We are sailing
Why all the fuss about the captured sailors selling their stories?
I'm sure they have just gone through a rather unpleasant experience, made even worse by the complete incomptence of our government in negotiating their release.
Why should they be denied the chance to make a bit of money from it? I understand some of them don't want to, and that's fine. But those that do want to should be able to do so.
Some people shout that it's all "part of the job" to be captured whilst on routine patrol, with UN backing, in waters they had every right to be in. I would argue that the Iranians had trespassed into waters they were not allowed to be in, therefore making their capture illegal and certainly not part of the job. It's like arguing that a policeman shot whilst taking details at a road accident, for example, should expect it. No, he shouldn't. But if he were patrolling the crack-dens of Manchester alone at night, then maybe. If they were on patrol in enemy waters, rather than in friendly waters - for that's what Iraq would be classified as - then it might be expected to be "part of the job". But they should have been safe.
And when they were captured, our government should have done a far better job of releasing them. Frankly, I hope they all sell their stories, make loads of money from it, and leave the service. Given that our leaders have shown complete contempt for them, I wouldn't blame them a bit.
As long as they don't violate the Official Secrets Act, then there is no problem. But to be banned from making any money - by the same lot of hopeless incompetents who failed to secure their release in the first place - really is wrong.
I'm sure they have just gone through a rather unpleasant experience, made even worse by the complete incomptence of our government in negotiating their release.
Why should they be denied the chance to make a bit of money from it? I understand some of them don't want to, and that's fine. But those that do want to should be able to do so.
Some people shout that it's all "part of the job" to be captured whilst on routine patrol, with UN backing, in waters they had every right to be in. I would argue that the Iranians had trespassed into waters they were not allowed to be in, therefore making their capture illegal and certainly not part of the job. It's like arguing that a policeman shot whilst taking details at a road accident, for example, should expect it. No, he shouldn't. But if he were patrolling the crack-dens of Manchester alone at night, then maybe. If they were on patrol in enemy waters, rather than in friendly waters - for that's what Iraq would be classified as - then it might be expected to be "part of the job". But they should have been safe.
And when they were captured, our government should have done a far better job of releasing them. Frankly, I hope they all sell their stories, make loads of money from it, and leave the service. Given that our leaders have shown complete contempt for them, I wouldn't blame them a bit.
As long as they don't violate the Official Secrets Act, then there is no problem. But to be banned from making any money - by the same lot of hopeless incompetents who failed to secure their release in the first place - really is wrong.
posted by Nej at
12:39 pm
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