Posted on 04/04/2007 9:42:54 AM PDT by balch3
Once again, it's me and Ralph Peters on the same wavelength, deploring the cowardice of the British sailors and marines kidnapped by Iran. When it happened, I said I hoped the ones who'd shamed their country would be court-martialed on return to Blighty, and given dishonorable discharges after a couple years breaking rocks in the Outer Hebrides (which, believe me—I've been there—have a LOT of rocks). Now, I confess, I wouldn't shed a tear if some worse fate befell them.
The only coherent response I get to these sentiments is: "How do you know what they've been through? How would YOU stand up?" To which the obvious reply is the one Dr. Johnson gave in some similar case: "I may criticize a carpenter who makes me a bad table, though I cannot make a table myself. It is not my job to make tables." It is the job of a Royal Marine to fight, and if necessary suffer and die, for his country. They know that when they go in. It's what they are told! I nurse a quiet hope that if put to the test, I would stand up as well as any Marine. Whether or not I would, however, is irrelevant. Whether or not I could stand up well to torture, I expect Marines to.
And in any case, there was no evidence of torture or mistreatment in any of the filmed cases I have seen. They look just fine. You can't fake that. The girl sailor had that headscarf on within hours. From what I've heard of torture, even weaker cases can hold out for a few days.
(Excerpt) Read more at corner.nationalreview.com ...
I wonder if Mr. Derbyshire has ever been held hostage. I wonder if he was ever in the military, and if so, in what capacity?
Easy to talk when one is sitting behind a computer keyboard.
Talk about making the Brits look weak then!
As it went, it made the Iranians the aggressors and the show trial was just that, a show trial. And for any future confrontations with the Iranians, I think we will pick up a bit more support from the British populace.
You would appear to be correct. Likely the individuals were instructed to be "cooperative". Otherwise, at least one of them would have resisted.
Now, we are abandoning the GWOT. Islamic radicals are good and, according to the UN, immune to any criticism. Pelosi is having her sensitivities enhanced in Syria. It's all part of the surrender folks.
Since no one took what they said seriously, then what was wrong with what they said?
so they are instructed to do whatever it takes not to get themselves killed.
It's a shame that NRO doesn't even publish pertinent details like the ROE in this piece. Their credibility plummets on stuff like this.
“It is the job of a Royal Marine to fight, and if necessary suffer and die, for his country..”
Could it have been that these Marines have given up on their country considering that it is given away to the very people that they are supposed to protect their country from?
Article II of the Code of Conduct states: I will NEVER surrender of my own FREE will. If in command I will never surrender my men while they have the MEANS to resist.
Article III states : If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available, and I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
Article V states: When questioned as a POW, I am bound ONLY to give Name, Rank, Service Number and DOB. I will evade answering further questions to the UTMOST of my ability. I will MAKE NO ORAL or WRITTEN statements disloyal too my country and it's allies or harmful to their cause.
There are SIX articles in all and each one was taught, understood and a COPY SIGNED by each recruit when I went to boot camp. I still have my signed copy.
I do NOT believe this CODE OF CONDUCT still exists in today's military. Although I could be mistaken.
What good would any of their deaths have done? Start a war?
Well, they didn't really do that either. Did they.
Exactly right. However I read in at least one place these are UN imposed ROE.
Which makes me less hopeful that the Brits will tell the UN where to stick it. Hope I'm wrong on that.
He’s right. Wimps. The Phony Blur government is a disgrace.
You will not hear their part of the story, thats part of the deal that makes everyone save face. Blair and the Military will make sure of it.
BOTTOM LINE: The britz caved in to terrorists.
Ahmenidjad is the big winner in all this.
AVENNNNGE MEEEE ! indeed.
It is perhaps one of the greatest movies of all time on the subject of resistance to a cruel oppressor, if you ignore all the stupid parts.
What could we possibly "hear" at this point that would excuse the fact that these soldiers, once captured, engaged in all those "apologies" on camera? What?
To the delight of thousands of anonymous armchair generals.
I don't know if you're right (and neither do you), but if so, that reflects a wimpiness on the part of the British leadership, and Derb's point stands.
Perhaps I would too. But soldiers aren't supposed to.
Spot on.
Bingo
We're already in one, pard. And in case you've forgotten, before AQ came on the scene, Hezbollah was responsible for more American terrorist-related deaths than any other group.
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