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# Ruling the waves...or waiving the rules?
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/ruling-the-waves-or-waiving-the-rules/
- Published: 2008-04-18T16:04:36.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:40:10.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:41

**Guy Aitchison (London,** [**OK**](http://ourkingdom.opendemocracy.net/?ref=opendemocracy.net)**):** The handy [security update](http://www.opendemocracy.net/terrorism/article/security%5Fbriefings/180408) sent out daily by terrorism.oD informs me that the MoD has now confirmed that the fifteen [UK sailors ](http://www.payvand.com/news/08/apr/1170.html?ref=opendemocracy.net)taken captive by Iran in March of last year were not seized in Iraqi waters. In March 2007 Des Browne told the Commons that "there is no doubt that *HMS Cornwall* was operating in Iraqi waters and that the incident itself took place in Iraqi waters . . ." But documents [released](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3761058.ece?ref=opendemocracy.net) under Freedom of Information show that they were in waters that had been in dispute since the Iran-Iraq war. The boundary on the map which the MoD claimed was the “Iraq/Iran Territorial Water Boundary” had been unilaterally designated by the coalition without telling the Iranians. At the time our media was only too ready to parrot the official line and [call](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2045071,00.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) for escalations against Iran. Can we now expect a retraction? I'm tempted to put this one down as another victory for the blogosphere, since readers of Craig Murray's blog will have [known](http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2007/03/captured%5Fmarine.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) all along.