Is Piracy like Iran's capture of Brittish sailors an act of war?

Question

Is the capture of 15 Brittons in the waters of Iraq, an act of Piracy, acceptable as an international act of war? Has piracy ever started a war before?

Answer 1

in my opinion Iran's actions are a clear act of war , England needs to call Iran and say , you have 24 hours to return our people or it's war . England needs to step up to the plate here

Answer 2

Depends on how the British choose to understand it. It's not piracy, though; there's been no seizure/robbing of the ship's cargo. Since this is an inter-combatant interaction (i.e. between British and Iranian military personnel), it can most certainly be interpreted by the British as a cassus belli/act of war. Considering that the British were international waters, this is an unwarranted military act by the Iranians. If it turns out that the British were in Iranian waters, the Iranians could just as soon assume that the Briitsh had committed an act of war on them by invading their sovereign territory...

Cassus belli is, nonetheless, a subjective term. When the Iranians took over the American embassy in 1979, the US did not choose to escalate this to the brink of direct conflict despite their obvious jsutification to do so. On the flip side, the Israelis interpreted the "relatively-less-consequential" act of the 1967 Egyptian expulsion of UN personnel from the Sinai (so as to clear the path for a military campaign) as an act of war; since it came on the heels of their President announcing that he intended to "drive Israel into the sea." The Israeli assault was also vindicated afterwards by the United Nations. I guess the bottom line is, its all in the eye of the beholder, subject to international approval.

Oh yeah: And the US went to war after the Barbary coast pirates kept interfering with their trade in 1816. There are a couple of cases in South East Asia that are more recent, I think.

Answer 3

I'm sorry but I see this as an act of aggression. I don't believe the Iranians can be trusted and surely with our firepower and economic clout we could just threaten to take the captives back by force. Once you give in to the demands of countries like that bit's a licence for them to do it again. We should patrol their borders and shoot down any military planes that venture out, impose immediate sanctions and threaten to invade if any of our people are harmed. Let's be honest, we invaded Iraq on a false pretext, the non existent 'Weapons of Mass Destruction' which never existed. At least we have proof that Iran has, and misuse nuclear capability and has kidnapped 15 of our people. To me that's far more reason to invade than the trumped up reasons Blair and Bush gave about Iraq. Also isn't it about time Bush supported Blair instead of always the other way round. Let him put HIS resources at our disposal instead of bleeding us of ours.

Answer 4

Yes it is an act of war and yess piracy has caused wars before case in point the war of 1812.

Answer 5

It is Piracy!! And yes, in my opinion an act of war. Not only have they seized naval personel, but they have also captured British military hardware. This can only be resolved with a very strong show of force..... not sanctions but military actions. For examples cruise missile strikes!

Answer 6

Yes, but it won't happen that way. Today's leaders, except for Bush, are too cowardly to actually enter into a war.

Answer 7

yes!!

if it was up to me the bombing of iran would have begun a while ago already!

sorry for those guys cought over there but I would NOT have let ANY country get away with that crap!

but that 's just me.

Answer 8

Yes and Yes, but now days people like to talk and blow hot air before the *** kick'en begins.

Answer 9

I suspect that it is. According to what I have read, it may also be construed as an act of terrorism.

Answer 10

Absolutely, and if leaders were stronger actions towards rogue nations missteps ..Things like this wouldn't happen!!!