6th April, Dianavan - can't wait - to hear all the excuses why nothing happened followed by all the speculation about the next most likely date selected at random. IIRC Little Hawk's prediction is sometime late April, early May.

When states start abducting the citizens of other countries it normally shows a certain degree of desperation. The one thing that has not been discussed but I believe does come into play is that the Shat-Al-Arab is an international waterway and cannot be closed by any party who might lay claim that it, or parts of it, are within territorial waters. To do so is considered by the UN to constitute an act of war (This is what initially sparked off the 1967 "Six Day War")

I take it now dianavan that you no longer believe that the British personnel involved were "stealing" cars? How anybody could have given that lunacy any credence at all given the circumstances surrounding the incident I haven't a clue, I mean they would have to barking mad.

I also like the way the Mudcats "Fellow Travellers" automatically switch to the "Guilty until proven innocent, and even then we won't believe you" mode - So ludicrously predictable.