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The Democrats are no longer sweating a fading McCain but foresee geographic problems with a Giuliani GOP nomination.

Like Flap said the first time.

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The Rudy Giuliani Files

Update:

Iran says it is now interrogating the British sailors.

AP: Iran may charge British sailors

Iran warned that 15 British sailors and marines could face charges for allegedly entering Iranian waters and rejected British requests to meet with the servicemen detained off the coast of Iraq.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki threatened unspecified consequences for the Royal Navy crew in comments to reporters in New York on Sunday, describing the charge against them as “illegal entrance into Iranian waters.”

“In terms of legal issues, it’s under investigation,” Mottaki said.

Iraq’s foreign minister demanded that Iran release the servicemen who were captured Friday, saying they had been detained in Iraqi waters and were operating with government consent, a statement from his office said Monday.

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari discussed the issue with Mottaki on Sunday and “called for their release and for addressing their issue legally and wisely,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television on Monday quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Mehzi Mostafavi as saying that Iran was not aiming to swap the British servicemen for five Iranians who were arrested in northern Iraq.

The Brits cannot be too happy with this turn of events. Prime Minister Tony Blair has already vehemently protested, warning Iran that its seizure was “unjustified and wrong”, insisting the sailors and marines were taken from Iraqi waters.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki speaks during a news conference in New York March 25, 2007. Iran is considering charging 15 British sailors with illegally entering its waters and may grant Britain access to its navy personnel when Tehran’s investigation is complete, Mottaki said on Sunday.

In comments read out by a newscaster, Mostafavi did not say what Iran plans to do with the British servicemen, but he said they were being interrogated.

“Iran has enough evidence to prove that the British Forces personnel were detained in Iranian waters,” he said. He added that the British government was accountable for their actions.

The capture and detention of the British service personnel increased tensions between Iran and the West that already were high over Tehran’s nuclear program and allegations that Iran is interfering with the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

And this is not the first time that British sailors have been captured by the Iranians. In 2004 six British marines and two sailors were captured, then paraded blindfolded on Iranian television. They admitted they had entered Iranian waters illegally but were released unharmed after three days.

The area will remain a “FLASH POINT” for potential escalation until the Brits are released.

Will the British people now swing to majority support of Tony Blair’s policies in the region?

Stay tuned……

British soliders patrol the waterways close to an oil terminal near the Iraqi city of Basra in 2005. British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday called Iran’s seizure of 15 British naval personnel “unjustified and wrong” as international pressure grew on Iran over the new diplomatic crisis.

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Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?

Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran

Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance

Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters

Day By Day by Chris Muir

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