Diesel

I am absolutely gobsmacked that the MOD have sanctioned this. It is an absurd decision that will undoubtedly make the Iranians PR and propaganda success even greater.

What is going on at the MOD? Have they lost the plot after having so much egg on their faces? These are soldiers for crying out loud not kiss and tell numpties. For one thing they will exaggerate, tell different stories and then there will be more egg in our nation's faces. It is not Bravo 2 Zero's heroic tales of 'stiff upper lip, stoicism and courage in the face of genuinely threatening circumstances and terrible ill treatment.

I would suggest a future policy of non compliance when taken prisoner other than name, rank, number - if they want to drag you in front of a camera, then so be it, but lets can the smiles and friendly nods? Any statements issued to the press should be by the MOD only. All this bleating about 'being put in pyjamas and locked in a cell' and the chummie chummie shots with Ahmedinejad is innapropriate, damaging and unprofessional. How they must be laughing in Tehran, and eagerly awaiting a copy of OK magazine...

D

scoobynutta555

I don't agree with going to the press etc, I'm waiting for an announcement from that woman that she's writing a book about it

However, you mention Bravo-two-zero. The book was a pack of lies from start to finish according to 'The Real Bravo Two Zero' book.

Prasius

iTrader: (1)

You mean the way the patrol only got in that position because of arrogance, stupidity and ineptness of the SNCO in command? Don't believe everything you read

Thats fine for you to say sitting in your nice comfortable house.

For the record, if I get captured, as long as it will not put my colleagues in danger or give away national secrets, I would say and do almost anything to improve the conditions I was being held in. The key aim if you get captured, is to build rapport with those who are holding you - you must attempt to make them like you, as it is far harder to harm someone who you like. Contary to peoples belief - very few countries play by the rules with regards to military prisioners. In fairness, the Iranians sound like they dealt with the Prisioners in a reasonable way. That is not to say though, that the captives, who have very little Conduct After Capture training weren't crapping themselves - as I am very certain you would be.

I don't agree with the "selling stories to the press" thing if it does indeed happen - but I certainly don't agree with clueless civillians criticising the behaviour of captives being held by a hostile country.

Those who claim to be so fearless and brave should surely sign up and set the example they claim hasn't been met.

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, there was a program about BTZ, the guy followed his route after the war. He stopped at all the places mentioned in the book, and talked to the locals. All the shooting that is claimed to have taken place in the book is apparently just rubbish.

Sure the guy walked a damn long way, but he embellished his achievements to such an extent that a lot of people lost their respect for him.

The Snug Rhino

Of COURSE they are selling stories - if Fay Turneys folks have ANY sense at all they advised her to stay out of the press conference the other day to up her fees to sell the story.

Look at it sensibly - this woman works in the Navy, she is probably paid less than she would get at McDonalds. This is now a chance for her to make more money in the next 6 months than she would expect to make over the next 7 or 8 years.

Is it right/wrong? who knows.....is it the right thing for HER to do - of course (and makes up for that accident with the ugly tree as a child)

Prasius

iTrader: (1)

The Regiment has totally disowned a couple of them.

moses

i think all british soldiers in iraq should get taken in by iran and released and back home, only way they can get back tae britain peacefully and sell their stories and retire for life


diesel i say let the poor folk sell their stories its a once in a lifetime oppurtunity , u dont always get taken in by another country


i wonder if rupert murdoch will offer them mair if they put some mair additions in their story

im kean on hearing faye turneys story most of all

u watch the news yesterday lol iranians asked britain tae dae some goodwill gesture and ask the americans tae get the iranian officials released, that woz priceless comedy

CrisPDuk

Given the way the current government ***** on our military personnel at every given opportunity, I say good luck to them, and get as much cash out of the parasites running the tabloids as you can

moses

rock on dude i agree


u know i just saw the pics of the 2 ladies who got killed in basra

i bet tony and bush when he see;s their pictures they dont lose sleep over it, doesnt their heart cringe wae pain, they sent someone elses children tae a fabricated war

he has enuff money for trident and bombs but not enuff tae arm the army properly

moses

lads just watched the news, new vids just oot lol iran showing it all now


after the marines accused of them being in solitary confinement and ill treatment iran showed mair vids of the marines playing ping pong and having meals together and laughing and playing and playing chess

they just showed it on al jazeera, it aint on the sky news or bbc website yet but on al jazeera tv news

Diesel

Well at least someone agrees with most of you "Former SAS soldier Andy McNab said he thought the MoD decision was "sensible" and showed "forward thinking". Ironic given his write up above?

Most 'proper' soldiers agree with this clueless civilian. "Maj Gen Patrick Cordingley, who led the Desert Rats in the first Gulf War, said he was "depressed" by the decision.

We are still losing the match - Iran are sinking our boat again - releasing footage to counter the marines claims. Happy Ping Pong matches v claims of isolation... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6537103.stm

I guess I feel strongly about this as we are looking like a bunch of absolute muppets as a nation [with Iran's hand up it] and the worlds best armed forces' behaviour is beneath its dignity.


D

KiwiGTI

You have to wonder whether Iran will be so kind to the next load of captured soldiers.

Dignity long left this country, it's all about "Heat" magazine culture and making as much money as you can.

I am pretty disgusted at this, it's certainly a new low for the armed forces. Having fought and won many of the worlds greatest battles, full of history and tradition and probably the most respected in the world they are now a bunch of pathetic media ******.

At the present time I now do not believe a word of what the government or defence forces tell me and I really do think they were in Iranian waters.

CrisPDuk

If they are British I think they will, if only for the PR value of it.


I agree, it's not like this sort of thing hasn't been lied about before

USS Vincennes anyone

bugsti

I agree.

In one press release, the MOD said that they allow VC winners and personnel in other exceptional circumsatances to profit from press releases.

So, the 15 heros are, in the eyes of the MOD, equal to VC winners.

Interestingly, the head of the Army has said that he would not tolerate a similar situation in the Army. So much for the Senior Service!

The only real winners here the Iranians who have managed (unwittingly?) to emphasise our nation's slip into decadence.

The Defence Secretary should resign with immediate effect.

Chip

I see some Labour MP is saying its all OK as we live in a world of celebrity these days.

So can we look forward to seeing Faye Turvey (sp) on Big Brother soon or maybe ice skating.



Chip

andythejock01wrx

That about sums it up, sadly.

icarus1859

Its a ****ing disgrace.

Its one thing to sell your memoirs when you retire (obviously within the Official Secrets Act) but to sell a story about being captured, then released unharmed.

I've no doubt it was traumatic, as someone said above being in captivity is not a pleasant day out. In my training I was told not to hold out giving information as long as it didn't compromise men immediatly, they probably know the answer to 99% of the questions they ask anyway and in high risk ops its factored in that you might get captured and release information anyway, you can only hold out for a short period of time regardless of how tough you are.

I'd have done a video performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang if I thought it would get me an extra meal or spare me a beating.

I wonder how the families of the recent dead soldiers feel watching the news and seeing these people selling their stories and getting upwards of 100k.

It shouldn't have been allowed.

Chelspeed

So how many of you who are so indignant about this being allowed have bought the papers that have paid such ridiculous sums for these stories?

If everyone who thinks it's a disgrace (appears to be the vast majority, me included) boycots the papers then they may choose not to pay out their cash next time.

David Lock

I thought is was a strange decision but I suppose their parents were free anyway to tell the story so it would have just been a slight change of headline to "My Daughter's Iranian Hell" or whatever. Pretty tough on those families who have lost a son/daughter in Iraq who may have been a damn sight braver than the "Thank you nice Iranian peeps team", but their story is never told.

There was an interesting ex-FCO guy on Newsnight who specialised in territorial boundaries and seemed to know his stuff. He was basically saying that the boundaries shifted all the time and no one knew where they were. They were supposed to be checked every 10 years but hadn't been. He was quite clear that it was no 10 that first started the "they were in Iraq waters" thus upping the anti. dl

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

Maybe the MOD, TBlair feel that its important that this story is told, and told by the people involved. I would be almost certain that the politics behind all of this are still being played out.

Getting our people to tell their story in their own words could well be to put some pressure on Iran. The fact that they chose to accept a fee is perhaps distasteful.

Dieseldog

I agree. But when Blair's lining up his multi million £ Stateside lecture tour next year, she can hardly be blamed. It's just a reflection on the society our leadership have created.



Plus, now she can open up that Krispy Kreme franchise...

Chip

Were there 15 people held hostage then??? You'd think from the press that there was only only one and that it was a woman.


Chip

Prasius

iTrader: (1)

*deleted my rant because a bunch of people whose most dangerous life experience has been boiling a kettle have far more vaild views*

spireite

Obviously the media pound stands better than the kings shilling

KiwiGTI

The irony in that statement is amazing.

Fighting for freedom and democracy and yet apparently people in society have more valid views than other people.

icarus1859

I think it used to be that being in the armed forces stood for something.

I've said this before on other forums but the people I fought with didn't do it for the money or fame, it was all about the cap badge and regimental pride - something this government is doing its best to destroy.

As strange as it may seem to some people I would have given any information they wanted (as long as it didn't compromise men still E&E'ing) but would have fought until death or unconsciousness for my cap badge, I worked bloody hard for it.

I kept a diary when I was away on ops. Obviously it didn't leave base when we went into harms way but its been in my kit halfway around the world.
I originally did it because my son is young and I've been away from him for more of his life than I've been around and if I died I wanted him to have some idea of what his dad was like, so its got some of my most private and personal feelings and thoughts.
I can't bear the thought of anyone reading it, and it reduces me to tears everytime I read it, the thought of any of it reaching the newspapers makes me madder than hell, it would be like selling my soul. I honestly wouldn't do it for a million.
I remember my Grandfather saying a similar thing years ago when we found his WW2 diary in the loft.

I guess that sort of pride, privacy and discretion isn't instilled in our armed forces anymore.

andythejock01wrx

So the Government changed their minds. Des Browne for next PM.

Right decision, just late enough to make them (and the UK) look like idiots !

lozgti

"They called me Mr Bean so I cried myself to sleep at night" or something similar from one of the story sellers.

I'm sorry,but there must be proud service men and women up and down the country having a cringe

The whole episode is just an embarrassment from beginning to end.

bugsti

The Argentinians will be kicking themselves for not having waited for 25 years to invade the Falklands, take a few prisoners and releive them of their IPOD's and ****. Job done.

Leslie

The whole affair is a sorry business and has shown this country's leaders up as weak and powerless and our stock will have gone down worldwide.

On top of all this the decision to allow the hostages to sell their stories is truly amazing, one can only guess that the MOD and Des baby wanted to try to hide their own ineffective behaviour by burying it under the tabloid articles. The next thing of course is that they retract the permission when they see the public response to such squalid behaviour. Des baby of course is saying that it was all the MOD's decision! So why did he and his political chiefs go along with it then?

The entire episode was a disgrace in all respects and all the chiefs should all be relieved of their responsibilities immediately.

Les