UK 0 - 1 Iran (after extra time)

[Gromit]

Anyone care to let off steam...

[Booldawg]

Thats only the away match. We'll win on aggregate.

[MrsT]

Explain, Gromit, I mean even an anti British plonker like you can't possibly say Iran won, they gave up the hostages for no obvious concession. That's a win on your planet then is it?

[Gromit]

MrsT,

Sorry, we must have won then, but it doesn't feel like it.

[Loosehead]

What game were you watching then Gromit?

[Gromit]

Deck Quoits

[BooldawgsMrs]

I can see where Gromits coming from. We're now in Irans pocket - and thats not a good place to be. The world will be watching as to how we repay their kindness. This is a gift they can cash in when things as and when.

[Loosehead]

What are you on about MrsBawldog, In Iran's Pocket? Right oh, they meekly give up the hostages, just how exactly does that put us in their pocket. What strange view!

[whiffey]

Let's just wait for the inevitable:

USA 10 : Iran 0

Then 6 months later:

World Leftie Opinion 10 : USA 0

As if it bothers USA one iota.

(Britain might score one of the goals as an extra)

[ludwig]

I make it a 0-0 draw.
Don't see how either country gained any benefit at all from the whole episode. Which is why I can't understand what Iran was doing. I mean what did they hope to achieve? Am I missing something?

[jno]

Propaganda victory to Iran, I think, Gromit. Next time the navy boards vessels in the gulf, they'll be that little bit more uncertain of themselves. And while they could have treated their captives the way the USA treats people in Guantanamo Bay, they actually seem to have behaved in a civilised manner. Where would people rather be held prisoner, Tehran or Abu Ghraib?

[Supernick]

Honours even I would say.

UK

1. Gets the hostages back with apparently no concessions
2. We can show that rather than the gung-ho bombs away approach, we're prepared to negotiate, and resolve things without bloodshed.
3. We build a few bridges again with the UN who we haven't exactly been eye to eye with.

Iran

1. Gets to flex it's muscles without bloodshed and say that they won't roll over to the UK and USA
2. Importantly they've made it MUCH harder to invade now, as they have been shown internationally to want to resolve issues through negotiation. They have returned hostages voluntarily without demands from the UN, and shown to the world that they can be peaceful and enlightened (barring putting soldiers on TV of course)

[Gromit]

Supernick

****** = That's a six star answer.

[brionon]

Why and How did the Navy let 'em get taken ?
Heads must roll.

[Gromit]

Regardless of whether they were in Iraqi or Iranian waters, they seems to have been left in a very vunerable position.

Out of visual sight of HMS Cornwall, helicopter support scambled too late, radar support lacking and orders to give up asap if they met trouble. In short, this whole episode should have been avoided.

[Neilzulu1]

Gromit, you are a prat. What exactly have they achieved by the media circus. The only loser in this is all the Iranian tailors. Jesus, talk about charity shop suits.

[harper]

Let us hope that it doesn' t go to penalty shoot-outs.