British sailors.

Rank

It seems strange to me that among a 15 person boarding team there was a Royal Navy LCDR and LT and a Royal Marine Captain.
Does the USN use that much horsepower?
 
I'm not sure I can even begin to tactfully voice my opinion on this matter.

I guess what it boils down to is that I'm really disappointed.

I always thought the Brits were similar to us. I was in the military, I even trained with their Marines at one time. They were proud and confident. I don't know what their laws are... I know what OURS are. So, until I actually find and read every law and go through their training to hear the expectations, I guess I shouldn't comment.

I can comment on military discipline though. I assume that is universal. I know that if I WENT BACK TO MY UNIT, after 2 WEEKS, WITH NO VISIBLE MARKINGS and no other psychological torture besides BEING BLINDFOLDED and HAVING GUNS COCKED NEXT TO ME at a mock execution... my unit would shun me. Add in that they did all these photo ops and even as they left, they waved nicely and thanked Iran for their hospitality. AS A UNIT! I've never been held hostage, so I obviously have no first-hand knowledge, but this sure seems fishy... maybe if they were water-boarded or blasted with electricity, but they weren't. They were threatened with a trial and they caved.

Hell, given their situation I would probably BEG for the Iranians to at least break my nose or shine my eye so I could at least hold my head somewhat high back home. If they didn't do it, I would do it to myself and I damn sure wouldn't be the guy waving and laughing on the trip home.

The British military is probably collectively 10000x more mad than I am. I still think they are pro's, but the rest of the world has good reason to belive otherwise. Unbelievable.

On a side note: Stick a fork in the UK - they are DONE.
 
I've never been in this situation.. but If I were, I'm sure I'd be scared crapless. Do think the british soldiers could have resisted harder? Sure. Am i angry at them for not doing it? Not at all.

If saying some silly testimony on film that everyone knows is only propaganda helps to keep me in one peice and out of harm's way, Id do it and wouldnt think twice.

Its one thing to keep silent when you have information that could cost others their lives, or cause phyisical harm to fellow soldiers... But refusing at the point of possible exacution or torture to read a pre written speach?

A stubborn dead man is still a dead man. You cant blame somone for wanting to live.
 
The problem is that these sailors weren't in a specialty that would warrant SERE training.
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Okay, no. I'm a freaking civilian and even I know it's just name, rank, and serial number. Yeah, I'll probably be singing too if I had wood splinters shoved up my finger nails, or cigarettes put out on my skin, or forced starvation/ dehydration. But they came home with their fingernails. We saw them eat and drink and smoke for the TV's, not at all looking like they were under duress. Their upper lips had the stiffness of microwaved mayonaise, what with all the verbal cooperation they were doing.

I'm sured they were scared. I'd probably be even more scared. But above all, I know that I could bet my life on the fact that I'd be coming home mostly together.

We all knew from the start that this was all one big PR stunt to show that Iran can flex its muscles and call one hell of a bluff. Those POWs have got to know that they would be safe. The Iranians wouldn't dare kill off one of those guys.

I'm sorry, but given the kind of relationship the US and the UK have, and given Bush's proactive, gung-ho, cowboy, shoot-from-the-hip attitude, (while up for debate), killing a PoW and waiting for a reaction is definitely one bluff I would not call.

Bush doesn't bluff. He throws a fast one past Congress, the UN, and the American public, and sends in the Marines. And the Army. And the Navy. And the Air Force. Bush's Posse.

Like I said before, I'm glad they're all safe. And I'm glad nobody died. But seriously....

On a side note, when PlayboyPenguin comes for a visit to bash Bush, I hope he can reconcile the fact that he thinks Bush is simultaneously, the worst, most stupid president ever, while still managing to slip so many things past the congress, most of America, and still hold an office. Bush is either dumb or ruthlessly cunning, but he can't be both.
 
I'm sure it does....but it's STILL just a sound.
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True but the bluff doesn't get old after a couple of minutes, it actually never gets old. That's why it has been used for do long by so many

I don't remeber the name of the movie but in the end
Lee Marvin forgave Paul Newman and Newman came to the conclusion that he cooperated not because he broke but because he was afraid he would.

One the the things done to him was putting him in isolation

Maybe I'm wrong, but as a lifetime slightly enochlophobic loner that technique might not be too effective if used on me
 
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Name, rank and serial number. These marines deserve to be court martialed. Opening "gifts" from the iranians is the icing on the cake,

Sergeant Major Higgins would be disappointed.

(note: the commander of the brit warship should be tanked as well... his duty to the safety of those serving under his command supercedes any and all orders from some bureaucrat sitting at a desk 1000 miles away)
 
It was a one of our mechanics that sand the boot in the ass song to the Iraqis

I'm not familiar with this incident
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That is the pity of it all

PFC Patrick Miller was in a convoy that got lost and was ambushed by Iraqis in the early days of the war.
Even though he had failed marksmanship in basic and his M16 jammed with every shot he was able to single handedly take out a seven man mortar crew Alvan York style
Jessica Lynch was also in that party, you've heard of her right?
By her own admission she fell to her knees and prayed.

Although he fought valiantly he was outnumbered and captured.
While being held captive by the Iraqis he sang Courtesy of The Red White and Blue constantly and off key to antagonize his captors.
When questioned about some sensitive information, radio frequencies I believe,he had hidden in his helmet he told them that they were parts numbers for transmissions or something.
Jessica Lynch spent her captivity in a hospital, after she panicked and drove her truck into another truck in the convoy, where she would cover her head with the covers if she sensed danger

Miller was awarded the Silver Star and the anonymity of the motor pool, Lynch was awarded a million dollar book deal and a ticker tape parade

Miller doesn't consider himself a hero, Lynch does consider herself one and has accused President Bush of misusing her heroism
 
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