Though the hostages are now safely returned to Great Britain, and Iran has not been allowed to kill them, the recent crisis over this seizure, is an ultimate defeat for the Great Britain, and for its ally the United States. Our regional credibility was lessened, because we did not stand up to Iran. We allowed Iran to walk all over both the US and the UK, and their regional power has been strengthened.

Iran tested us, in a way they haven't tested us since 1979. Because of increasing global tensions, and the US's much stronger stance on global terrorism, I believe that Iran tried to challenge us again, to see how we would react. The problem (for us) is, that we reacted in precisely the same way. The day before leaving office, Jimmy Carter signed the Algeirs Accords, which released the hostages, but in return gave Iran everything it asked for. Essentially (and not at all surprisingly) Carter totally capitulated to the demands of terrorists.

The Iranian problem began in 1979, and should have been taken care of in 1979. By allowing them to remain a viable political force in the region, we have only created a greater problem for our country now, after 30 years of radical islamic domination have gone by. The refusal by the US and UK to use force against Iran have shown Iran that once again, they can accomplish quite a lot without risking retaliation, and therefore have the upper hand in this struggle.

This was a defeat for the United States, even though the hostages were British. It is also a defeat for Great Britain, but as an American I am more concerned at the moment about the United States. Our steadfast refusal to use force against Iran amounts to a capitulation once again to their demands. They demanded we release some of their prisoners - and there goes an Iranian "diplomat" from our custody. Though perhaps unofficial, this was almost certainly designed to please the Iranians.

We allowed the hostages to be removed to Tehran, where they now report they were blindfolded, bound, and stripped during "interrogations." We should never have allowed them to hold these people for this long without consequences. Iran has not suffered anything as a result of this hostage seizure. The sanctions were in place before they took the hostages, and new, tougher sanctions have not been implemented. So what has Iran lost? More people saw them for how terrible they are, but that makes little difference - Iran has never really tried to conceal the fact that they are the world's most evil nation.

The British government should come out and say that British ships are now being ordered to fire on any aggressive actions taken by Iranian military units. These soldiers didn't fire back, because it was not their policy to do so. That policy must change if we are to stand up to Iran.

This is also a victory, because Iran had the upper hand the entire time. The Iranian government is not made up of idiots, just maniacs. They played a very good game of international chess, and have put the US and Great Britain, at the very least, into a stalemate, and possibly into a very powerful checkmate. The hostages were seized on Iranian terms. The hostages were moved on Iranian terms. The actions done to the hostages were on Iranian terms. The release of the hostages, was - guess what - on Iranian terms.

Neither the British government or the United States exercised any of the power that would have given US the diplomatic upper hand, and allowed us to dictate to the Iranians how best to resolve this conflict. Yes I realize that the hostages were released, and that Great Britain and the US threatened more angry words if the Iranian's didn't capitulate.

But if you're an apocalyptic madman like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, or the Ayatollah Khameini, do angry words from the US or Great Britain really scare you? And even if they do, you're trying to summon the 12th Imam by creating an international holocaust, so does it even matter? Of course it doesn't, and Iran has won because of this.

Iran is the most dangerous nation on planet Earth, and it is necessary and essential that their government be destroyed, or it will mean a very dangerous situation for the US in the very near future. Iran is anxiously developing nuclear weapons, and will not hesitate to use them against Israel or the United States if they acquire working weapons.

No action taken by the two nations that SHOULD be taking action to stand up to Iran, have been forceful enough to curb Iran from this path of destruction. It is imperative that the US realize we cannot sit idly by and let Iran do what it wants. Talking to them will not work, has not worked, and will NEVER work. Action is necessary in dealing with nations like Iran. They need to believe that they CAN step too far, and that if they do, retaliation will be swift and precise.