Early Christmas
Iran presented the UK, perhaps the western world, with an early Christmas gift. 15 Royal Navy personnel held over 13 days all released. President Ahmadinejad's publicity blitz.
There's a public release of both the UK and Iran version of events found on the BBC. Some critical numbers: UK maintained that the boat was 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters (1 nautical mile = 1852 metres - naval trivia! I bet I can use it as a pick up line somewhere). Iran disputed with a position provided by them but was told by UK that the revised position was still within Iraqi waters. Iran came up with another position. This time correctly putting the location within Iranian waters. The positions were provided by the same Global Positioning System (GPS) - NAVigation Satellite Timing And Ranging Global Positioning System (NAVSTAR GPS).
This is a classic example of an ambitious nation fighting against one with a well-oiled information management machine. The UK pioneered information management, especially on the war front. From World War 2 to Falklands. The US had to learn alot from them after their fumble over information management in the Vietnam War. US got their act briefly together in Gulf War 1. Only that they were too confident, leading to mismanagement at crucial areas. Cable News Network became famous as a result and US went back to re-learning info-management.
The trouble with GPS and the potential dangers of GPS was made into a movie. Tomorrow Never Dies, the 18th James Bond flick comes to mind. The recent article on the New York Time syndicate by Wilson Rothman points out several other examples. The NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade rises the problem of accurate GPS coupled with old maps.
The location at which the Royal Navy personnel were captured remains of vital importance. It is the only source of integrity in our present day and age. As Iran continues to pursue her ambitious plan to be recognised as a nuclear nation (since 2004), she cannot help but play on the terms that are current and considered normal. That dictates the need to be legal in her bearing, consistent in her approach and diplomatic in her dealings.
In this event, Iran has proven herself to be still a wannabe. While she tries to be act behind the facade of laws and mandated norms, her inconsistency in the provision of information (location of the seizure) totally destroyed her credibility. At least she was diplomatic, releasing the personnel unharmed and unconditionally in principal. Requesting, not demanding reciprocation.
So what is the UK suppose to do when shown such generosity which she cannot reciprocate? Proclaim this fracas as a publicity event meant to put Iran in a good light of course.
Could this happen in our own backyard? Disupted areas, baselines and other international diplomatic time bombs dot the South China Sea. So how well-oiled is ourpropaganda information management machine?
There's a public release of both the UK and Iran version of events found on the BBC. Some critical numbers: UK maintained that the boat was 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters (1 nautical mile = 1852 metres - naval trivia! I bet I can use it as a pick up line somewhere). Iran disputed with a position provided by them but was told by UK that the revised position was still within Iraqi waters. Iran came up with another position. This time correctly putting the location within Iranian waters. The positions were provided by the same Global Positioning System (GPS) - NAVigation Satellite Timing And Ranging Global Positioning System (NAVSTAR GPS).
This is a classic example of an ambitious nation fighting against one with a well-oiled information management machine. The UK pioneered information management, especially on the war front. From World War 2 to Falklands. The US had to learn alot from them after their fumble over information management in the Vietnam War. US got their act briefly together in Gulf War 1. Only that they were too confident, leading to mismanagement at crucial areas. Cable News Network became famous as a result and US went back to re-learning info-management.
The trouble with GPS and the potential dangers of GPS was made into a movie. Tomorrow Never Dies, the 18th James Bond flick comes to mind. The recent article on the New York Time syndicate by Wilson Rothman points out several other examples. The NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade rises the problem of accurate GPS coupled with old maps.
The location at which the Royal Navy personnel were captured remains of vital importance. It is the only source of integrity in our present day and age. As Iran continues to pursue her ambitious plan to be recognised as a nuclear nation (since 2004), she cannot help but play on the terms that are current and considered normal. That dictates the need to be legal in her bearing, consistent in her approach and diplomatic in her dealings.
In this event, Iran has proven herself to be still a wannabe. While she tries to be act behind the facade of laws and mandated norms, her inconsistency in the provision of information (location of the seizure) totally destroyed her credibility. At least she was diplomatic, releasing the personnel unharmed and unconditionally in principal. Requesting, not demanding reciprocation.
So what is the UK suppose to do when shown such generosity which she cannot reciprocate? Proclaim this fracas as a publicity event meant to put Iran in a good light of course.
Could this happen in our own backyard? Disupted areas, baselines and other international diplomatic time bombs dot the South China Sea. So how well-oiled is our
![[Valid Atom 1.0]](valid-atom.png "Validate my Atom 1.0 feed")
No comments:
Post a Comment