts and minds of Iraqis and Middle Easterners, can’t last that long. If Iran refuses to hand over the British soldiers, the UK has no choice but to take decisive military action against Iran. I’m not referring to a full scale war. I believe that a targeted strike, if performed with surgical precision, may help to persuade the Iranians of the grave action they have taken against the UK. Otherwise, the UK has very few actions it can take to recover their soldiers.
Is Ahmadinejad, however, bluffing? Although regarded throughout the world as a maniacal and power-hungry leader, one cannot deny his intelligence. In a short period of time, he has transformed a modern nation into an anti-American religious-run country where citizens have very little freedom. Throughout the world, he has helped to create a feeling of anti-Americanism. Is this effort just another PR ploy? The world will soon find out as the conflict drags itself on.

UPDATE: interestingly enough, YNetNews [an Israeli publication] claims that the number of Lebanese citizens supporting Hezbollah leader Nasrallah since the end of the war has been steadily decreasing. Will Ahmadinejad face a similar backlash if the kidnapping situation isn’t quickly resolved?

technorati tags:Ahmadinejad, kidnapping, UK, Britain, Blair, espionage, Hezbollah, Israel, war