I think that’s a key that sometimes gets lost in people arguing whether or not the sailors and Marines acted appropriately. They should never have been captured in the first place, because as soon as the Iranians left their territorial waters and made a move toward the inflatables, they should have been blown to meet Allah. And as soon as they were grabbed, there should have been bombs falling on the Iranian Navy immediately.
Whoever set the Cornwall’s policy to be that passive, and hung those out that close to the Iranian border with no backup (or with backup that had its hands tied because of restrictive ROE), THOSE are the heads that should roll. No matter how high it goes, clear into the MoD if need be.
}:-)4
Not knowing the full circumstances, I'll refrain from stating my personal opinions on the matter of the hostages' behavior. Besides that, the fact that the Iranian Navy remains afloat following their release, pretty much says everything.