What if the captured British Naval personnel were Americans?

Question

What would have happened if the Iranians captured 15 Americans rather that Brits?
How would the issue have have progressed or escalated? And what would the President's response be?

PS: Lets be mature and not go 'bush-bashing' with this one.

EDIT: Just for those who are not aware of full details.

Sometime 2 weeks ago, a detachment of British Sailors and Royal marines were captured/arrested by members of the IRG while they were partolling in Iraqi waters.
The nearby base of ops (HMS Cornwall) was unable to assist, because of shallow waters in the area.
And according to the groups statements, the Iranians had 6 gunboats and were armed with RPGs and heavy weap

Answer 1

What if ?

Simple. We'd be in WW3. Why ? Because Bush is a pathetic, pig headed clown.

Answer 2

The first question should be, would American Marines have given up without a fight? We have to many veterans in uniform that would fight just out of professional pride even if it were 10 to 1 odds. Also, the American response would have been overwhelming force and to hell with the casualties. Never again, the shame of Iranian hostages.

Answer 3

I would hope that our president would stand strong and demand their immediate return, and if Iran did not comply within the time given, then take military action. This is a evil regime and they are playing games with the western infidels, At this point they see us as weak and timid. when I hear the democrats make statements like, we must use diplomacy to achieve favorable outcomes or we must be more sensitive and understanding of our enemies. I say let the Dem's crawl back under their rock and let our brave military men and women do their job of protecting our country in the only way these radical regimes will understand, which is military brute force. only when they see there are consequences to their actions will they think twice about harming us or our allies.

Answer 4

Most likely the exact same thing would have happened.

Bush managed to avoid a war with China a few years back when one of their fighter jets bumped into a navy surveillance plane and forced it to land in China with about 20 crew aboard. The sate department had to issue a press release saying that we regretted the loss of the Chinese pilot's life and it was over.

Answer 5

American forces would have reacted differently. America has far more assets in the area, as well.
I suspect, had they managed to take American sailors hostage, we would have demanded their return or we would take out a military target in Iran everyday until they were.

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Answer 6

Bush more than likely would of done the same thing when Americans were captured by the Chinese in 2000......he used backdoor diplomacy, and strong public statements.

Answer 7

The same as Blair's response. Don't believe what Gwynne Dyer writes. He is mostly wrong in his assertions. I liked him until 9/11.

Answer 8

its a tough call.. would have been an international incident thouhg.. theres decent odds on they wouldnat have been taken captive.. the commander may have taken the initive and sicne its international waters just sunk the gunboats
that were approaching his/her troops .

Answer 9

i think that Bush would have been pissed. i also think that his advisors would not have let him blow iran up. face it...bush gets no other term as Prez. he can almost do what he wants. i don't care what anyone else says...bush may be a 'simple"guy, but he has worked hard for the US. except for the blatant good ol' boy appointments...etc. we wouldn't be it the predicament with the "mid-east" if clinton was less of a pussy.

Answer 10

I believe that the Bush administration would go into Iran and try to free those that were captured.

Answer 11

Bush would declare war on Iran and then all the middle east.