Britain's Humiliation -- and Europe's
6 April Washington Post commentary - Britain's Humiliation -- and Europe's by Charles Krauthhammer.
Quote:
Iran has pulled off a tidy little success with its seizure and release of those 15 British sailors and marines: a pointed humiliation of Britain, with a bonus demonstration of Iran's intention to push back against coalition challenges to its assets in Iraq. All with total impunity. Further, it exposed the impotence of all those transnational institutions -- most prominently the European Union and the United Nations -- that pretend to maintain international order.
You would think maintaining international order means, at least, challenging acts of piracy. No challenge here. Instead, a quiet capitulation...
When Dignity Remains Intact
From the reference posted by SWJED:
"Re: They're free!
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 5:13 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wonderful news for the 15, their families, and the nation!
Freedom with dignity; and an answer to prayer. "
A one Caubeen from that site posted that. Freedom with dignity. The truth of the matter is this: they could have come home covered in bruises with holes drilled in their teeth, burns on the bottom of their feet, minus a few fingers and an eye and there isn't a thing you could do about it. It makes you almost want to hug SAVAMA for the dignity they granted, eh Guv?
Is survival now consider a shame ?
I don't see the shame in coming home in one piece. I doubt those critical Brits have any idea what it was like for those 15 sailors.
Hmmm, the thanks we get. Roasted chicken and beef :eek:
Well, they did get to eat with their families !
Jedburgh recently told me they had better takeout in Iran :D
All things said and done, I agree with the British Admiral:
"acted with considerable dignity and a lot of courage."
"I think, in the end, they were a credit to us."
Quote:
The crew's first night in Britain included a dinner of roast chicken and beef, and drinks with their families, the Ministry of Defense said.
While much of the country rallied behind the crew's return, others criticized them for offering apologies where none was required — namely for appearing in videos in which they admitted and offered regrets for entering Iranian waters.
But the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, told British Broadcasting Corp. radio that the crew had "acted with considerable dignity and a lot of courage."
"They appear to have played it by the rules, they don't appear to have put themselves into danger, others into danger, they don't appear to have given anything away," he said. "I think, in the end, they were a credit to us."
Lastly, their dignified mission was fairly clear :cool:
Quote:
Royal Marine Capt. Chris Air said in an interview days before his capture that his crew was gathering intelligence on Iran during their patrols. Sky said it held the interview because it thought it could hamper the crew's release.
A little more detail here:
http://news.yahoo.com/i/721;_ylt=AqS...xiVHj5lJ8UewgF
Britons Recount Capture, Detention
7 April Washington Post - Britons Recount Capture, Detention by John Ward Anderson.
Quote:
Early during their two-week detention in Iran, a group of British sailors and marines were blindfolded, hands cuffed behind their backs, and lined up facing a wall in a prison in Tehran. Behind them, they recalled, Iranian guards cocked their guns.
Held in isolation by guards who spoke no English, barred from talking to one another, and so bereft of information that they thought perhaps no one knew they were missing, "Some of us feared the worst," said Royal Marine Capt. Chris Air, 25.
" 'Lads, lads, I think we're going to get executed,' " a voice said in the darkness, recalled one of the marines, Joe Tindell. After that, someone got sick, "and as far as I was concerned, he had just had his throat cut."
In fact, it was a bit of psychological intimidation, six members of the crew said Friday at a news conference, the first time they have spoken publicly about their March 23 capture by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and their time in captivity, which ended with their surprise release on Thursday. They spent long periods blindfolded and in isolation, and they were threatened with up to seven years in prison if they did not admit to invading Iranian waters, said Royal Navy Lt. Felix Carman...
