How much more powerful is Iran than Britain?

Question

Its crazy, Iran just single-handily knocked Britain off the world stage. Not only that - they took there spot in the pecking order of military powers.

Dont get me wrong Its great that the soldiers are home safe. That being said, this is still a very very said day for Britain - as well as the free world.

Answer 1

Yes, it is. :(

Answer 2

There not;
We used diplomacy instead of escalating a situation that could be solved without needing to use force.
And out of interest the UK is the second most powerful country in the world;
2nd biggest defence budget
2nd largest navy
The largest aircraft carrier fleet outside the US
And the only other nation on earth that the CIA and US defence department consider as capable as mounting 3 expeditionary operations or fighting 2 major wars more than 1000 miles from home for prolonged periods of time.

Answer 3

I am telling you, the failed experiment in Iraq has led to a shift in the world power paradigm.

Countries that stayed out - China and Russia, seem a lot stronger now that they are not bogged down in Iraq.

Israel looks week. With all of their prowess, they could not defeat Hizbollah. Now that they are assessing the situation, there seems to be major disagreement on how the war was handled.

And, Syria can still play both sides of every issue. Further by the fact that Saudia Arabia, Egypt and Jordan have been completely sidelined in the middle east. Remember when Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian opinions actually counted.

GW and BLAIR F'd up.

Answer 4

Well if thats the case where did that put the American military when you attempted to free your hostiges from Iran back in the seventies, and they made your special forces look like a bunch of idiots, that operation was the mother of all foul ups or what!!!

At least any further damage to a region that is already at breaking point has been avoided, the world can at least breath a sigh of relief that this did not escalate into something far more serious, and also that it was handled diplomatically without anyone losing their head.

This is Blairs swan song before he leaves office, and I say well done to him, maybe Bush can learn something out of this, keep your head, think before you act because thinking is so important, stand firm and listen to reason.

Answer 5

Well, Britain was embarrassed. But the military pecking order hasn't changed. The Brits could have put a serious thumping on Iran if they had had the balls to do it. Tony Blair doesn't have the political capital to do that. He is bogged down by the same bleeding heart crap that holds us back. Its a shame that the peaceniks consider this a victory when, in reality, it is a humiliation of one of the most powerful nations on the planet. I agree its great that the sailors got home safe. I'm glad it wasn't me who had to make the decisions in this incident, too. I just hate that Iran was able to bully a great nation and get away with it.

Answer 6

I agree it is good the soldiers are home. But, in the long run? Iran has found its place with Britain and it is just a matter of time before they show their force, then what? I think they should have tried to find the soldiers, rescued what they could if they could, then bomb the country of iran for it's actions. What they did only made you look weak. We cannot stand aside and let the terrorists control us.

Answer 7

Lets see.... It took a full sized battleship to overpower a Navy dingy. In international waters.

Our troops were returned to us without any concessions made by us.

So, how does that make the UK less powerfull than Iran?

Could it be that Iran just didnt fancy being pulverised for the sake of a few hostages?

Answer 8

not really at all !
Dont get me wrong i hated Iran this time last week , But they made the right choice letting us go.

If they didnt then it would have got out of hand. So iran did what was right , They fill we entered there waters , if an Iran ship was close to are waters we would have done the same.

But England will always be a big power and the world knows that . Iran let us go 1: To keep the peace for now , 2: Bying them selfs sometime . 3: To make them look like a peaceful nation. 4:Saying that we dont know what iran wants to do really , the papers make things alot worse , how do we know that Iran just wants to make power like they say ? I think from whats happend today we should just let them get on with it, We have Nuke why shouldnt they ? put this way , if they ever used a Nuke , they would get hit by one right away also . so i dont see whats wrong with them making them if they want to .

To tell the Truth they want peace like us and so do there people. !

Answer 9

I have to disagree with you on this one. Unfortunately there was no military option for the safe recovery of the 15 hostages. The US tried this in the late 1970's and even though they knew were the hostages were it all went tit's up.
The best outcome was a diplomatic one and unfortunately we now look stupid to the rest of the world.
The key thing that needs to be discovered is how it was possible in the first place for the 15 to be captured.

Answer 10

What's so sad? That they avoided a war with Iran? This situation doesn't been that Iran is more powerful than Britain. Iran is an ignorant country and Britain is more powerful then them. And I'm sorry "Politically Wrong" but the size of country's military does not make it stronger than another country. China ranks higher the America but America is stronger.

Answer 11

If there were a real war between Iran and UK the UK would wipe the floor with Iran. Just because they were embarrassed one time by a two bit dictator and his country doesn't make that dictatorhsip any more powerful than UK.