[SkyPilot]

It pains me to criticize the British. They have performed with bravery and honor. But these 15 deserve our contempt.

Peters went on to say this:

______________________________________________________________________________

No matter how codes of conduct for prisoners of war are worded, none countenances voluntary collaboration with the enemy. A POW doesn't have to engage in daily violent resistance, but he's obligated to avoid providing active support to his captors.

The Brit hostages failed the test, and theirs was a failure of leadership. Perhaps the enlisted sailors and Royal Marines can be redeemed, but their officers need to be cashiered. Another ironclad military rule - not always fair, but generally wise - runs that, "An officer is responsible for everything his subordinates do or fail to do." While the two Brit officers, held separately from their sailors and marines, obviously couldn't control every subordinate's actions, the speed with which some enlisted personnel complied with what their captors asked says a great deal about the atmosphere prevailing in the unit.

Queried as to why they agreed to do propaganda broadcasts for the Iranians, neither officer behaved as officers should. The right answer would have been: What we did was wrong. We're ashamed. Instead, we got repugnant swagger and hair-splitting over qualifying adjectives and adverbs - We didn't really say what we said.

Good officers don't whine and dodge.

They accept responsibility.

[billorites]

Oh, no. Not that!

[roaddog727]

Disgraceful.

I know a few Brits in the military - One navy commander and my Sensei - former SAS. They would both be appalled and hang their heads in shame and disgust.

[MadAnthony1776]

I don’t have a lot of sympathy or respect for the way these hostages handled themselves. They certainly didn’t look like they had been coerced. I know the the Code of Conduct that we have in the US military expects you to resist to the best of your ability but it also doesn’t expect you to sacrifice your life. You can ask people like Senator McCain what terrible torture they endured. I read a book about the POWs in North Vietnam and the treatment our POWs got would definitely break a person but they resisted as best they could. For all the outrage about Abu Gharib and Gitmo the treatment they receive pales in comparison to the treatment our POWs received at the hands of the North Vietnamese. By all appearances, it looks like their treatment didn’t even reach that level. They have to live with it though. It definitely is not a shining moment for the British military. It does not live up to the proud history of their military.

[Roses0508]

I suspect the officers’ careers are over, don’t you?

[txzman]

Unfortunately, this motely crew just demoted their military to the level of the French. I can imagine there are many in GB’s armed forces who want this to go away as soon as possible.

[KenmcG414]

The Brit sailors and marines are nothing more than a reflection of the lib majority in their own government. This incident also points out the problems when you have women in the front lines. Winston Churchill i turning over in his grave.

[politicalwit]

1) I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

2) I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist.

3) If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

4) If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me, and will back them up in every way.

5) When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am bound to give only name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies, or harmful to their cause.

6) I will never forget that I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

[M Kehoe]

I thought the Brits got Pow, escape and evasion training? Now I wonder if they still do that at infantry school here?

5.56mm

[Leisler]

Why should these dolts fight when their officers and so-called leaders don’t? Brits used to call their ships, “Man-of-War” Now the call Marines and Sailors, “Naval Service Personal”. Like if your head on your 20 foot sailboat is backing up, call NSP.

Pathetic.

[Al Gator]

This is a big disgrace.

So was the pilot who flew our EP-3B Pappa Romeo 32 into chinese space and handed the plane, intact, to the chicoms.

Funny how things get distorted.

[Leisler]

Different generation of youths too. Almost all have been raised in anti-patriotic, anti-military, managerial, bland, value less culture. Of course the Brits even more so.

No telling what the Brits would of done if the Iranians offered them I-pods.

[TADSLOS]

[Chode]

Bloody Wankers...

[Porterville]

They should have beat the crap out of themselves in confinement to at least make the Iranians seem to have abused their rights. They should have done something... anything... but instead they wet their british panties.

Union Jack with no balls to play.