It was my position when this happened and is still my position: When the Iranians were in the process of taking British sailors and Marines captive, the British Navy and Air Force, with American help, if necessary, should have blown those Iranian gunboats to bits--along with any other Iranian forces that dared get mixed up in the situation.

Can the British public not understand that no nation that has any responsibilities on the international scene can allow its military to trodden on at will by a third-rate power? The Iranians have done this to Britain. It is an international humiliation, no matter what kind of face the politicians try and put on it. The Iranians have taken the measure of British political leadership and British resolve, and have found it wanting. The Iranians are dangerous, seeking hegemony in the Middle East, and are not now likely to be bound by anything the UK says or does.

Terry L. Walker, Ladson, SC / USA

Always thought the Scots had more in 'em...Time to leave Brown (DES !) you're being found out. What should be a pick of the crop jobs you are turning out to be weasley..

kirk, Rotherham, UK

Iran thought security in that area was their job, hence the patrols -they then arrested some terror / spy suspects who claimed to be in the british army. Doesn't sound like much of an issue to me, maybe the reason terrorism is increasing in the middle east is because everyones too busy jumping through hoops for us and the Americans they can't concentrate on security.

fugh, London, England

Hang on, chaps. This was a military blunder, which gifted Iran a propaganda victory. And I'm supposed to believe Thatcher would have been idiotic enough to start a 3rd war in the area, rather than fudge a compromise.

Chris, chesterfield, uk

Why are you trying to draw attention away from the fact that as far as iran knew it was there job to arrest random groups of armed possibly terrorists, possibly spys in that area.

justin weatherby, London, UK

No wonder even Mugabe referred our PM as being just a tiny little speck in world affairs!

David, Scarborough, UK

The pirates of seven-seas have been dead and buried long time ago and no amount of spins/lies/deceits shall not hide the fact that we are just another banana-republic at the service of our handlers across the pond.

By participating in the most shameful act of aggression and genocide against Iraq, which has resulted in murdering more than 1.200.000 innocent women, children and Iraqis men, and a ruined country with over 4.000.000 people displaced, so far.

All these atrocities just for a thrown-bone in a form of putting our blood-drenched hands on some Iraq's oil.

History and justice has no statute of limitation and we+our children will pay a heavy price for the crimes committed by the psychopathic politicians whom sell their souls for a Penney.

karim, Portsmouth, UK

Question: Can we the people demand that this entire parliment resign? If so, I would like to know how we go about it. I am of the firm opinion that the whole sorry bunch should be fired from their jobs and fresh MP's elected ASAP.

Hilton Gray, London, UK

I think Simons right!

Dean, Southampton, England

Once the greatest sea-power the world has ever seen now reduced, by their lying, incompetent leaders, to a nation of wimps.

Incompetence is encouraged by lack of accountability, coverups and hidden behind phrases like

it would disclose operational tactics, routines and capability.

Oh pleeeeeeeeeease!

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

MP lies - Why the shock?

jj, Cambridgeshire, UK

Perhaps Des Browne was distracted by Scottish affairs at the time.

Simon Marshland, Bath, UK

It seems that Britain has lost its backbone, certainly Mrs Thatcher would have had none of it! Britain is a laughing stock!!

Colin, Surrey, uk

How right Peter Coates is, we have certainly sacrificed our principles for appeasement; then again we can't be seen to be to agressive or we may upset the Great British army of "Dogooders"

george birkett, Southampton,

Replace misled with lies. When will politicians learn to speak the common language?

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

This type of piracy by a foreign governement would never have been tolerated under a Great Britain. Sadly Great Britian is no just So So Britain

Peter Coates, Melbourne, Australia