Quote:
Originally posted by Sticks
But why were they in Iranian waters in the first place
Remember the same people who bought you the so called GPS evidence are the same people with the 45 minute claim? There is a severe credibility gap.
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as much as it sticks in my craw to defend Blair and his lying scumbag pack of warmongers - in this case I'm going to.
They clearly were not in Iranian waters, the waters there are disputed and the british stick to the internationally recognised maps. The British had absolutely nothing to gain by having troops snatched - The Americans as an excuse to hit Iran - they had an excuse, and there was no way the could do it on behalf of captured British troops, even a chimp like Bush could see that.
Its blatantly obvious that this was a set up snatch squad - waiting for the right time with a set up crew waiting for the right boarding party to snatch. If it was me, I would have waited for one with a woman in it - [the utter insanity of that piece of politically correct BS never ceases to amaze me] - and thats what they got.
then the iranians get to milk it by playing the humanitarian - make no mistake of what the government of Iran is, religious police checking womens dress, and the subjugation of women and the populace in general as part and parcel of the everday norms.
As for it not being a state of war - actually attacking and taking military prisoners of another country, holding them and interrogating them whilst denying consular access is actually classed as an act of aggression, one step below an actual state of war, and under that state the attacked soldiers could have fought back, and under law the ground commanders could have opened fire in support without Governmental sanction - their fire orders allowed for that. They didn't, they were taken without a shot being fired, as far as I am concerned that is chickens***
For 100 years the dress uniform of the Royal Artillery included a white lanyard worn on the shoulder - this was punishment for an act of cowardice where a gun battery deserted their guns in the Crimea when faced with an attacking force.
As for the 15, they should have given nothing more than what was required under international law, name rank and serial number. I could understand them blabbing if they were physically tortured, at that point all bets are off, everyone has a different breaking point, but they were not.
I'll even predict that they are all quietly discharged, with honours of course, from the military over the course of the next year.
Most will be persuaded to leave "of their own accord" - with buying out procedures waived.
As far as I am concerned surrendering without firing a shot is utter cowardice.
And before anyone asks - I served 6 tours of Northern ireland, Falklands while it was ongoing - and will be in the forthcoming 25 anniversary parade, served in Gulf War One [the legitimate one], left the forces in 1993 and then had my reserve called up in 1995 and off I went to Yugoslavia for 18 months, were I was then wounded [after all that, in a friendly fire accident - not serious but a great scar and a limp that means my days of heavy lifting are over].
The Government of this country, and I do not play party favourites in this makes me sick, in 1982 we were sent 8000 miles to win an election for a tory bitch who had refused the Falkland Islanders British Passports 3 times in the previous year and a half. then six months after it was finished was on TV shedding tears for her idiot son who got himself lost on the Paris Dakar rally, she never shed tear one for the mothers of the 255 Britsih dead in her war of re-election - which wasn't even called a war until it was won.
As a great poet once said, It doesn't matter who you vote for the government wins.