BrianH
At the Start
:laughing: :laughing: That should elicit a few responses!
Captured Sailors
- Thread starter Warbler
- Start date
Muttley
At the Start
It wasn't the one reading the map who was at fault - it was the one in charge of the wheel, who was convinced he knew better and ignored the directions given by the one who was reading the map
A
Ardross
Guest
Until they are out of Iranian hands what do you expect people to say ?
A
Ardross
Guest
Don't be daft -this is handling a bunch of nutters with kid gloves.
A
Ardross
Guest
Indubitably.
I'd no idea that Pres. Ahmabitmad was SO tiny! And how can he see out of those weeny little squinty eyes? And who made all the suits for the sailors? I reckon they had to stay that long in order for the tailors of Tehran to find enough cloth to make them - if they're used to making junior-size garb for the Prez, they probably had to place a special order.
I loved the bit where Ahmabitmad said he was asking Mr Blair not to put the sailors on trial for wandering into Iranian waters - how sweet to think he'd imagine we'd do that, even if it were true that they had. When our highly-trained seaborne managed to ding a warship and cause millions of squids worth of damage a couple of years ago, I think the cap'n only got a good talking-to, and a reminder not to do it again. They don't know they're born, our navy!
I loved the bit where Ahmabitmad said he was asking Mr Blair not to put the sailors on trial for wandering into Iranian waters - how sweet to think he'd imagine we'd do that, even if it were true that they had. When our highly-trained seaborne managed to ding a warship and cause millions of squids worth of damage a couple of years ago, I think the cap'n only got a good talking-to, and a reminder not to do it again. They don't know they're born, our navy!
BrianH
At the Start
Mr Tony has been totally outplayed by Iminadinnerjacket.
I meant to post earlier that I considered that Pres. Ahmabitmad had played an absolute blinder by doing this.
Although it wouldn't be difficult for a 5 yo to wrongfoot Beckett and Blair with regards to any counter actions on the political front...
Although it wouldn't be difficult for a 5 yo to wrongfoot Beckett and Blair with regards to any counter actions on the political front...
A
Ardross
Guest
He is the spitting image of the chef Alastair Little .
A
Ardross
Guest
I think that we should reserve judgment . We don't know what has been going on behind the scenes.
:laughing: I think what's been going on behind the scenes is probably mass hysteria! I was right about the suits, then! 
I expect they had them folded neatly in those rather natty holdalls (possibly another gift from an ecstatic Iranian Prez?). Yes, that's right, he has played a blinder. I think the not-so subtle hint to Bush is that if any of his Navy 'strays' into his territory, they may find themselves guests of the Republic, too, and possibly on that occasion they will be used as a human defence around the bombable facilities that the USA has its eyesights on. In which case, they could be very, very long-staying guests indeed. In fact, they might go through several sets of presidential suits.
I expect they had them folded neatly in those rather natty holdalls (possibly another gift from an ecstatic Iranian Prez?). Yes, that's right, he has played a blinder. I think the not-so subtle hint to Bush is that if any of his Navy 'strays' into his territory, they may find themselves guests of the Republic, too, and possibly on that occasion they will be used as a human defence around the bombable facilities that the USA has its eyesights on. In which case, they could be very, very long-staying guests indeed. In fact, they might go through several sets of presidential suits.
A
Ardross
Guest
I hope all the ###### who have been suggesting that this was some sort of humiliation and that the sailors and marines should have simply said name rank and number - are feeling deeply ashamed of themselves :angy:
FROM THE BBC
Last Updated: Friday, 6 April 2007, 15:42 GMT 16:42 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
UK captives tell of ill treatment
The Royal Navy crew
The Royal Navy crew have been giving a press conference
Royal Navy personnel seized by Iran were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days in captivity, the crew have said.
They were lined up while weapons were cocked, making them "fear the worst", one of the 15 freed sailors revealed.
The crew were told that if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured that they faced seven years in prison, a press conference heard.
Opposing their captors was "not an option," they said.
And after their capture the 15 marines and sailors were subjected to random interrogation and rough handling, and faced constant psychological pressure, they said.
Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option
Royal Marine Captain Chris Air
Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, explained why they had not fought back when confronted by the Iranians while carrying out a routine operation.
"We are aware that many people have questioned why we allowed ourselves to be taken in the first place and why we allowed ourselves to be shown by the Iranian authorities on television.
"Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option".
"Had we chosen to do so then many of us would not be standing here today. Of that I have no doubts".
Had they resisted there would have been a major fight and "one we could not have won."
Random interrogation
Two of the crew read out a prepared statement to the press conference at the Royal Marines Barracks at Chivenor, in north Devon.
Lieutenant Felix Carman, 26, of Swansea, south Wales, said the sailors and marines were on an operation on 23 March, 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters, when they were captured.
Cpt Chris Air said the crew had made it clear they were on a "routine operation allowed under a UN mandate" but the Iranians had a "planned intent."
"Some of the Iranian sailors were becoming deliberately aggressive and unstable."
Their boat was surrounded by six boats and rammed and they were trained with heavy machine guns and weapons.
During their captivity the crew spent nights in stone cells, sleeping on blankets and were kept in isolation until their last few nights.
The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney was told by her captors the others had been freed and gone home.
The officer in charge Lt Carman said: "We were interrogated most nights, and presented with two options.
"If we admitted we had strayed, we would be on a plane back to the UK soon. If we didn't we faced up to seven years in prison".
He continued: "We were kept in isolation until the last few nights, when we were allowed to gather for a few hours together, in the full glare of Iranian media.
When they finally learned they were going to be released from watching the Iranian president on TV he said "there a huge moment of elation".
The navy has already begun a review of the circumstances leading to the capture.
I should be interested to know from those so keen to criticise the Government over their handling of the affair what they should have done ???
FROM THE BBC
Last Updated: Friday, 6 April 2007, 15:42 GMT 16:42 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
UK captives tell of ill treatment
The Royal Navy crew
The Royal Navy crew have been giving a press conference
Royal Navy personnel seized by Iran were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days in captivity, the crew have said.
They were lined up while weapons were cocked, making them "fear the worst", one of the 15 freed sailors revealed.
The crew were told that if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured that they faced seven years in prison, a press conference heard.
Opposing their captors was "not an option," they said.
And after their capture the 15 marines and sailors were subjected to random interrogation and rough handling, and faced constant psychological pressure, they said.
Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option
Royal Marine Captain Chris Air
Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, explained why they had not fought back when confronted by the Iranians while carrying out a routine operation.
"We are aware that many people have questioned why we allowed ourselves to be taken in the first place and why we allowed ourselves to be shown by the Iranian authorities on television.
"Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option".
"Had we chosen to do so then many of us would not be standing here today. Of that I have no doubts".
Had they resisted there would have been a major fight and "one we could not have won."
Random interrogation
Two of the crew read out a prepared statement to the press conference at the Royal Marines Barracks at Chivenor, in north Devon.
Lieutenant Felix Carman, 26, of Swansea, south Wales, said the sailors and marines were on an operation on 23 March, 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters, when they were captured.
Cpt Chris Air said the crew had made it clear they were on a "routine operation allowed under a UN mandate" but the Iranians had a "planned intent."
"Some of the Iranian sailors were becoming deliberately aggressive and unstable."
Their boat was surrounded by six boats and rammed and they were trained with heavy machine guns and weapons.
During their captivity the crew spent nights in stone cells, sleeping on blankets and were kept in isolation until their last few nights.
The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney was told by her captors the others had been freed and gone home.
The officer in charge Lt Carman said: "We were interrogated most nights, and presented with two options.
"If we admitted we had strayed, we would be on a plane back to the UK soon. If we didn't we faced up to seven years in prison".
He continued: "We were kept in isolation until the last few nights, when we were allowed to gather for a few hours together, in the full glare of Iranian media.
When they finally learned they were going to be released from watching the Iranian president on TV he said "there a huge moment of elation".
The navy has already begun a review of the circumstances leading to the capture.
I should be interested to know from those so keen to criticise the Government over their handling of the affair what they should have done ???
Fairly standard procedure, let's face it - I can't see us lumping 15 sturdy blokes and what looks like a very sturdy woman together so that they can overpower their guards and run off if the boot were on the other foot, Ardross, somewhere in British territorial waters. They didn't look bruised or ill fed, so I imagine that they weren't knocked about in the same way as our airmen were bashed up after capture during the Gulf War. Telling captives that if they confess to this or that is a standard ploy since probably pre-Roman times, certainly nothing new there. I'm not apologising for Iran in the slightest - they've had some excellent home propaganda, which is what Ahmabitmad needs for the next election - but what do you really expect? Guantanamo Bay and five years unlawful detention in an orange jumpsuit for just being in the wrong place?
