1.  What would be the benefits of a successful rescue operation of the 15 hostages?

2.  a) What do the British need to know to attempt a rescue mission?
b) Why might this be a problem for them, according to various experts interviewed for this article?

3.  How will the Iranians attempt to prevent a successful rescue mission by the British government, according to former Marine Bill Cowan?

4.  Why didn't American intelligence expect the Iranians to go after the British, according to an unnamed American official?

5.  a) What did the United Nations Security Council refuse to do in reference to the British sailors taken hostage by Iran?
b) In your view was this an appropriate response?  Explain your answer.

6.  What alternatives to a rescue operation have American officials in Washington proposed?

7.  What do you think the British government should do to get their sailors back:
a.  use sanctions and cesure
b.  attempt a rescue operation
c.  apologize to the Iranians and confess to trespassing in their waters even though untrue
d.  another idea
Explain your answer.