Britain Doesn't Have Any Real Good Options In Their Hostage Crisis With Iran

Britain really has few good options in their hostage situation with Iran. Some on the political right always advocate a use of military force, however Iran could easily threaten the entire MidEast oil supply by choking off the Strait of Hormuz or even attacking both Saudi and Kuwaiti oil supplies in order to drive up oil supplies and choke off the Western world economies within a few weeks with gasoline prices that could soar to $5-8 dollars a gallon for gas. If gas rationing wouyld take effect, then entire workplaces may have to close, and prices for all store goods would skyrocket with greatly increased transportation prices.


Iran could also easily target Israel with massive numbers of chemical or biological warhead rockets, which could even trigger Israel to react and only invite some other nations to react and possiby join in support of Iran. Iraq, with a heavy Shiite population may become completely unmanageabler and even force a rapid retreat of all American, British or coalition peacekeepers, resulting in a huge bloodbath and an alignment with Iran.

Iran also would be no pushover for the British. Within this past year, Britain has begun to mothball nearly half of all it's 91 warships due to tight military budget money. Without U.S. support, Britain would be hard pressed to attack Iran. But with an American public and Congress both so sour on the Iraq War, there is no will or support for yet another war in the MidEast, and even less persons would like the consequences of this war which would likely include greatly increasec oil product prices, increased terrorism in the U.S. directed by Iranian cells, and other serious consequences.

Britain will need an intelligent and careful response to this crisis. This is not a situation that the political right can advocate bombing the way out. Military action would only invite the worst of consequences for all parties involved and could flaunt with the possibility of inviting WWIII by drawing in many combatants on all sides. The outcome of this would not be good, and is certainly to be avoided.