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Freed Britons Say 'Confessions' Coerced
nypost.com ^ | Apr 6, 11:48 PM EDT | TARIQ PANJA

Posted on 04/06/2007 9:25:19 PM PDT by do the dhue

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To: Vinnie

The woman was told that all the men had been released and that she was the only one left. She was pregnant and had a child at home.She did what she had to do.

The other troops were rehearsed. Multiple takes were shot of each scene.

I cannot help but think that setting the citizens of the West against these troops was another win for the Iranians.


41 posted on 04/07/2007 7:38:31 AM PDT by reformedliberal (If the troops are mostly home by November 2008, how will the Dems disenfranchise them, this time?)
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To: UKrepublican
We need to strike Iran, I’m in favour of that

at least we agree on something. look my friend, we're going to be at war with iran eventually. when they hand us a perfectly good reason to do it i say take it.

42 posted on 04/07/2007 7:44:01 AM PDT by mfnorman (Jack Murtha: a Lee Harvey Oswald type of marine)
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To: Jhensy

Yea, like all those soldiers captured during WWII.

Duty, honor and country doesn’t mean throwing away your life with a country with whom you are not at war.

I have no doubt if the Brits had fired that would be courtmartialed.


43 posted on 04/07/2007 8:08:29 AM PDT by art_rocks
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To: Jhensy

Dang straight!


44 posted on 04/07/2007 8:11:27 AM PDT by Sue Perkick (...what I was born to do, don't have to think it through.....)
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To: UKrepublican

But were they truly outgunned? A Lynx combat helo was flying cover for them. Why did it not respond appropriately to the incident. The Lynx attack aircraft can be equipped with up to four anti-ship missiles. The Iranian patrol boats are no match for those missiles which have a 20 km standoff range.


45 posted on 04/07/2007 8:49:53 AM PDT by gpapa
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To: gpapa
“But were they truly outgunned? A Lynx combat helo was flying cover for them. Why did it not respond appropriately to the incident. The Lynx attack aircraft can be equipped with up to four anti-ship missiles. The Iranian patrol boats are no match for those missiles which have a 20 km standoff range.”

I don’t have the answer to that question, it should be investigated for sure.

I’d simply say that for the helicopter to have started firing while the two sides were in such close proximity would have been extremely dangerous.

46 posted on 04/07/2007 8:52:13 AM PDT by UKrepublican
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To: UKrepublican

I’m sorry but he appeared to be giving a pre-flight briefing, and enthusiastic about it.

But we have pulled some boo-boos also.
Remember the Chicoms forcing one of our P3 Orions to land in China a few yrs. ago?
The crew didn’t even destroy the electronics inside. ???

Why was the plane not in a position to defend itself and apparently no fighters were near enough to prevent it.


47 posted on 04/07/2007 10:43:20 AM PDT by Vinnie (You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Jihads You)
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To: reformedliberal
She was pregnant and had a child at home.She did what she had to do.

Ah yes.

A pregnant mother on the front lines, bright.

Our females use pregnancy to quit the Navy. IIRC about 10% of them.
One big reason for them not being in harm's way.

Her letters could have included errors, names, places that would have been a clue she was being coerced.
It was apparent from the talk of the released 'hostages' that the female was a special case.
The Iranians knew it also.

48 posted on 04/07/2007 10:51:57 AM PDT by Vinnie (You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Jihads You)
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To: Vinnie

I agree with you about the policy. However, it is the policy to allow women on the front lines. I haven’t read how pregnant she was, either. None of us know if she did or did not include clues in her letters that let her family know she was being coerced.

My point, however, is that the enemies of the West, including our own progressives, are just delighted to hear all of those who are criticizing the sailors and marines who were captured.

Personally, this incident underscores the major problems with UN mandated actions and ROEs that are slanted towards so-called diplomacy, as well as the PC feminist rules. However, those are the rules this world of ours has chosen.

The Brit sailors and marines decided not to resist overwhelming force out of fear of provoking a major war action.

If we criticize the troops bound by those rules and second guess their actions, then, ipso facto, we don’t support them. If they aren’t supported by the populace, the enlistments will decline. If the enlistments decline, we will either have an unpopular draft that is simply a leftwing jobs program, like most of the EU or the West will not have a military at all.

Win win for our enemies. I agree that they got those wins anyway. The entire sanction regime is FUBAR, IMO.

Caveat: I am an old lady with no military experience and I am beginning to doubt that our leaders in the West are capable of defending our countries and our way of life. However, neither do I see very many folks out in the streets protesting this major incompetency. There are a lot of armchair quarterbacks bitching about specifics, but we all suspect that no one of any influence is listening or gives a damn. I support our troops and their mission, but I am unsure if their commanders are capable of supporting either and keeping their jobs in the face of the political realities.

I am not arguing with you, specifically, but rather, I am totally frustrated by the observed situation.


49 posted on 04/07/2007 11:47:00 AM PDT by reformedliberal (If the troops are mostly home by November 2008, how will the Dems disenfranchise them, this time?)
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To: reformedliberal
I am an old lady with no military experience and I am beginning to doubt that our leaders in the West are capable of defending our countries and our way of life.

I'm your male counterpart and agree with you.

If I could join right now I'd do it in a New York minute. I will gladly defend the 'home front' if allowed.

50 posted on 04/07/2007 11:54:56 AM PDT by Vinnie (You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Jihads You)
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To: do the dhue


I nominate THIS MAN for the next PM.
51 posted on 04/07/2007 1:14:04 PM PDT by Live free or die
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To: neodad
Who's got the master of the obvious picture?

You rang?


52 posted on 04/07/2007 1:21:14 PM PDT by SuziQ
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