[Alas Babylon!]

As the crew members were surrounded in their two rubber dinghies, the Cornwall's commander, Commodore Nick Lambert, frantically radioed back to his own top brass for instructions.

The response to the inquiry, which had been immediately patched through to Ministry of Defence headquarters in Whitehall, was to hold fire.

The order to show restraint has been observed throughout the forces and the British government in the 48 hours since, but it is unclear how long both sides will be able to maintain control.

How can they say such a thing?

To the British press and government: "Both sides maintain control"???? The Iranians took control of your mates! They broke that restraint from the very beginning!!! Your skipper stood by and passed the buck (I'm sure under orders) upstaris when while he watched his own men be attacked! Your higher ups let it be so. Now you want to spend perhaps millions of pounds convening government resources to "confront" the Iranians?

I'm sorry, but the timne to confront them was when the whole thing started. HMS Cornwall could have, should have stopped it then!

[grey_whiskers]

I'm sorry, but the timne to confront them was when the whole thing started. HMS Cornwall could have, should have stopped it then!

I hereby re-christen that boat the HMS Cornwallis.

No champagne bottle against the hull, please. That might offend the Muslims!

Cheers!

[Shady]

Question, Nothing has been published to confirm what I assume to be the case - That the dinghies had GPS locators, so they could conceivably confirm that they were in Iraqi waters and not in Iranian territory at the time of their capture. Could this be true?

[AmericanDave]

"I'm sorry, but the timne to confront them was when the whole thing started. HMS Cornwall could have, should have stopped it then!"

Spot on, as they say! The Commander of the Cornwall, had the power to respond, and he is most assuredley kicking himself for making the phone call instead of keeping his eye on the ball. There is a time for action, and you can't get it back. He could have called about 30 min later and said " Sorry sir, I had to act to protect our troops, and those Iranies won't be bothering us again." Even if fired, he would have held high respect in his retirement.

[FreeReign]

I'm sorry, but the timne to confront them was when the whole thing started. HMS Cornwall could have, should have stopped it then!

The error was allowing them to be surrounded.

[cake_crumb]

I thought the Cornwall was under CINCPAC. Anyhow, I suspected that force hadn't been authorized or all hE!! would have been let loose on the Iranian thugs.

Speaking of Iranian thugs, ABC had a DARLING little crocumentary about Saint Jimmah "Da Peanut Man" Carter this morning. That little 444 days period of his presidency wan't mentioned. Neither was the economy. Neither was the oil embargo.

I hope this doesn't turn out to be a double post

[Mr. Silverback]

I know this will sound like an "Internet tough guy" post, but I mean it. Had I been commanding HMS Cornwall, I would have opened up on the Iranians with the 4.5 inch gun up forward, and if the brass wanted to try and court martial me when I got home, I guess I'd just have to suck it up.

[george76]

bttt

HMS Cornwall could have, should have stopped it then!