What they said . . . and what they meant
The televised statements made by the captured British servicemen contained information and clues that might be interpreted as follows:

“I have served in Foxtrot Nine Nine”
Leading Seaman Faye Turney
Royal Navy sailors would not normally use a call sign when referring to their ship in public

“As we had apparently gone into Iranian waters”
Leading Seaman Turney
She is careful to state this is the Iranian claim rather than the British position

“Representative (sic) of the House of Commons”
Leading Seaman Turney
Not a phrase used in Britain to refer to MPs. Evidence that the statement was dictated by someone else

“This has caused even more distrust for the people of Iran, and the whole area of the British”
Leading Seaman Turney
She has not corrected the glaring grammatical error of the “whole area of the British”

“At approximately about 10 in the morning we were seized, apparently at this point here on their maps, and on the GPS they have shown us”
Captain Chris Air
Refusing to collaborate the Iranian position of the seizure and providing information that would help the Royal Navy to pinpoint the patrol’s exact position

“Yes, I would like to say to the Iranian people, ‘I can understand why you are so angry about our intrusion into your waters’ ”
Lieutenant Felix Carman
Evidence that the statements by the sailors and Marines is being controlled by their captors

exactly how much pressure is required to get a British sailor to cooperate with the enemy these days?

What enemy? Could you find a single British politician who would unambiguously state that Iran is an enemy state? Clearly the MoD doesn’t think so, or it wouldn’t have ordered the HMS Cornwall to stand down.

They need to work that angle into their official flag or something like that.

And Tony Blair’s response to all this:

“The important thing for us is to get them back safe and sound, but we can’t enter into some basis of bargaining,” Blair said. “What you have to do when you are engaged with people like the Iranian regime, you have to keep explaining to them, very patiently, what it is necessary to do and at the same time make them fully aware there are further measures that will be taken if they’re not prepared to be reasonable.”

Yes, he’s prepared to explain to them, very patiently, how very naughty they’ve been. If that doesn’t do it, he’ll throw a horrible pout.

I remember when it was “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. Now, it’s ‘Speak interminably and carry no stick at all’. I think the Iranians figured this out quite awhile ago, so let’s not be too hard on the sailors left in the lurch by this feckless bunch. They don’t want to lose one of their major trading partners.

Nam POW’s knew that we were doing what could be done, including sacrificing the lives of other warriors , to get them out. Except for a very short period of time (1981 – 1988) this has not been the case. I have several friends/relatives in the military (Jarheads or SEALs) They understand this only too well. If they get caught they are on their own. Just like the Brits have been the last week. They do not fight for Bush they fight for the flag and for us. If they were fighting for Bush they would have quit already just like he has.

Au Contraire! there’s an argument all right. The Belmont Club explains:

“As currently interpreted the Geneva Conventions only apply to individuals bent on destroying America. Individuals who blow up elementary schools, kidnap children, attack churches and mosques, kill invalids in wheelchairs, plan attacks on skyscrapers in New York, behead journalists, detonate car bombs with children to camouflage their crime, or board jetliners with explosive shoes — all while wearing mufti or even women’s clothing — these are all considered “freedom fighters” of the most principled kind. They and they alone enjoy the protections of the Geneva Convention. As to Americans like Tucker and Menchaca or Israeli Gilad Shalit — or these fifteen British sailors for that matter, it is a case of “what Geneva Convention?”

From: http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2007/03/name-rank-and-serial-number.html

When Admiral James Stockdale knew he had reached his breaking point and no longer had the strength to resist his captors, he deliberately disfigured himself rather than go on camera and spew enemy propaganda. He received the Medal of Honor for this action which he considered no more than his duty as a member of the US Navy. He never gave a thought to whether or not the leadership in Washingon was worthy of such sacrifice. Our men and women don’t fight for an administration. If they ever do, all hope is lost.

And now the latest from Ashley. You can’t ever appease these people enough.