The question is only how not to be SEEN backing down. Starting something militarily against Iran sounds like a bad deal for everyone concerned. But backing down is just as bad for an empire and its junior partner. I am not sure how did UK get into the position of placing the trust of the foreign policy AND the energy policy in the hands of two brothers. Especially two brothers being such first class Russiaphobes, who were forced to finally admit the family connections to Russia. What a first class farce. How will the face saving be accomplished, we shall see. In Afghanistan, Karzai turned the tables on NATO, specifically Hollbrooke and Hillary Clinton. Ms. Clinton managed to make a series of serious mistakes on her trip to Pakistan. Inpatient and rude, she exhibited all the traits of empires that want what they want, and want it now. Millions of refugees and thousands of dead in Pakistan --- well, there is a war going on! She forgot that there was no war going on in Pakistan, until the untested government cobbled together by a bunch of exiles took power and started following US directives. She forgot that Pakistan is not interested in being an experiment. Obama is facing a range of very hard decisions, and UK is in it up to its eyeballs. The situation in Iraq is unstable. Kurds have again taken advantage of perceived US desire to stay in Iraq, and are torpedoing the deal with Baghdad over Kirkuk. Afghanistan and Pakistan are in critical care. Opening a new Iran front may be forced only by a rogue elements in the system, and Obama will be faced with nightmare. The sooner he exerts control over his Administration, the better.

I am deeply concerned. Milliband is one of the 'Blairites' and a supporter of the warmongering Bush policies. Over the last few weeks the US has started to backtrack on some of its foreign policy issues and therefore may now be prepared to consider, or even use harsher merthods to force Iran to submit to the will of the US government. This Milliband visit may be an attempt to prepare Russia for upcoming US action in the region - be that sanctions backed up by naval and air blockades, or direct millitary action.

Don't get so serious about the Brits. Their little country {island} is much smaller than Iran. The Brits are "HAS BEENS" still pretending to be an EMPIRE. Give them a few crumbs and send him home.

Yes! What does he REALLY want. Nothing honest and good, nothing decent and honourable, that is for sure. He is not even English, nor Scottish nor Iris nor Welsh.

This is about Iran - pure and simple. The Bits and the US need Russian support, or at least an understanding that Russia won't get in their way. You see, unlike the ordinary UK population, the UK government do not like or trust the Russians so they would not go there unless they wanted something. Most likely the British Prime Ministers boss (not the Queen, but the guy who lives in the Whitehouse) has sent Milliband over to Russia to 'woo' the Russians and sweet talk them into supporting sanctions on Iran. It is of course possible that the British have decided to do this themselves. You see, the British have hated Iran since the Islamic government kicked them and their oil companies out - and with the recent humiliating 'capture' of British sailors under the nose of one of their most advanced warships (by a couple of guys in small boats!) has only served to increase the vitriol. If the next stop for Milliband is the Peoples Republic of China then we can expect real trouple ahead for Iran................ ..................

1. Access to investment opportunities, as always 2. Presence to stimulate trouble, as always

I wonder what the Brits REALLY want...