Leaving aside the question of payment, which clearly discredits the UK military, I am concerned about the sabre-rattling of our colonial cousins. It is this blind, ignorant aggression that has made the world a lot less safe (yes, despite what you hear on CNN and Fox News the world beyond the US borders has deteriorated thanks to US global policing efforts). We can debate the merits of a RIB standing up to Iranian attack and the needless loss of life, however despite the irresponsible comments over the last 6 months from a discredited Bush Administration, we are not at war with Iran. I appreciate that the US is insecure enough to need to send in heavy forces however not sure that the UK would want to go to war on this. Perhaps the US could first properly address the mistakes it has made in the first Gulf war, and the mess it has created in Iraq and Afghanistan. I don't relish another opportunity for ill-trained, trigger happy US forces to hide behind the friendly fire excuse.

Jamie, London,

Faye Turney should ashamed of herself and banned from being a soldier for the rest of her life, she is trying to make a pile of money "for her daughter" yeah right! as she poses for "fashionable" pictures for the sun newspaper, it's actually disgusting! She is obviously only in the navy to prove something to her ego although she has a very young child. Now she will use a story where NOTHING happened to her to become a "celebrity".. Absolutely horrendous!! People from Irak please forgive the few among us who are supporting your cause and are totally against the war as we see it as illegal!

ka, london,

Just how out of touch with its people can a government be? Did it not occur to anyone involved in this ridiculous PR debacle that maybe, just maybe, the public at large would it find it distasteful and embarassing to our global reputation (not that we have much of an international reputation left it seems).

David, Ormskirk, England

The Royal Navy and RMS have now lost my respect and I am sure the honour of the Navy as the Senior Service is damaged for good. I am Irish and my respect was hard won and based on the professionalism shown in the past by Britians armed forces. It's gone now. I just can't see the Americans behaving like this in a similar situation.

Laura , Dublin ,

Totally obscene and she should be ashamed of herself

Gary Angell, Poitiers, France

In the 1st Gulf War, while eating breakfast, I heard an explosion far off in the distance. If I were to jazz it up quite a bit and use the correct buzz words "I need people to know"; "All hell broke loose" and "I thought my time had come", would the Times be interested in paying me a 100 grand for exclusive rights?

John macKinnon, Lincoln, England

For Service personnel to make a personal gain for selling their stories is an absolute disgrace. If the MoD want them to tell their stories, fine, but if the media want to pay then pay into a military charity not to serving individuals. If any of the individuals working with me sell their WORK stories for personal gain then I would be the first to suggest that they find alternative employment.

Clive, Munich,

So do we all agree on this? - Faye Turney needs to diet.

If she were a few pounds lighter, the RIB could have outrun the Iranians and this whole fiasco would have been avoided.

Bob Cook, London, UK

From the photos on this canadian site - http://www.globalresearch.ca - the 15 captives seem to have had the time of their lives in Iran. I think they should be allowed to tell their story. You know what? I was looking hard into the pictures to find the solitary confinement, stone walls and pile of blankets brits mentioned but all I saw were redwood chairs, Kebab and luxury. I thought even rich americanos cannot afford anything like this! I mean just look at Guantanamo. I just heard the food is so bad there that the residents are fed with tubes through their noses. Still, too bad that Iranians were under a 30 year sanction and couldn't issue Armani suites to the sailors . In my opinion though even without the sanction, after overthrow of Mosadegh in 1953, the iranian oil was bought by britain for just under a dollar per barrel, right under the nose of shah and frankly a nation stripped of its pelt like that could not afford designer suits.

julie, peking, China

Well I've just viewed another episode in the "Brits on Vacation" reality show. I was holding out hope that some evidence of mental torture was going to come out but I'm sadly mistaken. I think the world's gut instinct of what really happened, (or didn't happen), is correct. What confounds me is how shamelessly these soldiers continue to act even as they try to profit from their "holiday". The only thing left to do now is to award the British equivalent of the Purple Heart to the ping pong players for carpul tunnel syndromme...disgusting

bill s, haverhill, Mass.

I love my friends the English. Pretty upset over this episode however. What really upset me this weekend was watching a prize fight from Wales and listening to the fans boo unmecrifully the U.S. National Anthem. It made me quite sick. We English speaking countries, i.e. USA, Great Britan, Canada, Australia must stick together and not be dismayed. Remember radical Islam isthe enemy. Let's weed them out before it's to late. God bless the UK the Aussies and the USA!!

J dugan, Philadelphia, PA USA

I think most of the UK are filled with disgust at the soldiers selling their stories to the media. I am no longer pround to be British and join the rest of the world in condeming our cowardly soliers who have sold their souls.Both they and the Navy should be ashamed at what they have done. We can no longer be pround of our armed forces. Tell your story but do not expect sympathy and respect if you sell your story.How can they accept money when their fellow servicemen have died in this pointless war. I do hope by accepting this blood money that they all pay dearly for it in their future lives. I would hope that when they rejoin their units that they will be given a hard time by other fellow soldiers and sailors. What has this once pround country come to.

David Green, Chester, UK

TO RICHARD OATS; PLYMOUTH

TO QUOTE YOU; When you need us, we will be your most loyal and effective allies on the planet.
I'M sure that you are serious about this and it is nice to find one Brit would if necessary come to our aid.

But;on the basis of the British Newspapers and particularly the comments of individuals ,I'am afraid that the vast majority of Brits would gladly join the attacking force.

Thank you

Saladin, Greenwich,

Since she was talking through a hole in her neck about the "suffering" endured, one wonders how much Ms Turney might have made from a beheading story - then she would REALLY have been talking through a hole in her neck!!
Oddly, we don't see many beheading stories these days - perhaps the CIA and MI6 feel they've lost the shock-and-awe appeal.

dr john, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Attention! The Ministry of Defeat of the British Government has spoken. Who are YOU to question their authority. Join the Regiment for Kidnapped Tales or shut up. This is a recorded message from Tony standin for Prime Minister also with a defeat book nearing completion. Attention!

Robert Nickisson, Gorokan, Australia

What I do not understand is who actually made the decision for the go ahead to be able to let them do this..I served under JB ( First Sea Lord ) in his frist Command (HMS Phoebe 84-86 ) did he not have a say in this? ...I would think that knowing he Captained the best,happiest and most efficient towed arrayed Leander and has reached number one mateloe ...nah dont thinkso ...he must be livid !!!

COLIN, portland, dorset

Well , rather be a prisoner of Iran. Preferable to play table tennis than be tortured in Guantanamo.

Bill Gray, Birmingham, uk

Jutland 1916 and how Jack Cornwell (16 years old) won his VC. The epitaph on his memorial stone : "It is not wealth or ancestry, but honourable conduct and a noble disposition, that maketh men great". The same Cornwell that the scout movement's highest award for courage is named after! (Google it).
Or Capt Fegan on the Jervis Bay (armed merchantman) engaging the Admiral Scheer (German pocket battleship) to allow most of convoy HX84 to escape?

Bloody hell!
These people are a disgrace to the uniform they wear! I suggest they all be given a DVD copy of Jeremy Clarkson's recent programme "The Greatest Raid of All" detailing the St Nazaire raid by Combined Ops (Commandos, Navy, Army) in 1942.
They could listen, shamefacedly, to the 80 yr old surviving veterans and see and hear quiet, solid, stoic heroism in human form.

Then they could go away in shame, take off the uniforms they have disgraced and get the hell out of the armed forces, preferably without earning Judas money!

Peter Jones, Caernarfon, Wales UK

To: dr venables preller, Warminster, UK
Philosopher John Stuart Mill on Freedom:
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

Peter Jones, Caernarfon, Wales UK

A final thought: had those Royal Marines been US Marines, we would have had to change our proud cry of "Semper Fi" to "Simper and Cry"

And you know we're not about to do that.

James, Norwich, England

I think it is understandable that soldiers who earn between 20 and 40 thousand pounds a year would be tempted to sell their stories to the press (especially when the MoD was encouraging them to do so). Would you do the job that these men and women do for that wage?

And to the many Americans who express outrage and disgust: Please do not tell us about honour during wartime. What about Guantanamo Bay and Abu Graib?

Lynn, Düsseldorf,

One final word: Since L/S Turney is so obviously grossly overweight and is so clearly unfit for real military duty, why was she on the RIB in the first place?. I will bet my last buck that she did not board the ship to be inspected since it is highly unlikely that she could have hauled all that weight up a boarding ladder so I ask again, "Why was she in the RIB in the first place?"

Was this a TV PR stunt that backfired because the skipper was looking at the camera rather than the situation radar?

To be fair, let's ask this: how many suspect ships had she boarded before that last one?

I'm guessing ZERO...What's your guess...

James, Norwich, England

Before we get into the rights and wrongs of selling the story. A few things need to be cleared up.

1. Why was the Cornwall so far away? From a RIB’s point of view she was almost over the horizon. What was the command doing. Being professional with the media team they were carrying on board? Radar I presume didn’t see the gunboats or project the track to intercept.
2. I believe “Name, rank and official number is the only requirement. Even if you subscribe to the position that with modern warfare being so fluid, you only need hold out for 24 hours. After which time the situation will have changed enough to make any information you have irrelevant. As for unit information most of it is contained in Janes.

I believe that to honor any of these individuals would be absolutely wrong. A well done to the two who held firm. The rest should get there two weeks leave and be returned to their unit (Cornwall) to get on with what they are supposed to be doing. Being Service Personnel.

I

Servin Member, Plymouth,

it is a disgrace that the MOD have allowed these people to sell their stories for money,when every day their counterparts in IRAQ and other places are facing a REAL enemy and losing their lives- they, who have lost their lives,now dont have the luxury of selling their story.all i can say on the matter is,that when you join any of the forces you must expect to the possibility of facing a conflict situation.as well as that-i thought that you had to sign the OFFICAL SECRETS ACT.
to conclude i will add -SHAME ON THEM!!!

JAMES, DERRY, N. IRELAND

A real silly woman- got herself killed. Not clever- well they probably killed her, you missed that bit out.
You only get one life- don't copy Odette, they will just kill you for it!

Richard, London, UK

Whether they believed they were about to die or not, the point is they were in the armed forces - it comes with the job. Sadly, L/S Turney is a great argument for not having women in the front line. I thought Britain was at rock bottom already, but it's always possible to lower standards further it would seem.

Andy, Whitchurch,

Brilliant tactics by the MOD and all concerned - allow such a ridiculour furor to develop over what really is a comparatively minor skirmish, that no-one now even remembers Iran and they can take no political advantage from it!

Bill Atkins, Rehoboth Beach, USA

Used as pawns in a deadly game and made it back? Well done! Make some money and use it as you wish. After all the government won't look after you or your family. Don't let the fake morality get you down.

G Paterson, Stirlingshire, UK

"It may be better to be a live lamb than a dead lion,
but it is better still to be a live lion... and usually easier"

Extra points to anyone who knows from whence that quote originated.

Tom, Deltona, Florida USA

"The Few, The Proud, The Marines", they say in this country. Best of the Best.

My farm butcher died two years ago. A man I knew intimately for 30 years. Or thought I did. At his funeral, I was surprised by two Marines in dress uniform. I didn't even know he was in the service. Turned out he had the Silver Star for single-handedly defeating a large Japanese charge in the S. Pacific, killing more than 50 Japs in the process.

Sell his story? He never spoke a word to his friends!

We live in different times. The word Character seems to have left the lexicon. It bodes poorly for the future of the West. For shame.

Bob B., Hansville, Washington, USA

Do not forget for a second that there are more than enough people in power in Iran that would have liked nothing more then to put them in front of the camera and slice off their heads. They were not front-line troops they were mostly young people in a very stressful situation that they could not have imagined. This is just an isolated incident that should just be forgotten.

As for the book deals, the UK seems to have as many lawyers and politicians running the military as we do. More concerned with style than substance.

All the people that thought they should have fought to the death; what are you still doing here. There are planes leaving for Iraq every hour and there is still that big reward for Bin Laden. Put your anger to good use.

MH, Phoenix, US/Arizona

I have been so discouraged by these recent events, all of them. From the failure to defend their space, to the lame way the British Gov't rolled over to Iran's madmen. Now this. Words cannot do justice to the loss of British face.

That said, I DO find this encouraging: reading through all these comments only now do I see the British I recognize. And what I see them saying is that they have finally, finally, had enough of this nonsense. If it takes their absolute humiliation to remember who they are and remind them of their proud heritage, perhaps it is worth it.

Welcome back, Brits. We thought we'd lost you for a while.

Kathy from Austin, Texas, USA

A real woman was the French one Odette resistance WW11
finger and toe-nails torn out by the Gestapo, gave name rank and number. Next time the English sneer at the French think of Odette and the Maquis.

John Wood-cowling, Corby, UK

It was a terrible decision to allow the soldiers to sell their stories. Not only does it discredit their accounts both domestically and internationally, it may create bitterness for soldiers in similarly 'exceptional' circumstances who are not granted permission, simply because their stories are less high profile. Another point is that soldiers now have a financial incentive to get into scandalous and 'media friendly' situations with a view to later sell their stories. Clearly this is both a dangerous and undesirable outcome.

Howard, Cambridge, UK

I don't think Faye should share her money with the others. As a woman in a society that still pays women less, she will need the cash more than the others. Let the men share their story money if they wish. But Faye is in a different situation, and because of the discirimination against women throughout the world, she has a more marketable story and a better chance to even up the odds for herself.

EHawthorne, Ottawa, Canada

How sad am I after this debacle. Great Britain I do not think so.
We give in to these people all the time, it is about time we got them out of our country.
Iam not racist,I do not mind them in their own countries. I will even visit them on holiday and they can visit my country as long as they go back again . Rest asured they do not want us in theirs.
Third of May vote labour only if it starts with B and ends with a P.

Roy, Falkirk, Scotand

Virginia McKenna in the film "Carve Her Name With Pride" brilliantly portrayed the story of Violette Szabo a British Secret Service agent brutally tortured and executed by the Gestapo at Revensbruck in 1945. In a chilling mirror image of the recent interregation of Faye Turney her German Captors asked "What will become of your child if you die"? But Brave Violette paid the ultimate price. I am sure that had she have survived, she would never have sold her soul as Faye turney, and the others have done. That is why we can "Carve Her Name With Pride". It may be that when they return to active service they will regret this decision by the response they receive from other comrades in arms. Who will be looking on in disgust.

Neil Botham, Chesterfield, UK

A tawdry tale. The price of dishonour.

Edward Barkes, Sydney, Australia

Frogs in a slowly heating pot - that is what that soft natured West has become. For too long we have had such a good quality of life and we have become soft. There has always been an answer to every problem - just like a junior school maths test.

Trouble is, we live in a world where progress is viewed and measured very differently by some cultures. Those cultures love the good life of the West, but like a spoilt child who hasn't earned the toy from mummy and daddy, they behaive like it is expected, and what's more, they behaive like it is their god's will, and hence their presence is justified according to their faith.

At what point does the West stand up and stop being bullied from within by the pro human rights legals systems and minority rights campaigners. At what point does it stand up to countries like Iran? What about when they develop nuclear weapons? Probably not. After all, when Nth Korea developed these weapons, the West still didn't stand up to them...pathetic.

Craig, Sydney, Australia

As an American who has been proud of his English ancestry I am disheartened by this sorry episode. Here's a thought...you keep Gwynneth Paltrow and we'll get more independent, self-reliant Brits - who get what's going on with the Islamic takeover of the West - to move here to help with what is likely to be the last stand. Maybe help hold the line against the leftist takeover here, before it's too late.

One other small point. To those enablers of dereliction who take the line that the 15 should not have fought back 'because we're not at war with Iran.' The US is not at war with, let's say, Peru, but if the Peruvian navy surrounds an American vessel in international waters and attempts to sieze said vessel, that would constitue, it seems, an act of piracy, and there will very likely be gunfire.

J Osborne, Chattanooga, USA

My God...I can,t believe all the comments on this board. These were young and inexperienced people, scared and of course afraid to die.Dying needlessly for your country might make a lot of the American armchair critics happy but what purpose would it serve. Then to label people cowards without even having the slightest idea of what they went through is pathetic. This could have ended in war with, many lives lost . Thank God it did not. As to selling their stories...why not..we will read it..its because of the public, be them English or American that there is a market for these types of stories.
The fact that there are lots of comments on here obviously means that there is a great deal of interest.
With regards to all Americans who seem to want to label a whole country cowards because of the actions of a few, Is , quite strange.
I am not in the least bit ashamed of my country because of this, there are far worse things going on in society to ashamed of.

ANTHONY HENRY, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

If the MoD's intent in letting these soldiers sell their story was to get some free anti-Iranian propaganda in the press, it has sadly backfired.

I don't think anyone will believe these soldiers anymore. There will always be the suspicion that they made up the most horrific stories just to make for good copy, in exchange for the money they got.

And that is the way it is starting to sound with the woman talking about how she was so afraid she was "being measured for a coffin". This really, really does not sound like something a soldier would say, not when these same people are shown on video smoking, playing ping pong, watching football on TV, praising their captors, admitting they were in Iranian waters.

I would like to believe the official British version of events, but I am starting to think perhaps these guys really were in Iranian waters. Why else would the MoD be desperate enough to encourage them to sell their stories to the tabloids?

Dave M, Chicago, US

I read with dismay the bile and venom spewed out by Americans at our young sailors in particular and at Britain in general.
I would suggest they stop if they want UK to remain as an ally. Remember, they are our sons and daughters who join the Armed Services and we do not appreciate the nasty comments made by some US citizens.
Our troops are dying in Iraq, some of them at the hands of inadequately trained US soldiers in a war in which only US businesses are profitting (and big time).
If you Americans are so appalled by UK, why not insist that our discredited Prime Minister is not awarded his Congressional Medal of Honour. It is he who is responsible for so much that is wrong with Britain today, not these young servicemen.

Tricia, E. Sussex, UK,

i was in submarines 1956 spying on the Soviet Union Murmansk official secrets act it was scary. If you talked you went to gaol one guy did tried in camera.
i thought the "Lady" sailor was hilarious they stripped me I thought I was going to be raped! Give us a break Doll. then "I heard hammer and nails they measured me I thought they were making my coffin! better than the Simpson's as an old Blue jacket I know what the sailor's are going to call her Coffin Kate?
lked the Bogart touch cigarette in mouth here's looking at you kid, £100,000 nice one.

John Wood-cowling, Corby, UK

If there really is actually going to be money exchanged for "telling their story" to the media ... I think the only ones worth recieving any money should be the two (of the 15) who stood firm and did not say (assuming it was not the truth) that they were in Iranian waters.

The other 13 shouldn't be worth any money --- as their actions were a bit cowardice. If these 13 particular people make any money they should give it to charity -- or to the families/children to members of the British military who have lost their life throughout the last several years of this quagmire.

Penny , Clinton, New Jersey, U.S.

Richard Oats,Plymouth,The USA and UK back each other,US is and will always be grateful for the UK/US alliance.After the UN and EU failed your call for Iran15 hostage assistance,the USA did help to repatriate that Iranian so called "diplomat" that was in Iraq/US custody. SOME of the Iran15 hostages did not conduct themselves correctly,those few have stained the honour and professionalism of the UK military forces.Those FEW collaborators within the Iran15 hostage group are a small,"sorry " collection of crass losers.Let the Iran15 make tabloid tell all money,they've already sold integrity for Iranian smokes,a head scarf,take home pressies, cheap suits and a pats on the head from Iran's president for the Iran15 performance in the Iranian propaganda media show.The Iran15 mastered sit,down,rollover and speak .

mary kirk, sarasota, fl usa

Warriors, which is what these young people are supposed to be, used to put death before dishonour
Warrior is the job.
All this group have done is show our enemies that we have some in the ranks who are afraid and fear is a weakness to be exploited
Fear of death is ,sadly , often the sign of a decadent civilisation.
When I was in the mob we signed the official secrets act and so there would have been no chance of the story coming out as the Navy is trying to exploit as an excuse.
Bring back Mad Mitch or his like to our flagging forces, he and his men would have shot first and asked questions later regardless of the size of the opponents guns.
This is a disgrace to all those who risk their lives for us on low pay and to the proud tradition of those real warriors who went before .
To add material gain to the weakness we show is about as far as we can fall from those proud people who defended us in the past

Crichton Miller, Rugby,

Sounds like the sailors and marines are busy spinning their disgrace into a tale of heroism. Sorry, their actions have told the story, one of disgrace to a great nation.

George Ridler, Stockton, United States/California

Major General Sir Patrick Cordingly, a senior commander during the 1991 Gulf War, told BBC radio. "I hope they give all the money to charity."

What hypocriscy,..nothing shows up Britain more in a bad light than the whinging bleating Tory toffs of middle-class England and generals going balistic and red with rage,..when they see the lower ranks making more money than them.
One only has to witness their middle-class spitefulness when women sell their womb or eggs to help childless couples.
Nothing worse than the ratings and deck-hands getting more than the armchair blue-rinse generals

ABrown, London,

The left think that surrender is an option to everything.

Danny Toren, Sydney, Australia

Watching the media coverage of the return of these soldiers has been more like watching the return of the Great British gold medal winning team of surrender monkeys returning from the white flag Olympics.

They have nothing to be proud of and should not be parading in front of the cameras, punching the air under the misguided impression that they are being bathed glory.

What ever happened to name, rank and number? Has this been replaced by,” yes please I’ll have two sugars” and “sure, I will say what ever you want if you allow me to chain smoke your cigarettes while I’m here”.

Get back to work!!!!!!!!!!

andy, inverness,

It is easy to condemn the actions of these soldiers, from a warm home, behind a computer screen. But think what you would do? In my opinion, there is no point in dying for the sake of courage, when heavily outnumbered and outgunned - it's just a waste. These troops safeguard us and our lifestyles full-time, yet some comments here are less than grateful for the risks they face in the course of duty. Who are we to question their bravery? You can only truly know what you would do with a gun pointed at you, when it happens - which, for the majority of people here, it has not. How can you blame the troops for selling their stories? It's hard to say "no" to an easy £100,000 and weeks off work, after all. Could you do that? The fault is with those at the top, who have permitted this to happen.

Julian, London, England

One should look to the Senior Military Staff and ask why they are allowing this? When will they speak out, or are they just puppets of the Government?

This is just another death-knell for the Armed Forces, the last bastion of what is truly British and this Government will do whatever necessary to destroy this great institution, just as they have with the Police, Teachers, Doctors and ever other one.

The problem is we have compliant Senior Officers who no longer have the guts, just like the hostages, to stand up for what is right. It is they who should be held to task, not these Junior Ranks who are mere pawns in this unsavoury charade.

These Senior Officers by their silence and lack of action do nothing but degrade the Services and Country they serve, it is they who need to win the far more important battle here at home. They have allowed the forces to be eroded, slashed in strength, under-funded, poorly equiped and standards lowered for political correctness without a whimper

D.L.Richardson, Oakham, England

This whole episode has been deeply inglorious from start to finish for the British military and sets some bad precedents.

1) The navy allowed this patrol to be ambushed in conditions were fighting back was not an option.
2) Most of the naval and army personnel concerned, including two officers, showed weakness in allowing themselves to be displayed making "confessions" and apparently enjoying themselves. Understandable, perhaps, like running away in action but weakness nevertheless.
3) A senior military spokesman has lauded their behaviour as dignified and, in effect, exemplary, thus setting a standard for future captives.
4) The Ministry of Defence has allowed the inglorious former captives to sell their story and so is telling other soldiers and sailors to sing to your capturer's hymn sheet and make money out of it.

Tim York, Lasne , Belgium

Ok lets have a different view, get the press to print/broadcast the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. then perhaps fully informed people can critisise when they are in possetion of the facts.
Whould any critic stand with 14 other men armed with hand gunsand fight 5 boat loads of men armed with heavy weapons? Lets not forget that the UK is NOT at war with Iran. I think not

Hagar-T-H, Ockendon, Essex

I do not call having your moisturiser unexpectedly confiscated an international act of bravery beyond the call of duty. These personnel look utterly limp, bemused and deeply humiliated by an astute Iranian government. A total shambles.

Agony...

Geordie Kidston, London, UK

I look forward to them paying back (to the taxpayer) the cost of their training.

Ken Wood, Fleet,

A great ploy by the government to let the tabloids lose and get free propoganda against Iran..

Hamad lone, Thornton Heath, England

I bet most of these comments from people who vote for the Tory party. What ever happened to the 'Free-market economy'. I think they should hold out longer for more money- get Max Clifford - and fast!

Jane Olson, Boca Raton, Florida, USA

“Miss Moneypenny? Please send in Mr. Bond”.

“Sir? He’s acting a bit strange. I’ve pinched his bottom and he’s threatened to sue for sexual harassment.”

Bond enters M’s office, impeccably stiff in his pitch tuxedo, sits and fixes his unwavering doe eyes on M.

“Bond, I have a particularly tricky mission for you.”

“I’m ready for anything, Sir.”

“You’re to infiltrate Iranian lines and find out why they’re laughing at us. Are you still using that antiquated Beretta, Bond?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Here, give it up, lad. Use this. Move up with the times.” M says gruffly and hands him a rolled bundle.

Bond squints, unfurling the weapon. “A white flag, Sir?”

“Don’t be afraid to whip it out for God and country lad, as if your life depended on it.”

Bond nods and stands, As he turns for the door, M calls again. “Oh, double 07?”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Remember. You have a license to surrender. Don’t be afraid to use it.”

“No, Sir.”

“And one more thing, James.”

“Yes?”

“Leave the book deals to Fleming.”

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

"The worst moment was when they cut the third choice of dessert.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

Rule Britannia, Britannia waives the rules!

LH, Leicester, England

Hugo, Copenhagen, Denmark

The fifteen sailors should have held out longer before they surrendered to the British media. It should have been “name, rank and serial number only” until the offer was raised to a million pounds. To crack the first time they waved a quarter of a million pounds in their direction, was cowardice in the face of the press. It was obvious that The Sun was bluffing and would not dare risk a full scale bidding confrontation with the Mirror. The commander of HMS Cornwall should have kept a helicopter flying overhead shouting “Ask for more cash” and our servicemen should have been better trained to cope with this crisis. You can see from the smiles on their faces as they counted their money that all this talk about “Intense pressure from the media” was not true. I don’t believe Faye Turney writing in The Sun today that she was “stripped to her knickers and afraid of being raped” - Sun journalists don’t do that sort of thing. She should have held out for half a million quid before caving in.

Bob Cook, London, UK

First of all, let me thank Britain for her sacrifice in this war on terror. We Americans appreciate y'all standing by us. I salute you. Let me encourage you 'cross the pond, that just because these people acted in such a way...doesn't mean all is lost. I'm confident that plenty of you wouldn't act in such a way. Sometimes things hafta get worse before they get better.
May God bless you.

Nethaniel , Houston, Texas

What a disgraceful exhibition these spineless so called marines displayed. One shudders when thinking of all those brave resistance fighters in europe who met torturous and horrifying deaths at then hands of the gestapo without revealing anything.As if looking though you had won the lottery while in captivty was not bad enough now they will cash in on their stories.Perhaps they knew something we didn't!

Oliver, coquitlam,

To the Brits, we are glad those kidnapped are back safe and at home. They didn't have what they needed to really do anything different, and that fight can be picked at a more proper time. The Iranians are playing us both as we are easy marks with our conventional morals and overly self imposed authoritative supervison which reduces the kind of whileyness we really need. Today the Iranians, eyeing the third carrier on the way, gave Al Sader marching orders to create another distraction in Iraq to tie us all up saying we are the cause of all the growing violence, which we all know is really being fueled by Iran. Suddenly they raise the spectre of continuing nuclear negotiations to further delay us. Its all too obvious and we can't lay the blame on the small raft of a few almost unarmed sailors and marines to take on single handed the gunboats of such a whiley regieme. So don't focus your energy on the captives as its just another Iranian trick. We need to get back to busines

Brian, Los Angeles,

So nice to have Tonie the Lap Dog of bush to make sleezy bush look good. Now the "heros" scramble for the money. And no one inserted anything into their anuses, held them underwater, drugged them, electrocuted them, forced them to have sex with each other, or any of the American techniques we have learned so much about of late. Isn't it strange that it took so little coersion to get them to flip?? I wonder what the American interrogators could have gotten them to confess with their "harsh" techniques?? One can only wonder! P.S. Uncharted waters are tricky, best to explore closer to home. TGW

Thomas, Katama, U.S.A.

First of all... I wouldn't give an interview for money on such a matter to begin with. There is just something wrong and sleazy about profiting from being a victim. And if I did give an interview it sure as hell wouldn't be with the liberal, mainstream media outlets. The liberal media does everything it can to make the military look bad and I'm sure they would twist something about this story. As for the tabloids, they are the personification of sleaze and I wouldn't urinate on their heads if their hair were on fire. Just wait and see... the tabs will find some twist to make your troops look like they did something wrong. If not I will be pleasantly surprised. As for the bloke above that reminds us Americans that they (the Brittish) are our biggest allies... most of us here in the United States know that and appreciate it.

Eski, Oak Harbor, Washington, U.S.A.

Sadly it's the way the world has gone. Anything to make a quick buck (or in this case quid).
I have total respect for the vast majority of army/navy personnel and in particular for those involved in this incident who are not selling their stories.
I have none whatsoever who do - along with that section of the media who couldn't get their cheque books out fast enough.

I hope the tax man has his eye on a good percentage of that 150,000...........

Joann, EX Pat Singapore,

TO ALL THE AMERICAN READERS:

OK, we screwed up. We admit it. We are sorry for that. Please overlook our mistakes,

But we are pouring our best combat troops into Afghanistan to support you, we are building two new carriers, we have ordered your best jet fighters, we are partners with you in the Trident replacement project and we have the third largest defence budget in the world.

- When you need us, we will be your most loyal and effective allies on the planet.

Richard Oats, Plymouth, UK

Paying the sailors money for stories of there ignoble capitulation.

Disgusting, disgraceful, dispectable!

Terry Smith, Auckland, New Zealand

Every country has some soldiers that would act just like these 13 out of the 15 have done. They are the only type of soldier that you can see or read about in the American media.

The truly brave and honorable soldiers who sacrifce themselves to save the lives of their buddies or innocent civilians will only be mentioned in the news as part of the daily total of KIA's .

Is if fair to write off all of the British armed forces as if they'd all act as those 13 did?

I seem to remember hearing about two British soldiers in Afghanistan (don't know which branch) riding on the skids of a heli in order to go and retrieve a wounded comrade from the battlefield.

That's pretty brave and honorable isn't it?

Gary , Los Angeles, USA/ CA

Shameful example of giving in to the media frenzy. The Brits should not allow anyone to profit from being a hostage. At the very least, any money earned as a result of this shameful episode should go to the orphan children of those who have been killed during the Iragi war.

To allow these hostages to profit personally is an affront to all the men & women who have been killed or injured. The Sea Lords should be ashamed for allowing this travesty.

Edie, Seattle, WA

For sale- brand new British military weapons. Never fired, dropped only once...

Dan , Ft. Bragg, NC

The Government has finally suceeded in trashing the final public institution with any credibility. Who will now complain next time Brown cuts funding for the armed services? Well done MoD. A political masterstoke to use the naive Iranians to achieve your ends. PS, last one out please turn off the lights.

Dianne, Sheffield,

It is sad to see the once proud British military shed its last vestiges of dignity and honor. Making heroes of those who crack as soon as a blindfold is put on says the MOD is supportive of their actions. Given that, it is hard to fault the 15 for acting without honor since they are just reflecting the cultures of their services.

The MOD would be wise to announce to the world that captured service personnel are expected to say anything anyone holding them wants them to say. The expectation should be set that everything a captive says is a lie. That would at least reduce the harm resulting from service members folding like wet cardboard. And, given that virtually everyone will crack if the captor is ruthless enough, it makes sense as a policy. Captives should then push their "confessions" to the absurd, begging to confess to the most outrageous things possible.

Mike Pearson, Baton Rouge, USA/LA

To capitulate in a manner of days was disgraceful. Their juvenile action on camera in Iran was pitiful. Parading these cowards as heros is a farce. Allowing them to profit by telling their stories is an abomination. If they are examples of the British fighting force, God help Britain.

Pat Valicento, Chicago, USA

Would it not have been better for UK to say "thank you for their release, and let the sailors go back home and to their units and quietly get on with their life.

It's a pity that the Iranians did not impose a ban on speaking to the press, or profiting from their story on TV, press etc. as the Americans did, as part of the conditions for the release of David Hicks from Guantanamo Bay.

Ron, Black Rock, Australia

I was willing to give them all the benefit of the doubt before the sale of their stories. I wonder if the people in the UK (and I love them and their country) realize just what an utter fiasco this is and how well they were manipulated by Iran. If and when they do realize, it will be the end of Blair. I find it difficult to be angry with Iran - they played this brilliantly. They stuck it to the USA, the UK, the EU and the UN without a shot fired.
One more thing: I fail to understand the logic behind some of the posters bringing up Jessica Lynch.. Are you somehow forbidden to criticize something if one of your own was, at some point, guilty of something similar? Her conduct was equally disgraceful.

Ian Board, mission viejo, california, usa

Anyone who is upset at the Americans criticism should realize that it comes from the high amount of respect we have held for your military. Most of us would feel the same way if this was happening to our military. The majority of Americans feel you are one of our strongest allies, despite how the BBC and the rest of your media portray us. Our mainstream media does not like our country or military either.
If any good can come of this, it is that it will reawaken the "silent majority" of the good British people will unite to take back your country. Your countries reputation and respect in this world was not built on being PC, that will only lead to its downfall. What would Churchill think of a smoking ban?
I am sorry for the disgrace that these members of your military have brought to all the good people of your country. I am especially sorry for those who have fought and are currently fighting with honor and dignity under your flag.

Christi S, Warrington, PA/ USA

The lion is no more.

The leftist takover of the west is almost complete, as manhood is completely lost as a value, except in the muslim world.

Martin, Boise, Idaho

This is the result of once-proud Britain getting Europeanized.
>
They have psychologically reverted to the gullible days of Neville Chamberlain. Reformed British-born terrorist Hassan Butt was recently quoted as saying that British authorities allowed Islamic terrorists in Britain to say and do whatever they liked as long as they did not target Britain. Then came the bombings of 7/7 by a group of British-born terrorists against their own innocent countrymen. So much for appeasement.
>
Their citizens and government displayed a sort of national Stockholm Syndrome during the recent hostage incident which raised the reputation of Iran among Islamic terrorists several fold.
>

MarioG, Toledo, OH, USA

Cowardly inaction was their mistake. These were supposed to be Royal Marines, and they didn't even put up a fight? I highly suggest that the remaining Marines be educated in fighting, as this is their professed JOB, not giving up. If they had fought back, they would not have been captured and the Iranians would not think they could do this with impunity. They should be dismissed from the service for lack of courage and being useless as tits on a boar. This is what you get from a country where citizens no longer have any right of self defense, which now extends even to armed Marines. Great Britian, is no longer great, or free. The people have allowed the politians to do what the Germans couldn't, turn them into serfs. Thank goodness for the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States which so far has stopped that idiocy here in the United States. Freedom isn't free, it needs to be watered with the blood of patriots every so often. Get a clue people, and vote smarter.

Jim Book, Windsor , CA, USA

There is much that is shameful and disturbling about this orchestrated media humiliation of the Brits. It is far too soon, however, to tar the British armed forces in toto with this brush. Check out The Telegraph today for an account of more typical behavior by the Royal Marines in Afghanistan. The Lion still has some teeth and claws. Winston had some crucial advice, "do not ever allow yourselves to be saparated from the Americans" Now there's a problem worth some consideration, unlike this short-lived episode.

John Lowbridge, Hanson, USA, KY

I'm glad all the sailors are safely home. However, my view is that they were all sniveling cowards very eager to buddy up to the enemy. Is 250, 000 Euro the price of the crown? What a shame.

Jerry, Pennsylvania, USA

We are remembering our Vimy Ridge veterans in France this week with the Queen to be in on the ceremonies...embarassing.. It's time for Canada to get out of the Common Wealth....The UK is becoming a joke!!

Alexander, Montreal, Canada

You've come a long way from Rorke's Drift. Oh, wait, that was your army.

thomas, medfield, ma

Britain is in the same shape as the USA. Liberals have feminized the society and turned them into a blubbering, spineless bunch of TV watchers. How can anyone from the USA say one bad word about the UK? Have they not always stood next to us in our time of need and vice versa? We are both much weaker nations and we are both decaying from within. Just since I went through boot camp, things have change greatly. Now there is training “time outs” when a recruit is tired or is emotionally taxed. When I went through in 1993, we were yelled at, pushed around and PT’ed until we threw up and the old timers said that WE had it easy and I believe them. Men are not allowed to be men anymore. Our boys are medicated if they show too much aggression. You just wait, the liberals are going to win and ultimately destroy the world unless they are stopped and the only way I see that happening is something like the Avian Bird Flu killing 2/3 of the world so the strongest will survive.

mike, dallas, texas

Since the MoD is endorsing this why don't they take it to the next logical level. The latest slogan that will get them ques blocks long at the recruiting centers...

Sign-up, get captured, get rich!!

Carl, Wisconsin, USA

Royal Marines - 99.9% need not apply......Yeah OK

Bullard, Connecticut, USA

The actions of the UK marines and naval personnel is a disgrace to all who have worn a military uniform with honor. It is one thing to be tortured and then falsely admit to the enemy's propaganda demands. It is another to act like frightened children, willing to say anything or do anything asked by the enemy. Then to profit from one's disgraceful behavior, it is appalling.

Ron Wood, Simi Vally, USA

next some of these clowns will become politicians by citing their military service and bravery under fire the sad thing is half the voters will believe them and the other half are apathetic good luck england youre going to need it

ralph lewis, los angeles , usa

These cowards should be ashamed of themselves. They didn't fight, they complied with their captors and now they want to sell their stories. If this is what's defending this country, then God help us... They should be courts martialled, not encourgaged in their total cowardice...

IJ, Glyn Ceiriog,

Sirs and Madam,

While I understand you were probably scared out of your wits while being held captive, your disgraceful behaviour upon your return has blighted the good and an integrity of your comrades in uniform.
For those of you who are considering taking money for your story, I suggest you redeem your reputation and hopefully, conscience by donating any funds you may receive to aid the less fortunate who were permanently injured while serving in Iraq this making their lives a little more comfortable

D K, Houston, TX, USA

Far from profiting from their experience, these two specimens, I will not dignify them with the term officers, owe their own country and cause the exact same sort of abject grovelling apology they were delighted to volunteer to a hostile power in order to gain their release.

The same goes for the Royal Navy's higher ups. Immediate resignations are clearly in order for such a fiasco. These people were either untrained, restrained from reacting, or left to dangle. None of which reflects either credit or professional competence on the part of the Sea Lords.

At the very least, the term "White Ensign" now holds an entirely different meaning from its original connotation.

God bless and sustain those brave British troops still doing their full duty in a time of war.

Kevin Simolke, Colorado Springs, Colorado USA

Is this the same British military that in the movie, "Masters & Commanders", a 12 year old boy was brave enough to do his "bit" and then some? What in the world has happened to Britain?!! It's all devolving to empty trash with the prospect of Sharia law on the horizon. Such a shame-it was a country to beat all at one time.

Colleen, Warroad, USA

I hope these persons can tell a good story because they sure are not fighters. Letting themselves be captured the way they were and then to confess to something they have denied--who would want pay to hear a coward's story. This shows the bankruptcy of the UK military.

Richard Hite, Galena, Ohio

I am an American I live here in the very heartland of the midwest U.S. My boss is a Brit and a good guy and I have several close friends who are Brits living and working over here. I feel a little embarrassed for them, I used to have a deep respect and fond admiration for the UK and especially Great Britain. After all, you gave us the cultural basis for our way of life. You gave us a system of Governance and a template for establishing laws and a justice system. In us you helped forge the greatest nation the world has ever seen. The only comment I am going to make is that it makes me very, very sad to see what is happening in the UK to-day. God Save The Queen and God Bless Her Loyal Subjects everywhere...May they all enjoy a very Happy Easter

joe boyer, Collinsville, IL US.A.

It appears that Britain is getting a little TOO close to its neighbor for its own good! The colors of that once mighty British flag are running precipitously into three equally-sized tricolouric fields of the same hue. It won't be long now before future British sailors are provided with bullhorns as the standard protective weapon of choice, in order to loudly apologize for their territorial incursions from the deck of ships to their intended captors, to ease in their subjugation and to minimize any chance for mussing of their hair during any "ordeal". Good on ya, mateys! Brittania rules the......waifs?

Dennis O'Donoghue, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Shameful all round. Frigates should have protected their boarding party. As prisoners they should have stuck to name, rank and serial number. England is disgraced. Shame on all involved, No wonder the terrorists believe they can destroy freedom; it has so few defenders with backbone. Winston, where are you now that you are so needed?

Ray L. Walker, Franklin, USA/ Tennessee

I'm glad they're home safely but . . . whatever happened to name, rank, serial number, and date of birth? Having officers of the British armed forces on television cheerily parroting Iranian propaganda and pointing to maps drawn to support it . . . well, I think the dignity you value in your servicemen and women has already been thrown away in this episode. No sense worrying about it now . . .

Eric , Fredericksburg, VA, USA

When Halliburton, BAE, and Raytheon profit from the war, you Brits don't have any ill words to spew. But GOD forbid that some middleclass servicemen try and make a buck. The hypocrisy is appalling!!!

Brad, austin, TX

Sell outs, Robert Johnson must be turning in his grave!

Nonplussed , London, Londinium

U.S. Marines: Semper Fi. Do or die.

Royal Marines: Simplify. Surrender with a sigh.

Bubba, Key West,

The most obvious thing to me is this; the Iranians must regret something very big style.

Yes, they must now wish they went for the frigate as ooposed to the wee boats. Well perhaps not. Too many goody bags to hand out eh? Very expensive if they had to give all of them a suit and fags.

Mr Smith, Edinburgh,

Shameful, just shameful. The British Navy allow their sailers and Marines to be captured without a fight. And then the hostages willingly participate in propaganda against their own country. And to top it off, Iranian-backed Shia militia explode a huge bomb that kills 4 British servicemen on the day after the hostages are released. It's very painful to watch these things happen to America's best friend.

Chris, Sacramento, USA

Under exceptional circumstances, the MoD does allow a soldier to make financial arrangements with the media. These exceptional circumstances are for soldiers who went beyond the call of duty to such an extent, that they were recipients of the highest award for bravery and valour that the UK can bestow, namely the Victoria Cross.

To equate the actions of the 15, no matter how "exceptional" the circumstances, with those who were awarded the VC, is carrying equivalence a bit too far.

DaveP, Beverley, UK

After watching the news this week, I think I have a solution: only football hooligans should be allowed to become royal marines and only royal marines should be allowed to attend football matches.

amazed in, Ohio, USA

To Chad, please don't include "everyone in the US" in your ranting and insults-as you surely do not speak for me nor many others I know. If you have a personal opinion about how you feel the way the Brits handled this entire ordeal, keep it personal and "your opinion" and do not inlude those of us "everyone" in the USA that may understand the difficult and delicate situation that existed and may surely disagree with you. There is enough anti-American sentiment (I think deservedly so) around the world, and we don't need people like you to further exacerbate that. You live in Texas, which is as far as I'm concerned, an entirely different country altogether from much of the "US".

Paolo, So Cal, Ca

judy,UK-The UK,US,DE,FR ,IT... especially the new EU former USSR bloc member states have military forces of stand up military men and women. Only a MINORITYof the Iran15 didn't bother,this sorry few collaborated with Iran's propaganda performance,they did not, can not and never will measure up.

mary kirk, sarasota, fl usa

WHO CARES!! Some of theThe Iran15 have nothing to say that is worth one cent. A minority number of the Iran15 conducted themselves in service of Iranian propaganda and should concentrate on how best to avoid ever having to look into a mirror instead of compounding their SELF disgrace with some slobbering,cheap,cheesy,crass tell all.

mary kirk, sarasota, fl usa

YOu think the MoD erred in letting these 15 sell their stories? I think it was calculated to do the following: Raise the disgust level of the British and American people, while making them question their stately virility. Once they start to question their manliness, there's nothing else to do but prove themselves by attacking Iran. Couldn't be helped, they humiliated us. Those poor 15 have been thrown under the bus in order to raise the indignity of the "coalition". Judging from the comments, I'd say it worked just as planned. Yes, Iran made us look like idiots. We must prove them wrong. By proving we're predictable sheep instead.

joy, Baltimore, MD

to caroline, London, UK.

Do any of these derogatory comments that you ascribe to "racist generalizations" have to do with desparaging Caucasians, Negros or Asians? If not, then perhaps you should say "ethnic" (assuming that the French are a separate ethnicity e.g. Jews or Inuits) or at least "nationalistic". Even here in America I teach my 14 year olds that difference. Please refrain from such non-thinking reactions in the future.

George Tirebiter, Washington DC, USA

Absolutely shameful.

Becky M., CONCORD, NC, United States

One of the marines said he and one other in the party were the only ones not to crack.

But the "captives" also said that they were interrogated separately. A big contradiction there. If they were interviewed separately how could anyone know who cracked and who did not?

Billy, Manchester,

Blair got us into this war by spinning intelligence, now he's trying to get his friends in the media to spin these stories as a hate campaign against Iran. A simple statement from the MoD would be far more dignified.

Mark, Newcastle,

Does this mean we'll have a flood of UK military personnel queuing up to surrender so that they can sell their stories? I guess it's to be expected from a society that rewards mediaocracy (Jade Goodbody, Coleen McLoughlin, Posh Beckham). It's not Muslim values that the west needs fear, It's our own complete lack of any moral authority our own stupid obsession of rewarding and endorsing people who have done nothing for the greater good except show off their crassness.

Denis, Dublin, Ireland

Lord Nelson is rolling in his grave.

Doug Reid, Cincinnati, USA/Ohio

Amazing how many indignant Americans are writing in, venting their spleens at supposed British cowardice. Too bad they weren't as indignant about their own government leading them into a pointless war in Iraq under completely false pretenses. Where's the outrage, even mock, over that? Instead they blindly and obediently follow their leaders over the cliff because it's the patriotic thing to do. Vietnam war veterans - perhaps you should remember the carnage and destruction invoked because of the stupidity and short-sightedness of your leaders. Iraq may yet not be another Vietnam but it is a disaster because of the incompetence and stupidity of American political leadership over the last 5 years. Before you choose to condemn others, maybe start at home and straighten out your own ship first.

Michael Gosemann, Vancouver, BC Canada

Pathetic! I could write volumes about honor and duty and sacrifice, but the one word says it all. I fear for the future of Western Civilization!

James Midkiff, Vienna, WV

Cracking under what pressure? They crew should have known the whole incident was Iran’s way of trying to force the UK out of Iraq or go easier on the nuke program. No one was going to die or be seriously tortured. That would have definitely led to a serious military response from the UK and or US. Iran is on the road to ruin, they will be dealt with and it will be payback for 444 days of holding illegally our embassy personal in 1979, the Beirut Marine barracks bombing, etc. God bless all of the men and women over there right now and it’s just a matter of time before we balance the ledger with Iran.

Jeff, LA, USA

The fact that the BBC is canelling the story about "Private Johnson Beharry’s courage in rescuing an ambushed foot patrol then, in a second act, saving his vehicle’s crew despite his own terrible injuries earned him a Victoria Cross." is very telling about the way British society has gone. It is a sad sad day when this brave soldier gets dissed for 15 cowards. Pathetic.

When the liberal ostriches decide to pull their heads out of the sand, they will find themselves living under shari'a law. Do you really want this? I ask you, is that better than a democracy? Go live in Iran, Yemen, Egypt or Saudia Arabia and then tell me which you prefer? Give me the great USA any day! I have lost hope for Britain.

carol, San Antonio, Texas

The latest film from Iran showing the happy smiling faces of the fifteen cowards playing table tennis, playing chess and watching football on TV is another nuclear explosion of PR success from the Iranians. The MOD resembles a scene from "Fawlty Towers" where Basil Fawlty has made every mistake possible and is so deeply embarassed that he can only stand and beat his head against a wall, whilst crying with shame.

This is the UK's lowest point since Suez. There should be a vote of no confidence in the government and they should be dismissed.

Ed Flanery, Birmingham, UK

Looks like the United States will stand with the Aussies, Canadians and Kiwis to defend the free world. The BBC is socialist propaganda that reflects the true philosophy of English government. The United States had its Civil War and the Brits had many in their history. Is there any other way but open warfare for free minded British to regain their country? The Canadian government is socialist, so too is France and it would seem Britian is now part of the liberal appeasement movement without courage to do anything but spend money. The third Crusade should be a nasty affair. Iran believes the west is weak and will not fight, walking home with goody bags and media checks. Can't wait to see the appeasement from the United Nations as this builds into a fight over oil shipments through the Strait.

Ken, St. Clair Shores, Mi., Michigan USA

After isolating the 15 once they were released by the Iranies, first by throwing everyone out of the Business class of the BA flight home and then taking them straight from Heathrow without any chance of giving an interview, are they now being rewarded for giving out the MOD version of what happened to them in Iran? It makes you wonder.

nasir ahmad, Manchester,

I'm outagred. The book/TV/appearance deals are a disgrace. It shows what a pathetic culture we have become.

TO AMERICAN POSTERS:
As you condem the Brits, remember Jessiaca Lynch got a million-dollar book deal. And here story was a complete fabrication. She said so herself...never fired a shot. Cared for with TLC by Iraqi doctors. Its the same on both sides of the Atlantic.

Jessis Walker, Birmingham, UK

As a VietNam veteran, several thoughts:
The commander of the British warship was derelict in his duty not to have blown the ragheads out of the water.
Tehran needed to be given 48 hours to release or face overwhelming aerial attack...regardless of the fate of the hostages.
The female "hostage" should pull her Birka over her face in shame for apologizing. With CNN and the world media looking on, she was in absolutely NO danger.
Finally, what happened to "name, rank and serial number" only. The current crop of soldiers, who signed up for $ and college could not carry the socks of the WWII Brit and US armed forces.
"Selling" the story only reinforces my contempt for the people involved. Next time, which there will be, the Iranians may have the nuke....then see how we kiss butt.

john baldwin, Twain Harte, CA

"How many young servicemen were brought up in single parent families? The majority of the single parents would have been females.

Yes, we probably are seeing a "feminization" of society..."

John, London

Couldn't have said it better myself. The same holds true in America.

John O'brien, Boston, USA

It is now official, England is no longer an ally, but a cowardice state, managed and run by weak minded and bodied cowards. It is also official that England is now officially part of the mainstream EU, along with Germany, France, Spain and the rest.

I'm not surprised, nor am I dissapointed. I'm actually glad...it makes it much easier to know who our enemies are and where the enxt attacks will come from. As an American, it would be wise to just throw up a wall around our country, and so far just remain allies with Australia.

I look forward to watching the conversion of the EU to a Muslim state. Nice knowing you Mr. Pope...you keep supporting the enemy as well, it fits right in with your EU politics. Your days are numbered as well.

I won't be sending my sons to join anyone's military, as we will be protecting our lives from our own front porch...where the last of the real men are I suppose.

I'll be laughing at whoever gets to eat the first nuke in a few years...that will be hilarious

MP, Denver, CO, USA

DIAGNOSIS

There is a pestillence upon the land of Britain:

The Nation is, obviously, seriously ill.

Its soul has been infected with Blairarrhea. The infection has spread to the armed forces!

A. G. GUMBS, GLENDALE HEIGHTS, USA/ ILLINOIS

Get a clue: in a free enterprise, democratic society, citizens have every right to sell their stories - including military (as long as no military secrets are divulged) ... more at http://www.paullevinson.net/archives/memo_to_brits_hostages_have_a.phtml

Paul Levinson, New York City, USA

What has happened to the Pride of Britian. We all know the next shoe is about to drop. Let's stop pretending this is going away. Iranian is determined to flex its muscles. Do we stand up and fight or run ? Let's stand up and fight. God save the Queen.

JERRY MCCULLOUGH, St.Catharines, Ontario, Canada, CANADA

Interesting to read some of the comments from across the pond - some generous and some not so, but it's great to absorb the various points of view. I'm Irish and an ex British Para so you can imagine my feelings when I first saw the conduct of the cringe-making female as she tried (not very hard) to cope with her 'ordeal'. Followed by the total co-operation of the officers with their captors.
I recalled my service with the Airborne and I may state that I had the privilage of serving with some of the nicest, kindest, determined, pragmatic, humourous, reliable and proud individuals on the planet. You know, the kind who walked 45 miles across the Falklands carrying rucksacks as big as fridgefreezers before engaging a well rested enemy and routing him.
So come on, you Yanks, the Brit public doesn't need to be castigated, they are already deeply ashamed. And remember, most of Gen Custers men ran away, there was no 'last stand'.

Harry , Riga, Latvia

As a Briton presently in the US reading this latest story and the responses it has provoked I am ashamed. All my life (whatever government was in power) our armed forces have been a source of pride to Britain. This debacle, turned into a sick reality show by the MOD, besmirches the deserved reputation of our forces. No, I do not know how I would have responded in their position and as such would have been prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt. What I do know is that I would not have been proud enough to sell my story having capitulated so quickly to Iranian mind games. How can their version be believed by anyone? They have a vested interest in over-egging any bad treatment. They will earn whatever monies they get through the vilification they will receive. Those at the MOD who sanctioned this PR disaster should be dismissed, followed quickly by the Defence Secretary for allowing it to happen.

Brian Henry, New Port Richey, Florida. USA

Oh, how have the English chickens come to roost. For a long time the English have criticised the Americans of being money grubbing and self-absorbed. "This cup of tea tastes rather bitter doesn't it, old chap?"
Where was the rest of the Euro-snobs? Were they standing shoulder to shoulder with England? No, they sold out England to protect their business interests with Iran. European Union in a pigs eye it is. Only when their is money involved is there a Union.
The sailors and Marines are only doing what the rest of the world is doing. "Getting what they feel is owed to them." "It's not about English patriotism Love, its about the money."
So much about the English stiff upper lip, now that lip is down in the muck, sucking up what they feel is owed to them as fast as they can.
I have always admired you English for your strength and resolve, but please, don't forget in what being English is, sadly, you are part of the EU, but always remember, you are England and nothing else.

Melvin L. Leppla, Jacksonville, U.S. North Carolina

I am an ex-Brit who has lived in the USA for 25 years. I am old enough to remember when Britain had a Military that we could be proud of. This sorry spectacle further illustrates the pitiful decline of the UK. If it Isn't bad enough that you have linguini-spined politicians and politically-correct Military leaders who send overweight young mothers into a combat situation, we have to watch these poorly-prepared young people roll over and co-operate with these Iranian lunatics within two days - poor babies! Whatever happened to "Name, Rank & Serial Number"?. To rub salt in the wound they are now being allowed to sell stories of their heroism(?) and are being awarded Victoria Crosses! For what? They did not fire a single shot, co-operated with the enemy when the big bad Iranians said "Boo", and gave these lunatics a propaganda bonanza!

I hope the two crew members who did NOT surrender to the "pressure" manage to avoid being tarred with the same brush - God bless them!

Wake up Britain!

Ian Donald, San Francisco, Ca.

As a British ex-pat living in the US, I have yet another reason to justify my emigration from the UK. I just spent the last several days arguing with friends and colleagues here in the US that we should not criticise the decision of the officers on the spot to "go quietly" and avoid a fire fight that could have resulted in a major international incident, not to mention the likely deaths of the 15 concerned. And now Blair's cynical, media-grabbing administration is giving them the green light to sell their stories. I really don't believe that doing so is in the best interests of the UK, its foreign policy or the security of those still serving in the region.

I do hope the twit who approved such lunacy remembers this precedent the next time a civil servant wants to sell an expose of government incompetence. And if there is any sense of dignity whatsover remaining within the military, each of the 15 should tell Mr. Clifford and his popular-culture colleagues where to put there cheque.

Max, St. Petersburg, FL

There is no honour in any of this. It will be used as a means of recruitement by Britain's enemies and will be
very effective at that. I have no doubt that British soldiers
will be put at risk if not killed as a result of this dreadfull
free propaganda gift to the Iranians.
The British MOD has done more damage in one day than
the excesses of empire building could have done in years.

Louis Walsh, Dublin, Ireland

So the woman in the party has spoken.

Dreadful stuff. Sexual connotations to it. Sex sells eh?

She thought she was going to be raped! But she was not. Why not say she thought little green men were coming down from the planet zonk? This rubbish she utters is just being made up.

She thought she was being measured up for a coffin. Complete trash. Why would they need to do that if they were going to kill you?

There is not one word of porof that what she says is true.

These people are smacking the real victims and their families in the mouth. Nobody will believe a word they say.

Our reputation throughout the world will be zero.

George, London,

Limp, cigarette smoking caspars by any other name. How very sad.

Shane, Dublin, Ireland

Does anyone at the MoD even have a brain left? Who made this stupid decision to let these guys sell their stories?

Any credibility that the UK had left that maybe their version of events was right and the Iranians were lying is gone, after this stunt.

These soldiers have no backbone. They praise their captors on TV, Iranian TV shows them relaxing, playing table tennis; and then they come back and claim they were threatened and promptly sell their stories to British TV for money?

I've got nothing to say about these spineless clowns, but the person who made the decision to let them sell their stories should be fired. Who is going to believe the British version of the "kidnap" story anymore.

Dave M, Chicago, US

Duty...Honor...Country!
Sad!

Maddox-Bailey, Annapolis, USA, MD

Thank God and the US constitution I can still own and possess firearms in my country. The day for self defense is approaching faster than I could have imagined. Has the UK gone mad? It was confounding enough to watch the parade of apologies and the cheerful sendoff and lovefest with the Iranians. But this is madness. The only outrage seems to be in the commentaries here. Why aren't your leaders reigning in the insanity? God help us all.

Mike, Monterey, USA, California

Many things would be worth risking your life for; operational secrets, your country's security, your friends life etc. This is a different situation - 7 years in prison versus saying (dishonestly) that you were in the wrong bit of water and hoping that you could put the record straight when you were safe. I would hesitate before criticising young men and women, isolated and a long way from home, from taking the latter option. If they were cowards would thay have put themselves in the firing line in the first place? Easy to crticise from you armchair, but I hope they don't sell their stories.

Richard, Washington DC, USA

Churchill: "England expects every man to do his duty."

Blair: "England expects every man to get his goody bag."

Lily, NY , NY

This "yank" is both disgusted and saddened. Disgusted that professional military would show themselves in such a pathetic manner. Saddened that the once mighty British royal navy and marines are reduced to a group of cub scouts in rubber dinghies. Britannia has sunk.

Michael, Jacksonville, florida

America , lets not let a few cowards come between the USA and a nation of lions led by donkeys Tony Blair, put the MOD back in its box .
God Save The Queen.

GAZ, Merseyside, England

All those who have criticised the sailors and marines for not fighting back are talking complete rubbish. They were surrounded and outgunned, had no air support, and no support from HMS Cornwall, which was several miles away and unable to enter shallow waters. The patrol commander made absolutely the right decision. Any decision to fight it out would have been 'gung-ho' and irresponsible - we would probably be watching 15 coffins being carried off at Brize Norten rather than 15 personnel returning safely to their families. The murder of 6 RMP’s in Iraq in 2003 is an example of how a situation like this can turn nasty, very quickly.

And, I don’t believe any of the 15 said they will sell their stories, so why are people criticising them for that?

Adam, York, UK

I may be only 50 but I must be old fashioned because as an ex green and blue beret the only info you ever give is name, rank and serial number! To do so otherwise would be a court martial offence! As for profitting, let it be said that almost all soldiers know to do so is wrong. To do so is to be a mercenary outside of governmental controls. If it were allowed only those who kept their mouths shut should be given this rare privledge, as for the others they should face a court martial.

Dan, Woodstock, Canada

The British sailors have shown nothing but weakness in this sorry debacle. They have one remaining opportunity to show strength: withdraw from their media contracts.

Rebecca, London, UK

This is a shameful day for the fifteen hostages. This is a shameful day for the Ministry of Defence. This is a shameful day for for the UK.

How crass and stupid to equate these fifteen with winners of the Victoria Cross. The MOD spokesperson who came up with that phrase has not the slightest conception of what true bravery and sacrfifice is about.

Sadly the forthcoming media debacle is merely handing Iran a much great media victory than they could ever have imagined. This decision can only serve to divide opinion and morale within our armed services at the very time they should be united and fully supported. What a sad and sorry mess. No wonder much of the world now looks on in amazement at this circus.

Geoffrey, Belfast,

Some of these comments are realy unfair to the French.

W. Patrick Lang, Alexandria, Virginia

I would only pray that the men who were captured in South East Asia , and bult that railroad could sell thir story. What has the Royal Navy become. Im ashamed about which I have always been the most Proud. Born in Norwich june 12 1944 the first night the Doodle Bugs fell on Norfolk. I belive from now on I will not tell of my roots after all most americans dont know much history anyway.

Roddy Ferroggiaro, Fairfield , California USA

I am an ex- Brit who has lived in the USA for the last 25 years. The recent "hostage" situation in Iran has further highlighted the sorry decline in the UK. The spectacle of these young people admitting to their "guilt" withi a couple of days of their capture was sickening - and should have been seen for what it was - a gross humiliation for Britain and further evidence that we no longer have a national "spine". Thank heavens that a couple of those captured did not crack - the rest of them acted like participants in a "reality" TV show.
Whatever happened to "Name rank and serial number" ?
To compound this sorry exhibition of "heroism" they are apparently being awarded the Victoria Cross? - for not firing a shot, for co-operating with the enemy and providing them with a propaganda bonanza?
Now these poor little darlings are being given the right to get rich quick by selling their story to the press!

Wake up Britain - this is "Alice in Wonderland" stuff...

Ian Donald, Antioch, USA (California)

absolutely disgusting. First cowardness actions. Now this. Now I can see why the British Empire is gone.

james, Dallas, TX

This Labour government has no respect for anything. In ten years they've succeeded in destroying British society and its values. Labour hate this country.

Dr Neel Burton, Oxford, UK

I am disgusted.

Not by the actions of the 15 captive, but by the comments made here.

For them to try to fight their way out would have been suicide. Dying for your country is part of being in the service. Throwing your life away for no reason is not.

Thier deaths would have gained nothing, and possibly have lead to more British deaths in the battles that may have followed.

As for them making money on the ordeal, why not. Somone is going to make some money on this.

If someone is willing to pay them for their stories why not accept it. We as the viewing public can show our disgust by not watching the TV show or movie.

Darrell, New Berlin, USa

And many of your correspondents were longing to nuke millions of ordinary people! Oppose the politicians and start building peace between peoples. Forget all this silly nonsense!

Phil, Hong Kong,

TRUE BRITISH COWARDS.
courtmarshall them for dereliction of duty then after they serve the full sentence for their guilt kick them out for good with NO PENSION. sue their a***s for double any penny they get from the press. they disgust.

peter jones, moscow,

Compare the physical condition of our pilots when they returned from captivity after the 1st Gulf War, with the way this bunch of losers returned with their goody bags from Iran.
The whole episode by the MOD has demeaned the deaths of real heroes who have died during this sad and misplaced war, started by someone who has never had to rough it in his life, together with his late friend the draft dodger from the other side of the Atlantic, they have made this world a very dangerous place to live in.

Lloyd, Glan Conwy, UK

Shame on the once great military, these people cannot be called 'Soldiers' but muppets that have no right to wear a uniform what was the MOD thinking in allowing this.

Mark, Madrid, Spain

they were singing like canaries in Iran so am not surprised they want to talk to media, but to reward them for behaviour that was not exactly correct is mystifying two wrongs don't make a right

terry, bath,

Here is what Felix Carman says concerning giving the story to the media;

"I'd happily do it for free. But if there is money on offer then it would probably go to charity."

This guy is a complete clown. Look at what he says again. A half-wit would focus on the word "probably". These people are simply playing games with the public. They are not very bright eh? Did this fool think people would not notice the immature word game?

The more they say the more they dig themselves into a hole. I honestly think they must be booted out of the forces.

Note the above is an officer. That, for me, is beyond belief.

Timothy, Scarborough,

What a joke - 14 days - what kind of story is that. 14 days and they get medals and a story - for what...not fighting like a soldier, smiling with their new terrorist suits, "strategic release of information" and throwing their hands up and being taken prisoner without a fight. I can see the title of the story now... "No Honor but at least I got a New Suit and I Made Money of You Suckers" Sell outs!

Jean Peirre Crappier, Paris, France

What a bunch of wimps. First they don't resist capture, then they crack under very mild interegation and apologise to their captors. I always thought our young people were OK but this lot have proved us to be wrong.

So take your money but please, please get out of the Services, you are all an embarresment and a disgrace to your country.

Peter , Glasgow, UK

People, just calm down. Yes, some (but not all) of these very young and clearly under-trained soldiers did act in an unprofessional way, and profiting from their cowardice is certainly reprehensible. But to say that their actions represent those of the other hundreds of Brits that are behaving as true professionals in Iraq and elsewhere is just plain STUPID. To suggest that the irresponsible actions of a handful of soldiers is heralding the downfall of western civilization is absurd. Get a grip! Keep your eye on the ball, deal with the situation, and move on.

Alex, Baltimore, USA

Adam in York. Look what being friends with Britian has cost us.. I agree with most who believe we should never have gone into Iraq. We did go into Iraq ,however under the assumption that there were WMD. How did we make that assumption ?Based on British Intelligence that was wrong ! That fact was only mildly reported in this country.There were no recriminations plastered across the daily newspapers. Imagine what the British media would have done if the roles had been reversed ! The U.S. would have been roundly crucified . Come to think of it we are already being crucified by them and the sanctimonious British public . I leave you with this: Mike Chertoff, U.S. Sec. Of Homeland Security, said in an interview with Sky News on 4/4/07 that
British citizens posed a real threat to carry out terrorist attacks in the U.S.. With friends like Britian I don't think we need any more enemies

Jay, South, US ,S.C.

Amazing how mant Americans feel emboldend to give we British advice on Iranian Hostage strategy. Given their amazing success in the 1970s with their 52 illegally taken hostages its not wonder they feel confident in advising us Brits how to proceed.

After all, Jimmy Carter sure showed those in Theran what the might of the US was capable of in the face of blatant hostage taking.. WHOOPS! No, he slept he night on the couch, then resigned, then they let the hostages go and in the meantime Uncle Sam launched a massively complex and totally botched rescue attempt.

Go USA!

Amercians will recent military service and those minority with IQ's above 100 generally keep quiet. The comments of the ignorant others can be read above..

Andrew Jones, Belfast, UK

This country stood up to militarism, Nazism, communism and every other 'ism' going. We fought on in two World Wars while some allies stood on the sidelines finding every reason to keep out of it ! Everyone is too busy rewriting history these days !

Blair and Bush are close allies ! The EU is dominated by a similar pseudo conservatives and closet socialists. The Western world is poorly led - and our detractors know that very well !

Dave , Swindon, Wilts

Peter Stevenson is right, this IS a re-awakening for Britian and not before time.

The reason for this shamelful episode lies not with our soldiers, sailors and airmen but rather with those who ultimately command them.

Tony Blair and the now discredited New Labour "project". have been at the heart of an ideology that has deliberately set out to destroy the very fabric of this country; the young service personnel are merely a product of that process, a reflection of the damage New Labour has done to this once proud country.

That there is revulsion at the misguided handling of the Iranian incident shows that somewhere, deep down in the psyche of the British people, there is, still, an ember of the true Britishness that New Labour has failed to destroy.


Britain can be Great again, of that I am certain, and that day will come we have rid ourselves of the disgrace that has brought us to the edge of the abyss.

Andrew Murray, Forfar, Great Britain

I seem to remember watching the BBC in Germany when those four US Army Soldiers were captured in Kosovo or Bosnia I can't remember, and Jessi Jackson got them out...The BBC reporter said the US Soldiers had messed up but would be welcomed home as heroes when they should be court marshaled and if a British Soldier was captured under the same circumstances they would be brought up on charges...obviously he was mistaken.

Tony , Radcliff, KY

Since 9/11, England has enjoyed hysterically hating America and Israel for having the temerity to fight back against their killers.

Now you can enjoy your pink goody bags and white flag! Happy Surrender!

From someone who used to adore England...

Lily, NY , NY

This whole episode is about how to take the "great" out of Great Britian. Winston Churchill would be ashamed.

L.D.Cary, Mayhilln New Mexico, U.S.A.

Disgraceful, dishonourable, despicable, that is what these sailors and marines have proved to be. I feel angry and ashamed to be British. What a sad nation we have become, where responsibility means nothing, honour is despised, and the world is laughing in our faces. MOD? Ministry of Dunces, spineless, senseless and silly. This sort of behaviour is not just selling your story, it's selling your soul, and selling your country down the river. These 15 cowards should be dishonourably discharged, together with those at the MOD who countenanced their contemptible actions. And all of you who read their "stories", feel shame, deep deep shame.

Paul Tweddle, Coventry,

The rot starts right at the top. We have seen Cherry Blair on all-expenses paid "lecture" tours (shopping trips) here in Australia picking up a lot more than the famous fifteen ever will. The whole national fabric of the UK is rotten to the core. Who are the young now to take their lead from? I emigrated 15 years ago thinking things were slipping then!! I'm ashamed to think I was once English.

Mike, Sydney, Australia

What a pathetic little bunch of schemers !

a.rippon, sheffield, england

Hey Tony in Covington, UK
Hang in there Pal. The UK has a long, glorious history and this will fade away. We, "speakers of THE Tongue," need to always stick together in all things, right or wrong. If we all stand together, shields locked and sward in hand, no other power on earth can pass. It is when we feel weak and full of self doubt that we are vulnerable. Stand up and lock shields with me brother. Let us strike down our enemies without quarter. Then lets deal with our REAL enemies, Big International Business, International Financiers, and their "P.C. Whores--THE POLITIANS."
May God bless you and your family on this Easter Day.

Old Dave, Cooper, TX/ USA

Those Brits gave false confession and a glib press meeting with the Iranian midget. Upon release the Brits seemed hardcore military in bold tones during press conference, recounting their heroic journey. Now these immature fifteen act like rockstars while many people are taken aback by the whole rotten episode.

Eddie Gorman, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.

Ever since 9/11, and particularly during the Iraq war, I have had nothing but the greatest admiration for Great Britain, its people, leaders, and military.

But this whole episode and its aftermath leaves me shaking my head and wondering if this is the same Great Britain that I have admired so much. It certainly doesn't sound like it.

gb, Austin, TX/USA

Is it possible that Iranians will think twice if these hostages make BIG $$$'s from their captivity? Perhaps, remembering it, if and when there is a next time, the terrorists might want to make sure the captives had horrendous memories to share or favor the idea that beheaded hostages tell no tales? Will telling their stories help or hurt any future hostages?

D. Smith, dallas, tx

This is disgraceful. Having been exploited by the Iranians, they are now to be exploited by Tony Blair. Has nobody any respect for human dignity? Shameful!

Jim Oliver, Syston, England

Dear Sir,
I would be grateful if someone from the MOD could explain ro me what was heroic about being taken prisoner withuot protest and two days later singing like canaries.Thankfully there were two exceptions.Thankfully there were two men present

smyerscough, bolton, lancashire

I say go for it ! I'm sure the Military isn't paying them squat ! they risked their lives for their country.

Robert, Owings, USA/MARYLAND

I don't know what to say. This situation is just beyond what I could ever imagine. I suppose the only word I can express is just sadness.
Rue Britannia????

Lawrence Stewart, Lexington, Kentucky/USA

Tell me its not true.

Its either a late April fool
Or
The promotion for a new reality TV show

Called: Im a sailor get me out of here

Absolutely disgusted

Cynic, Wallasey, UK

Let's tell it like it is. No probogada, just let the 15 tell us what happened. I believe that will lt the world see a non propabaga view of the happenings.

Why believe that our guys would tell any thing other than the facts.

tony dell, landshut,

The MOD's reckless decision followed by the marines and sailors' quick uptake to go public with money making stories of their capture and "vacation" in Iran makes me truly ashamed to be English. This action is deeply shocked me and, as comments contiue to post, obviously is having world-wide repercussions. The once high regard and reputation of Britain's armed forces has been for ever seriously tarnished. The crew members involved should not be permiited to serve again if they go ahead with these plans. I have never before heard of a plan so disgraceful and disrespectful. Do these people realise what they're doing? They'll be spat on if they're seen in public....will this money buy them private body guards.....they're going to need them.

L. Allen, San Jose, USA

The bulk of these comments strongly suggests that there are many people in and from Britain who still support traditional British values and are repulsed by what has transpired. Is this a minority view among adults in Britain? Are you going the way of France?

Frank, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

The same people in my beloved country who criticized our involvement in WWII are still with us doing so today. If these people who believe this war on terror is all about the oil and power do in fact prevail, they will be the first voices silenced by the new 'regime'.

I thank my God everyday that there are still those in the free world who have the courage and conviction of Bush, Blair, the heroes of 911, and the Australians, Canadians, British, Americans and all others fighting for our freedom today.

Keep in mind that there are other 'evil' forces out there who want control over our minds...the MEDIA. Every day we see the 'BAD' associated with this war, when the tremendous amount of 'GOOD' is prohibited from being shown.

These British service men and women will soon realize what they have done and must live their entire lives with their decision.

There are far more stories of bravery being carried out each and every day...we're just not seeing it!

Larry C. Sims, Cincinnati, USA

I am a retired Naval Officer, who saw active service in NI , the Falklands and other places I am not allowed to mention. I have always been extremely proud of my service in the RN, my family's service in the Armed Forces, the tremendous people I served with and the proud traditions of the RN and the RM (the RN's soldiers).
There are serious questions needing answers:
Why did the CO of Cornwall allow the people under his command (care) to be put into such a dangerous, unprotected area?
Why did he not protect his people?
Were the ROE issued to him apprpriate?
Why did the personnel involved allow themselves to be used - irrespective of the pressure they might have been under, did they have no sense of their duty. What leadership was provided by the Officers. Are they guilty of 'lack of moral fibre' and/or 'conduct unbecoming'?
Who in MOD made the incredible (unbelievable) decision that the personnel should be allowed to sell their stories ?
I am appalled and feel dreadful shame.

patrick swabey, Bridport,

The vitriol from so many people on this subject , especially I see from the USA - most of which I sadly empathise with - nonetheless needs to have some important points clarified and corrected:
1. The 15 were not soldiers from the Army, they were sailors from the Royal Navy and Marines from the Royal Marines (which is part of the Royal Navy).
2. While the Army has suffered huge financial cut-backs over recent years, the Navy has been positively starved and inevitably its prospects and morale have suffered enormously. This may have impacted on Naval Officer selection and training criteria.
3. The Royal Marines have for many years adopted a highly 'macho' Officer selection criteria based overmuch on physical stamina and too little on essential leadership qualities, with far fewer drawn from those with natural leadership ability.
4. The Navy traditionally has a Court Martial for even the slightest error.
5. Let us hope for searching Courts Martial now to restore public confidence.

Jeremy, Devizes, UK

Iran had the last say, since we in the West wont stand up to Iran, think theyll do the same next time.??
Everyone in the US sells their stories??
Iran is 1 & West is 0..
Iran made US all fools.
Unless we act combined.
Iran says I can take hostages anytime & NO one will stop me.
Hello James Bond MI6 007.
See the book KILER ELITE.
Not 1972 James Caan movie.
Now thats a Killer force.
Next time Ira takes hostages IT could have nuclear missiles on hand.
Then what.

stephen russell, La Canada, CA USA

Hey guys (fellow Americans):

Whatever you think of this incident, and it's pretty embarrassing to have active sailors sell their stories like reality show contestants, the Brits *are* in Iraq with us and in Afghanistan. Maybe your criticism could be a bit more gentle? If we want others in our coalition, we should be prepared to look at both the good and the bad in our allied partners.

MD, Boston,

Maybe I'm out of the loop here but is there a state of war between Britain and Iran? What's all this about 'spilling the beans', 'honour', and 'back when I was in the RAF or Marine Corps, it was name, rank, and serial number...'?

Last time I checked the Persian Gulf (note the name) was one of the most disputed waterways in the world with this side claiming this wave or that one.

Just be glad that Poodle Blair wasn't talked into some silly escalation by his handlers in D. C. and that a few thousand quid is the only monetary outlay for this incident. The alternative could have been disastrous for all involved.

W Baker, Anniston, USA/Alabama

Embarrassing to read that the sailors an marines are going to profit by selling their story to the media. What a shame if there are people who will buy those stories.

I hope that the US. and Britain get out of Irak as soon as possible to prevent the killings of young and innocent soldiers in a war that has converted in another Vietnam!

Francisco , Guayaquil , Ecuador

The Sun has truly set on Britian ,this once great country now on it's knees ,profiled by 5 men and one pregant women .
How sad ..

Chuck, Port Clinton, Ohio

It is now being reported that umpteen of the "hostages" families have contacted Max Clifford.

That is surely vomit inducing.

Quite simply, its blatantly clear they are after the money. It's not just about telling a story is it? Very very sad stuff.

Are some people in the families doing a solo? Are they trying to make money for themselves?

Jimmy, Cowdenbeath,

Having had my say earlier today and reading all the responses to date it would seem that one theme seems to be re-occuring. A maybe belayed, but none the less welcome dawning of awakening amongst my fellow Brits. The damage that Blair and his kind have done to MY country is recognised and therefore repairable. I have hated this man since the day he took office. Service, not self, used to be the military norm in this country. Maybe, just maybe this monumentaly stupid decision, by our utterly contemptible Ministry of Defence will be the final nail in this governments long awaited lead casket. And our Generals ? Mike Jackson. You stupid suck up apeasnik, have forced on the Army a change that fundamentily undermines the very reason our infantry system has been the envy of the world.And all you serving CO,s who have "courageously" totally agreed what a great thing this is, putting your own careers ahead of any objection, you too are part of the problem.

Peter Stevenson, Marchwood, England

I must say I am shocked by how many comments posted here by Americans have used comparison to the French as an insult. How can these people expect their opinions to be taken seriously when they are making these sort of derogatory racist generalisations that have nothing to do with this issue?

caroline, London, UK

Allowing the stories to be sold will mean that the sailors and marines will loose the sympathy they have received. However if the money is given to one of the forces chariries this would help somewhat.
Obviously the navy were at fault in the first place in allowing the personel to be captured. The frigate was reported to be 11 miles away, why? If it had only been a mile or so it would have been far enough to sent those boats out. (When I was in the navy during the last war that was about as far as we went from our ship when inspecting other ships) It was also reported that the helicopter had to return for refueling. If that was the case the small boats should have been withdrawn. The Iranians were obviously waiting for such an occasion and took advantage of it.

A L Dixon, York,

They were isolated? They heard the sounds of guns being corked? They heard someone else throwing up, and thought his throat was being cut? Yeah...what awful torture, which made them sell out their nation, agree with the Iranians and THANK THEM for their capture. Oh, and get goodie bags in return (to be sold on ebay)

I thank GOD everyday we still have the Americans to lead the free world and show us what soldiers are capable of. Britain clearly has no role in that regard.

Robert Saha, Montreal, Canada

the loot to be shared among them not between them, right?

peter allen, san francisco, california

What complete rubbish people talk.
Utter cowpat.

I don't care in the slightest if these people make some money for their stories, and hope it will assist them in whatever soothing and healing they need for a nasty experience.

If people are "outraged" at this, get "outraged" at the morons who buy the books who are likely to be, shall we say, Sun rather than Times readers.

The important point, actually, is it will effectively antidote the vile propagandist campaign conducted by that vile and animalistic regime. Take that, Iran! - let's see if you can match bestselling books and newspaper reports, showing in-depth detail of what nasty and unpleasant people you are.

Joe, Manchester,

A sad, sad day, the sun has truly set on the British Empire. This is now the British fighting man? Once always ready for a fight, the proud tradition of the British military has faded and blown away like ashes in the wind. Now you sell your story of surrender, cowardice and dishonor as you march under the banner of the white flag. I continue to ponder the outcome if it had been 15 US Marines? Semper Fi

A. Murphy, Ft Myers, USA/FL

So the British Marines and sailors who rolled over and capitulated to the enemy without a jot of resistance are to be rewarded with a big payday for their collaboration while British soldiers killed by the enemy in Iraq without giving an inch get nothing? Is this part of that new Cool Britannia we've heard about? I'm surprised those Brits didn't come back smiling and waving in Iranian uniforms.

Steve Gregg, Washington, DC

Sad to say, but I now equate the Brit forces with the French. Give up and run away. Looks like the US will have to carry all the water now. In a related note, did you hear that a white flag factory in France burned down last week. They lost 1/2 of there military force in one fire.

Paul , North hills, usa/Pa

Whatever happened to "name,rank and serial number"?
These marines do not represent the best of the Brits. They have backbones like chocolate eclairs. Blood, sweat and tears---Churchill must be rolling over in his grave. Sad

Dick Bolduc, Mashpee, MA.

I am ashamed, ashamed to be in military. Please forget these people who forgot to read the "conduct after capture" book.

People can't make money from war if nobody reads it. I beg you. Think of our troops still on the ground out there! They are the true heros. Not this lot.

Military's funded on who can tell the best story is a horrible place to be.

Louise, Scarborough, UK

Perhaps their behavior can be explained this way:

Why shouldn't these sailors and marines act selfishly and stupidly? This whole war has been a folly based on lies and greed. I think their reactions are actually quite appropriate given the circumstances.

Arnett, Beaverton, OR, USA

The irrelevance of England is made manifest. You've gone out with a whimper. And the lord upon the golden horn is laughing in the sun.

Richard Griffin, Madison, Wisconsin

Shame on the Ministry of Defence,shame on the marines.
Shame on the politicians and senior military personnel.
I feel a sense of hopelesness and despair at how far down the British have sunk.
The bad taste in my mouth won't go away.

Nic S, Royan, France

He said that the British military was respected around the world but if people that got into difficult situations were then allowed to quickly sell their story "we will lose that dignity and respect".
Dignity, respect ? all dignity has been lost due to this shameful episode.What price the fallen who fought and died with honour,30 pieces of silver it would appear is the going rate.

Robert F Selwyn, Colchester, England

Sir,
The pride of a nation is often reflected in their armed forces, especially at times of war. The MoD must decide if such an unusual allowance for them to publish their stories for financial gain, can be harmful to the pride and good name of the armed forces. I cannot believe that the MoD can be naive to think that allowing the soldiers financial gain so quickly after the incident is over, can bolster the image of the already embattled armed forces. How can our armed forces be equated with celebs? What will we tell our children when we gauge one's sacrifice for the nation in financial gains? What precedence will this act bring about? Much more thought must be put into such decisions before making them public. It is now a CATCH-22 situation for the Generals!

Andrew C, London, London

How the mighty have fallen. Taken with out a shot fired. A Boy Scout troop from Texas armed with .22's and a box of fire crackers could conquer England in an afternoon.

D Potter, Jacksonville, Florida

Whatever credibility these seamen had regarding their surrender is now lost for good. Ahmadinejad must really be getting a kick out of this spectacle of Western decadence and craven celebrity worship. Death before dishonor indeed...

Paul Kelley, Columbia, USA

Throughout history, governments of many third world or banana republic countries have been deposed by means of a military coup d'etat.

Is not-so-great britain next in line for such an event? .....Oh, I forgot - the MoD is there to provide some degree of protection for the privileged class ( but not for the average bloke).

Davole, Hamilton, Canada

The fact that these soldiers are being treated as heroes is appalling in the first place, but the fact they should profit from it is equally disturbing.

They were only held hostage for a couple of weeks, compared with POW's in other conflicts that were held for months and years this is nothing.

And the fact that Iran has not had to face any sort of retribution economic or military shows the exquisite uselessness of the UN and the rest of Europe in showing any kind of spine against serial bandit regimes like the Islamic Republic. Profit is obviously more important to them than dignity/

Bill Isenberger, Baton Rouge, US, Louisiana

Could this be a candid "we have nothing to hide" PR operation?
If the exceedingly young crew - they reminded me of boyscouts - of the tiny rubber cockleshell is allowed, nay, encouraged, "to go out and tell the world", who could seriously think they truly were on a "sensitive" mission against Iran?

Juan Millaruelo, Madrid, Spain

When I was in the RAF there were followers and leaders, I was a follower and had absolute confidence my superiors. In that boat there seems to be neither, what kind of an officers leads by concentious? "It was a joint decision....." He should be court martialed for dereliction of duty. It should have been his decision, that is why he is an officer, if it was his decision not to fight, fine, but at least he could have held his head high and acknowledged he gave an order....what a useless whimp...........

dave, Miami, USA

On the same day the men and woman returned from Iran four members of the British Armed Forces died in Iraq ... but I suppose there was nothing 'exceptional' about that?

MF Robinson, London, England

Why are these sailors and marines boasting about anything? This is truly strange and sad. The only ones deserving any praise are the 2 that didn't "confess". The others "cracked" in record time. And why is a pregnant woman on the front line of anything? What enemy is supposed to be intimidated by the site of her? She shouldn't have been there in the first place. And she sure shouldn't be rewarded for telling her "story".

AmericanMark, San Francisco, CA

judy @ Liverpool, england writes ..."How dare any American comment! The champions of pill popping and friendly fire!"

Judy, at least with friendly fire, a weapon is discharged.

If the tables were turned, I would hope that our good British friends would be equally harsh and condemnatory. Maybe something constructive would result.

Jack Tawil, merritt island, FL, USA

I don't blame them. Why not make a buck where you can. It's the capitalist way.

John Sausage, Jersey City, USA/NJ

I wonder if just ONE of the 15 will have the guts to say 'I'm out of this farce' I want nothing to do with it and just want to be returned to my duties for which I'm paid. Just ONE of them, I doubt it - let's see.
This has the whiff of Max Clifford about it.

victor, Malaga, Spain

The British military is shameful. These 15 captives disgraced their country and the coalition forces fighting in Iraq by giving confessions while in captivity and then recanting after being released. Whatever happened to disclosing only name, rank and serial number while in captivity as a soldier? Where is the honor in what these 15 did?

What should we believe now? The story they told in captivity or the story they now tell so they can sell a book for their own profit?

Is this the new Army of one? Say anything you want to save your own butt?

The cowardly acts of these 15 are a disgrace, a spit in the face to all the British soldiers that have made the supreme sacrifices for their County. It is a disgrace that the British military now condones this type of cowardly behavior.

Jerry, Littleton, CO

Listening to the brits babble out their apologies to their Iranian captors was one thing. Now having them sell their stories to the media makes me realize what a joke "western civilization" has become. No honor, not a shred of dignity.
Maybe we do need to be overrun by Islam.

susanne, Wintersville, Ohio/USA

Future British soldiers facing death on a battlefield will have to make a choice: (a) fight and die, or (b) surrender and get rich on a book deal. God Save The Queen! ( her soldiers are unlikely to! )

Those "soldiers" should have to hang their heads in shame for the rest of their lives...not for having surrendered, but for having done so without firing a single shot...and not for cooperating with the enemy, but for having cooperated with nary a broken bone.

WHAT is the Ministry of Defense over there THINKING!?!?!?

Tim Quick, san marcos, CA, USA

To all the ‘tough’ Americans that have posted derogatory comments here about the British military, how quickly you have forgotten that Britain is one of the few nations that stood shoulder to shoulder with you in Iraq and Afghanistan. And you wonder why you have so few allies left in the world.

Adam, York, UK

Britain's new heroes! How about a special celebrity version of 'Big Brother'?

Fred, San Diego, USA

It's the M.O.D. not "Big Brother".

R Fairbairn, London, U.K.

It is interesting to note that Iran is a theocracy and that Europe was once referred to by a famous journalist as "the continent of empty churches".

Thought-provoking, n'est-ce pas?

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

During the "Revolutionary War", Adjutant General, John Andre, was captured by the Colonial Militia. Circumstances had compelled him to adapt civilian clothing and discard his uniform. General Washington's army admired his courage and bearing in captivity and offered to trade him for Benedict Arnold, with whom he had colluded.The British Army refused, and Washington was forced to hang John Andre. It is said that the Continental Army mourned his sacrifice as much as the British Army did..
In his last letter to the King, John Andre wrote:
"I am perfectly and tranquil in mind and prepared for any Fate to which an honest Zeal for my Kings Service may have devoted me"
But that was in a time when there were moral absolutes and men were guided by more than self interest and self satisfaction. If the people of that time witnessed the juvenile behavior of the British "hostages", they would, at the very least, had strongly condemned such compliant cowardice.

Paul Papendick, Waldwick, NJ, U.S.A.

This is the face of the Royal Navy? British military heroes of the past must be rolling over in their graves. From helping their enemy board their boats like boatboys at my local marina to personally giving Iran military briefings in their uniforms pointing to the map like their planning the normandy invasion Ive thought Ive seen it all. But when these "soldiers" excitiedly gushed and opened their presents like little boys at Christmas smiling and thanking their captors I was disgusted. Posing,thanking,laughing and shaking hands with Iranian officials like they just finished a cricket match and had a few beers together. What a crew. Now you want to reward them with book deals? Ive thought Ive heard it all. Guys like Montgomery,Patton and John McCain would of snarled at them while their fingernails where being ripped off. Say hello to the new Metrosexual soldier. Good luck.

Paul , HAmden, Ct USA

a shame upon the dignity and pride of the British peoples.

George, San Francisco, CA, USA

Is it alright for me to write about the time in 1963, in the Oman, when a small group (21) of airborne soldiers, arrested, disarmed and marched 70 miles to the coast and deported 41 Baluchi mercenaries. We were told not to talk about this as we were not even supposed to be in the Oman.

Any offers for the story???

Mike, Bidache,

Sadly, many of us in the USA feel that our staunchest ally is no more. Gone are the Royal Navy, the stiff upper lip, the steel resolve to conquer or die.
Now it's accommodate, get along, don't offend. Let's not teach our children about the holocaust, it might offend those who seek to destroy our very value system.
Where is Winston? What would Nelson think? Other than language and the channel, what seperates the English from the French? It is all very, very sad.

James Davis, Amarillo, USA / TEXAS

What the hell is the MoD playing at, I was under the impression that captives, no matter their manner of capture, are required only to give name, rank and serial number. Certainly they were under duress but so were the hundreds of other servicemen who were captured in ww2 and they had Nazi SS and Japanese to contend with.
And to make matters worse what frigging idiot expressed the VC in the same breath as talking of a fortnights captivity.
Plus of course the monies they recieve from the media is blatantly obscene; how dare they benefit more than the families of deceased and wounded troops. At least it appears that the RM's are giving something back; but 10% hardly seems a responsible amount.
As ex-RAF aircrew I'm more and more appalled at the state of HM forces these days, they have a damn sight more toys to play with than we did but many act like a bunch of spoiled kids no matter what rank they hold.

Alan Freeman, Venice, Fl. USA

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND ?

This is a supposition which has now become a subject for vigourous debate, has it not?.

Mike Cato, Vestal, NY, USA

You Brits are cowards! You're a disgrace to your forefathers who have fought for your freedom in past wars.

Jeremy, Ely,

Road side bombers who blow up Brit' and American soldiers will be looking to Al Jazerrez or a Saudi book company for a nice fat money deal? AND WHY NOT NOW?

Jack Tabor, Hampstead, London UK

I actually feel sorry for the marines caught up in this fiasco, even more now that the M.O.D (Blair Government) has succeeded in taking them out of the frying pan into the fire. Smells like the usual spin-diversion tactics to hit headlines ( or more correctly to supplant unwelcome news as: 4 British soldiers killed in Iraq by roadside bomb). Other reason for the diversion tactics is to quell what on earth where the people on H.M.S Cornwall doing allowing themselves to be set up for a sucker punch. The marines may get a nice pay check from the media but i suspect it will be seen as taking 30 pieces of silver. The stuff going on is so Machiavellian i can see it won't end until every institution in this country has been completely ruined and discredited, the spirit of Alastair Campbell lives on. Never mind, it is all a Reality Game Show Isn't it? (please vote me off).

simon, leeds, U.K.

As a former US Marine I can tell you that the US does not have cowards like the UK. I would be ashamed to be English you are as bad as the French.

Why don't you just get out of Iraq in case someone get's hurt, bunch of cowards! Everyone in the US is laughing at you. I say we boycott the UK!

Chad Johnson, Dallas, Texas, USA

What has happened to the great tradition of the British military? I have long admired and spoken far and wide of the unmatched prowess of the British. Now, we have a group of cowards profiting from their disgraceful behaviour. Cashier them from the service. That should be the closest they come to cash.

George Ridler, Stockton, United States/California

When I think of these so-called soldiers and then remember the way soldiers behaved in the World War II "death march," I know how low our western culture has sunk. It makes me wretch.

George Ridler, Stockton, United States/California

Hey Brits, what do you expect? At least by letting them sell their stories, there will be several versions out there, and then we will not be dependent upon the BBC or CNN for the "Slanted Fabrications" that they always generate.

When you "cut n run" like the liberals here in America, your enemies instantly know that they have won. They then play with you like taffy on a stick. You have far too many traitors within your midst, and many are in your government there. What has happened to "that stiff upper lip, and British backbone"? Where has that gone to ?

By the way, global warming is the greatest SCAM ever put forth by the media.

God save the Queen - because the average Brit sure wouldn't.

CGjr, Louisville, KY, USA

I do not envy these folks return to their comrades, as they have to live with what they have done. But ? were they trained properly to handle this situation ?

However, if ever there was a case of heads rolling this is it. First why was the HMS Cornwall not covering their military properly, as they should have. With all the eyes in the sky, etc. they could not see a few Iranian pirate ships coming ? (Gilbert & Sullivan could have handled this better). Heads MUST roll right up to the Minister of Defence, this is a sad episode for Great Britain, (The country of Winston Churchill) but learn and NEVER leave yourselfs open for this to happen again.

G. Walsh, Toronto, Canada

Now that they have been allowed to sell their stories, I would like to suggest them to deal with the bidders as a team (a cooperative venture) to maximize their gains.

virsen, Pune, India

How dare any American comment! The champions of pill popping and friendly fire!

judy, Liverpool, england

The UK has been humiliated and weaknesses have been exposed in certain area of our armed services. My sympathies go out to those who have fought for the UK and freedom and have gained little in recognition yet have suffered far more.

Kenneth Broomfield, Edinburgh, UK

The only thing worse than the national humiliation Britain was subjected to is the money the tabloids are willing to pay to revel in it. O, how the mighty have fallen!

TheMadKing, Nashua, NH USA

These 15 cowards profit from their cowardice, with the approval of their government no less? These collaborators should be in leg irons awaiting courts martial, not signing book deals for profit. You could drag 15 yobs off the street and they would do a more credible job defending your country than these so called professional warriors.

Bill Norcott, Nashua, NH, USA

I hope they all get as much as possible. As long as they don't start turning on each other or their own country's noble purposes in having them on the mission to begin with.

Other than that I am more concerned with why no one has dropped a "Thank You Very Much" bomb or two somewhere on an Iranian military target. The lack of response to these types invites more aggression on their part.

How long will the west capitulate to the fools and despots who run these regimes.

Chris Stevens, Houston, Texas, USA

It's easy to call them cowards but I know that the troops on the ground in Iraq are under all kinds of rules as to when they can fire. I would bet that the navy is as well. The rules of engagement may have forbidden firing on an Iraqi ship. They would probably have to call for permission to fire and by the time the request went up the chain of command they were already captured.

Before condemning them as cowards, find out if thier hands were tied before they left home port.

This is the problem when a war is run by politicians. If you plan on going to war, go to war. If you don't want to go all out, don't go at all. Don't tie the hands of the troops with a bunch of rules as to when it is appropriate to defend themselves.

Paul, Chicago, USA IL

they are gutless cowards-except for the two who did not crack. The allowing of their book deals completes this sorry chapter in the Pansey royal navy. Jim

james reda, suffern, USA/NY

Colonel Bob Stewart is appalled that these folks are about to "profit from a military disaster"? If he's appalled by a few NCOs making a few thousand pounds, I wonder what his reaction is to the Halliburton Corp, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, et al, making billions from the disaster that is Iraq?

Jonah Jameson, Central California, USA

Ah yes, The Royal Navy is for sale. I wonder if Brussels has approved this exchange? I can remember when a small insignificant chain of islands in the South Atlantic caused a great deal of comotion and was settled in true British fashion. But those were the days of yesteryear. Money not pride rules the roost. Your sailors were an embarrassment to your nation on the way they behaved. No dignity, no stiff upper lip, not traits of the British people that created a strong island nation ( and a world leader) were present in their "horrifying 2 week ordeal". Maybe one day you will not resort to negotiations when you casually watch ARMED personnel being taken by force with no gunfire erupting. You might as well mount news cameras for a fee on those Royal Navy helicopters that watched the whole incident go down. At least you could defer the cost for military operations by pimping your service people out as reality TV stars.
Iran can threaten your island with ballisitc missiles and soon w/nuke

John, Washington, DC

It seems the far-left media in the UK are in lock-step with their US counterparts... 'nothing more than Comunist idealogues posing as unbiased journalists. George Orwell is rolling over in his grave. As is Mr. Churchill.
We have NO real friends in the world. it is the UK, Australia and the USA. Period. Look around your neighborhood, Britons. This is another step towards "Eurabia". Make no mistake, it's coming... unless the UK takes off the gloves A.S.A.P.
Heed your own words, Mr. Blair:
"The terrorists, though, believe modern Westerners have lost the fortitude needed to sustain a nasty fight. "One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness," noted Tony Blair recently. "And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us."

Chotty, jersey City, NJ

This incident has undoubtedly received great media attention. At times, it has seemed like the most macabre Big Brother imaginable. The only reason for this is the Iranian strategy of using fascist propaganda. How is this war won ? Revealing the truth. Truth will be consistent. The world deserves to know the truth about the Iranian regime. Such regimes lead to genocide and great wars. The world needs to act with appropriate action against such a brutal regime. War has not been declared with Iran, how many friendly countries do you know do what the Iranians are doing ? I suspect the Iranian people are frightened to speak out. If a TV reporter interviews them in the street, they dare not express anti-Iran views. Interviews of persecuted Iranians will now have greater standing, lets interview them too. All the expelled Iranian academics and silenced women. They are depending on the world to liberate them from fascism. Let them speak out. More freedom less cynicism.

Lionel Tiger, Birmingham,

I don't think these sailors and marines should be financially rewarded for embarrassing their country with their cowardly behavior. This is another PR win for Iran.

Terry Aldwin, Boston MA, USA

This wobbly knee crew and their military superiors affront the memory of Winston Churchill. Let them not enjoy The Famous Grouse, it is reserved for true ‘men’ of the Empire.

T. E. Lawrence Costello, Tampa Bay, FL/USA

When did the Royal Navy motto become "VENI, VIDI, ... VENDI"?

Gabriel Pentelie, Chicago, USA

I don't know what is more disgusting, these marines and sailors who rolled up like a cheap carpet or the groveling leftist who allies himself with a regime that hangs women for the crime of getting raped, stones them for adultery, cuts off hands for theft, and denies the murder of millions of Jews by the Nazis. The craven anti-western mullah -enabling moonbats will be the first to get it if sharia ever takes hold. Are you willing to give up your liberty and submit to the seventh century or strap on a pair and support your own country? Thank God the Euroweenies weren't around when Hitler invaded.

john burhans, st joseph, USA

What will the relatives of the forces dead and injured in Iraq and Afganistan make of this. It is disgracefull

R. Maclean, Cumbernauld, U.K.

This is genuinely sad.

John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada

Whatever happened to the Brits? Cowardice followed by money grubbing. These service people should be court martialed and drummed out of the military. Instead their leaders condone their behavior while there comrades in Iraq are being killed while doing their duty. If you aren't willing to die for your country, you have no business being in the military. I am absolutely disgusted by their cowardice. Perhaps the Brits need some lessons in how to behave in captivity from someone like John McCain!

Grant Thomas, Brookfield, WI, USA

These Cowards illustrate how poor the training and quality of recruits has sunk.The M O D. is scraping the bottom of the barrel,with second rate people like these 15.Sell your stories,confirm your lies!Pathetic group of losers!

John Cochrane, edinburgh, U.K.

SLEAZE! So the British military is now part of the entertainment industry. As we blow up their homes in Iraq, make sure you get a good photo and you;re make up is right, for the TV contract.

Milton V, Ealing, W5, UK

I hope they all get as much as possible. As long as they don't start turning on each other or their own country's noble purposes in having them on the mission to begin with.

Other than that I am more concerned with why no one has dropped a "Thank You Very Much" bomb or two somewhere on an Iranian military target. The lkack of response to these types invites more aggression on their part.

How long will the west capitulate to the fools and despots who run these regimes.

Chris Stevens, Houston, Texas, USA

I say that iran is blackmailing the west and we do nothing..i say release the israel armed forces and stand behind them while they do what we as americans and the brits, germany and france dont have the verve to do..wipe iran 's nukes out once and for all..drill our own oil in america, share it with only the country that is friendly with the us..and let the mid-east drown in their own oil..war over..we win..what will they do with all the oil they cant sell..let them put it in their opium pipes and smoke it for all i care..
have we become so scared of these radical muslims that they can dictate our freedom around the world or are we gonna stan up and fight these murdering thugs that dont have the nreve to come oput and fight clean..I say we tell every one in iraq that the west side of bagdad leave in 48 hours, we put them in tents then level the place and do the same on the east..then rebuild from scratch..at least then we know whos walking around with weapons..we did it in japan, ect

joseph, hilton head island, usa

Just don't buy the paper with the interview. If everyone did that it would send a clear signal.

Ben, York,

This disgrace seems to be peeling, layer by layer, the very ugly onion that is apparently the modern British character. "We thought we were going to die" -of course you bloody well did, so have most captured combatants at one time or another, or haven't you read very much on the nature of war. What an absolute slap in the face to those who have served and died bravely fighting for Britain over the course of hundreds of years.

I am thoroughly ashamed of my country and thoroughly ashamed of my short time in the RN, I just can't believe this is the character of the guys I trained with and even more incredible that former heads of our services are calling their behaviour acceptable. If we can't has a nation condemn this behaviour and make good the flaws that led to this debacle, I'll FedEx my passport back. Add a low moral character to the overcrowding, staggeringly over priced property and ask yourself who wants to live in a country like that?

Richard , Dallas, USA

"And then, I feel on my knees and thanked and praised the President of Iran. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you,' I said. But what no one saw was the fact that my fingers were crossed."

Robert Saha, Montreal, Canada

The British military has become an embarrasing shell of its former self. Take a look at the Great War and brave people lost on "slow days" and you'll see the disparity between real heroism and adolescent self-promotion.

If these punks want to be famous they should parade themselves dressed in knickers, replete with signs on their behinds that say, "Kick here!"

Kevin, San Antonio, Texas

The behavior of the soldiers is craven and shameful. God help England if this is the status of their armed forces.

Roger I. , Flagstaff, U.S. / Arizona

To those that say these hostages behaved properly by capitulating and thereby not escalating this incident into a war, I say HOGWASH! They are now shown, by their unmitigated greed, to be an embarrassment to Britain and have only served to defer the inevitable conflict with Iran. All that they have accomplished now is having passed this chore on to others and, worse yet, are being paid handsomely for it.

George McManus, Valley Forge , PA

Mark Christian Cantu- it doesn't help the reputation of the US coming out with that tired old nonsense about "saving Britain" Just for the record and in case there are any others labouring under this delusion, the US fought in the UK against the Nazi's to defend itself, not Britain-period. If the UK had fallen prior to US entry into the war, there is a very likely chance that the States would now be occupied in halves by the Japanese and the Nazis. They would have had the momentum, technology and resources of most of the world available to them. Countries fight for their own reasons, just as when France helped during the Revolutionary war, it was to damage Britain not to help the US.

Richard, Dallas, USA

My husband and I watched the news conference with these so-called hostages. We saw nothing more than young people who were stripped, blind-folded and were subjected to some mild psychological upheaval. Torture? Hardly. This was a display of a bunch of whining softies who weren't treated as fairly as they would have liked. Long gone are the guts and glory days of the "greatest generation." No wonder the world's terrorists are finding safe haven in Great Britain. You don't have an Army. You have a focus group. Thank God we're Americans.

TXmomndad, greenville, TX/ USA

Lets see..we surrender, get fed curry for a fortnight, are released in new suits, with gifts, on our return are told we can make at least 5 years salary selling our story of "heroism" to the media. You couldn't make this up!! Hold on! Victory Crosses!!! For what!!!!! Get real.

Craig P, Glasgow, Scotland,U.K.

If these people are to be called heroes, what do we call the men of The Bataan Death March?

Mike Shanley, Baton Rouge, U.S.A.

Money grabbing surrender mionkeys! The Scot in the group should donate evry penny he gets to his native Muirkirk - a wasteland thanks to Blair's Britain.

James Brown, Ayr, Scotland

If a book is to be written , it could be titled Cowerdice At
Sea. When I was in the U.S. Marines during the Korean
War , our motto was DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR.Maybe
a little pride in the service would help.

Lyle Liesner, Alomogordo, New Mexico, USA

Who wants to read stories about a bunch of cowards.
Disgraceful.

DK, DC, USA

I am a Viet Nam veteran. In 1967 US Army POW training was basically "If you collaborate with the enemy you will be tried as a traitor and jailed when you get back". Your Poodle of a Prime Minister has turned your military into a Poodle Farm. Make Blair explain what that mission was about because nothing about this incident from beginning to end makes any sense. Of course, you might have him explain what they are doing in Iraq other than hiding from the insurgents. Does anyone in Britain remember a guy named Winston Churchill? "Never have 15 done so little for £10,000". At least one of the 15 admits that 13 of them "cracked". Now that story might be worth reading!

Ridgerunner, Chicago, USA

This is disgusting...is everything about the almighty dollar (or euro) anymore? Oh, that's right, it is...

I have no faith in humanity anymore; we're just a bunch of money whores.

Karen, Felton, Delaware, USA

This is an embarrasement for the Royal Marines. Is their no more pride for country? I guess the almighty dollar is celebrated more these days.

Bryan, austin,tx, usa

The marines bashers are out!
People should remember how smart they look when they march and what lovely music their band plays.
Hoorah for the Royal Marines!!!

John , durham,

'Cheapskates. ' Heroes my foot. They have done nothing and deserve nothing Real heroes do not talk about their experiences, but keep a dignified silence.

If this is the best we have I will send my grandmother in their place , she would, I am sure, show them how to behave properly.

g.ware, york, uk

Securing a publicity advantage from this incident was the flavour of the Iranian president and because no-one expected any different, no-one really bothered to comment. Given the high human rights and political correctness culture of the UK, we are shocked that these "hostages" might profit from their experiences. If we judged them by the same standards that we judge the Iranian president by, then no-one might even bother with commenting on this. I wonder how much better off the UK might be if it in-fact did adopt a very un-UK attitude towards the people screwing with them. To hell with political correctness. To hell with pro-human rights high court judges. To hell with laws that actually discriminate against the law abiding majority. Bring back a good old fashioned dose of "go and get stuffed" and the spirit that made Britain great.

Craig, Sydney, Australia

Relax!

Even "war" has become showbiz.

Gerry Pearson, Toronto, Canada

This is sick. This is a slap in the face to service members and their families everywhere who do their duty. What has become of Britain?

Jim, Worcester, USA/MA

Something is rotten in the kingdom of Great Britain

Mediocrity I call it.

lia loria, Tbilisi, Georgia

As with most actions taken by this awful government, this leaves one with a fealing of nausea. Superficiality over substance at every turn.

ADScott, Bangkok, Thailand

wrong..wrong...wrong. does this mean that any army personal etc..can talk about what they have, and expect to do. as usual the government has stuck its head in the sand as to the consequences.

victor arram, westclff on sea, uk

Brittania rules the waves.
Someone should have told that to the Iranians.

Daniel Sadan, Geelong, Australia

I am a proud American, reared in San Antonio, Texas. I have seen more backbone in a kindergarten class, when a child refuses to quit playing ball at recess to come back into the classroom. I have seen more defiance in teenagers when their teachers tell them to open a book in class. I had wondered if these "soldiers" were drugged to induce their incessant giggling and mindless compliance. They were euphoric to receive their goody bags with vases, candies, CDs and such. It is so nauseating on so many levels. Now they will be paid to detail their cowardice!! And "honored" with real heroes??!

Ann Carmichael, Statesboro, Georgia

Heroes? My mates who died in Helmand are the only heroes I know. The captured 15 should be ashamed of themselves. All proceeds made from their debacle should be donated to forces charities.

Fuming of Fulchester, Up North, UK

I think that people are getting on the bandwagon and demonising the Royal Marines for their most recent surrender and their capitulation to the Argentinians 25 years ago.
Let's be fair, they look very smart when they are marching and their band plays superb music.

John E Heron, durham,

How fortunate that these underarmed, under-trained,schoolboys (and girls) encountered some friendly, reasonable Iranians and not some armed-to-the-teeth fanatic jihadists.

If the school outing conducted by the Royal Navy in Iraq/Iranian waters represents the readiness, planning and preparation of the British armed forces, then one can only say, "Heaven help you."

RAS, Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA

The former British empire is not ony being overrun by radical Muslims, but is now being taken over by cowards in the military. Iran 1 U.K. 0

Kirk, St. Louis,

As an American who has always loved and respected the British I am stunned at the cowardice these 'servicepeople' exhibited. I fear for the future.

Don Nevin, Woodbury, USA / NY

I would have held up my hands and done what I was told.I would have come home and held up my hands again. I am a coward, not a hypocrite.

Terry Nicholas, Midsomer Norton, England

SO! The soldiers who turned the fastest, broke the easiest and spoke out about the West the best ARE REWARDED MORE! Iran has pulled off a master stroke here! They have exposed Western culture and WEAK and CORRUPT!

This is not just a defeat for British culture. The entire West has had its manliness and honor besmirched. What a fall, what a deep fall we have suffered at the hands of weak men and weak leaders!

I tell you, if this goes through, the PM should clean house at MoD. The lot of them should be sent to jobs mopping floors, where they belong!!!

Camillus, St Petersburg, USA, Florida

Fish and Chips chewing surrender monkeys.Getting paid for wetting their pants.
If these are their best,you definitly don't want to see their worst.
Britain has become a nanny throttled state.

Nick Molloy, North Bondi , Australia

Flags of our Fathers should now be rewritten and titled Flags without Honor. Shame on you guys for rewarding bad behavior.

Mark, CT, USA

I watched the international media blitz showing the return of these soldiers thinking how sad it all was when the deaths the same day in Basra of 4 UK troops was barely even covered, let alone any interviews with those 4 families. And now this travesty. I'm just shaking my head in disbelief that humans can be so crass, cheap, selfish, and stupid.

Ken Moloy, Delaware, USA,

Can't remember who said it so I am unable to attribute it properly, but it goes like this: You laugh at the concept of honor and then are surprised to find traitors in your midst. Not calling these people traitors, but you get the point.
I read the U.K. papers and watch BBC news and witness a torrent of anti-Amierican bile spewed forth disguised as NEWS. Occasionally this has caused me to have some self-doubt about America. Then, this situation happens and I am put right again about my country and shed a tear for a fallen England.

John, Chicago, U.S.A. Chicago

These soldiers and the MoD patting them on the head are just more examples of the Labour Gov't's sissyfication of Britain. PTE Johnson Beharry receive the VC back in 2005 but no one is clamouring for his story and the BBC cancelled a 90 minute biography of this brave young man fearing it would "alienate audience members who are opposed to the Iraq war". So this is what you get instead - the heralding of a bunch of soldiers and marines who left their captors carrying goodie bags and sporting new suits. SHAMEFUL!

M. L., Florida, USA

May the Good Lord Help Us if this is all We have left to preserve Our way of Life. Greed & Avarice supplants Duty & Honor and is in turn, condoned by the Government. Disgusting & Disgraceful, what has become of Integrity & Tradition?

J Flan, Sanford, FL USA

Gussy, Hamburg, Germany wrote - "So all of you would be war heroes would have had these simpering cowards blast their way through enemy lines, get themselves killed and directly escalate an already tense situation, probably provoke a war just to appease your sense of what 'honouuuuur' is about. Values like that are not what we need to make this century different from the last."

Well Gussy, our last century values and honour defeated the scourge of Nazism and Japanese Imperialism and allowed there to be a next century, how quickly and convieniently you forget.

Viv, London, England

What ever happened to the official secerts act? They were out there doing a job and being paid for it. We should not have been out there anyway.

MARION cOOK, STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND

People are going to pay money to read the stories of surrender monkeys?

I hope there are no veterans of Operation Market Garden 1944 still around to have to read about this debacle. I think they would be very ashamed of the way that their military services have evolved.

Your philosopher John Stuart Mill says it all:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

This is NOT Britain's finest hour!

DUTCH Van Atlanta, Atlanta, GA USA

The British MOD rewarding cowards and holding them up as heroes is a new and unbelievable low for our nation. It will be devastating for moral in our armed services. Fight for the country and you get nothing. Hoist the white flag and flatter the enemy and the government will reward you with bags of money.

The lunatics have taken over the asylum. Blair must have Alzheimer’s. Bush and Cheney must be staring with open mouthed horror as their key ally disintegrates before their eyes. All we can do is hang our heads with shame before the world and vote Labour out of office with a landslide defeat at the next election. I voted Labour at the last three elections – but NEVER again.

Tony Field, Coventry, UK

It's a bit unfair that people are blaming all 15 of the hostages for selling their stories, when only one of them has actually confirmed that they will. Just because the MOD lets them all do it doesn't neccasarily mean they all will and for people to preemptively to criticise them is a bit hypocritical.

As for the hostage situation itself, they were completely overpowered. Firing back would have been suicide. And so would have not "confessing". It's not like anyone believed what they said. You could argue that they should have been better guarded or something, but that's not their fault, that would be whoever was in command of the operation's fault.

Dan Moore, Flint Mountain,

The top brass from Government Minister, to Lord Admiral , to whatever, need to be fired. The whole damned sorry lot of them. This article says that the top brass agreed that these greedy, unprofessional slop bucket specimens calling themselves royal marines can sell their stories. I would expect this type of person to think like that but their bosses are bosses because they should have some idea of integrity . This fiasco is absolutely appalling. Decent British people and others right around the world are trying to tell Britain that things have gone too far. Things are very rotten at the top. Iran asked for a thank you gesture - Send Iran this thank you note:
Thank you for showing us just how rotten we have become from top to bottom.

P.Shepherd, Chexbres, Switzerland

Nelson must be turning in his grave.

E.Thomas, Liverpool, England

The British people should be ashamed of this. What a disgrace! First they give up like puppie dogs rolling over to get their bellies rubbed now they are selling their stories!

Selling what! Is this going to be a move dedicated to cowardice and treason.?

Looks like the English Miltary has gone the way of the French. Europe is a disaster and this is just a little more proof.

Kevin, Detroit, USA

WAKE UP! captured bootnecks and matelots.

WAKE UP! Britain.

If you have not realised yet that the God warriors (B&B) are "grooming" the nation for an attack on Iran, then I would suggest you take a look at the evidence.

1. Missing air cover.
2. No resistance.
3. Abject apologies from service personel.
4. No debriefing.
5. Change of longstanding ban on profitting from service situations.

If the above is not convincing enough then prepare for another war front.
Please write to your M.P. to ensure that they are aware that you will not be "groomed".

Frank McBride, tomar, portugal

It's a disgrace. Honours and dignity? I suppose British soldiers are no Japanese, where they would rather be killed than to appear in the monkey show set up by the Iranians. All these talks about them as "heroes" are largely glorified, to cover the shame on the British. And now they are cashing in for playing a part in this disgrace. Well done British "heroes".

arctanck, Reading, UK

They were ABSOLUTELY hostages. They were captured in IRAQI waters conducting legitimate military excercises backed by the UN. The Revolutionary Guard snatched them up illegally and used them as a Propaganda tool. I can't BELIEVE how many people are siding with Iran on these forums. You actually think that Mahmoud "Kill all the Jews" Ahmidinijad is a more noble ruler? Why is it that there are so many in the West who side with our enemies at the first opportunity?

William, Baghdad, IQ

how much lower can we sink? if and when the individuals concerned leave the service then as the law stands than they can write what they wish....until then, they should maintain there silence and keep what happened to them confidential....more importantly they should get on with the job they are paid to do like there erstwhile colleagues

trevor webster, Tokyo, Japan

I cannot belive some of the comments saying the royal marines are not as courageous or professional as they used to be.
You just have to see the fighting and battles these men and women are going through on a daily basis in afghanistan fighing with dignity,courage and professionalism.
As for those 15 sailors and "marines" do not let them be a reflection on what our military is like today.

Marvin, oslo, norway

Very sad. Western civilization is dying of a cancer and it's not even aware of it.

Those who mock their own western religion, their western traditions and pride in their own lands are misguided in thinking that they are somehow safe because they do. It takes no courage to spit upon your own flag or the symbols of western religion. We in the west have some tolerance in your freedom of expression.

But If you think the mullahs will put up with any of this, well then you have another thing coming! They hang people for much less. You people don't get it!

Peter, NYC, USA

Disgusting and disturbing. First the once mighty Royal Navy is humiliated by the Iranian “Navy” and now Royal Navy hostages get to sell their stories. Just imagine the public sympathy and support the next time military personnel are held as hostages; the public knowing that those captured will do and say anything, all the while focusing on the money their stories will fetch.

Robert, Ottawa, Canada

Something ironic about J.E Roberts comments below: "I can not believe that these soldiers are being allowed to make a profit out od doing their job." Hmm...isn't that one's purpose of having a job?

Come on, if it happened to you and you lived at/near the poverty line, you'd sell your story.

Rob, Anytown, USA

This is truly as a sad way to start my Easter morning. My respect for Great Britian has eroded immensely. To be quite honest, the English are now closely related to the French in regards to strength. Besides commenting on the obvious here, I would like to express how Western Civilization has taken one of the greatest hits of decline in my most recent memory. The Iranian have won this battle.

You English who comment on the lack of dignity of the US forget how our Grandfathers fought and died to save your country in WWII. You should be ashamed of yourself. Our cultures are united together in a belief in the liberties and freedom of every single person. If you don't know, we are at war with a shrewd enemy who depises this belief. Their goal is a global jihad against you.

Do you not think that this Islamic Cult has not invaded England and Europe. Check out their birthrates? Why so high? We have to be sensitive to their religion while they mock ours. Stop complaining -Be strong!

Mark Christian Cantu, San Antonio, Texas

How many young servicemen were brought up in single parent families? The majority of the single parents would have been females.

Yes, we probably are seeing a "feminization" of society. It is back-firing. We are beginning to look pathetic - "namby pamby" and sheep like.

The people we seen on our TV screens (the captured whilst on Iranian TV) were acting as if they were on holiday and it was all a joke. It was surreal. There was something incredibly immature about their "performance". In fact, it was somewhat cartoonish. The same was true for their performance at the news conference. They came across like children.

John, London,

It looked to me like that except for a few, the hostages acted like a bunch of cowards. Do they really want to bring attention to this? I think the Brits need a training session on keeping their dignity. What a shame that the historically fames "stiff upper lip" has been changed into such a wimper.

Tony Marietta, Charlotte/, NC

This is just disgusting. If surrendering and collaborating with the enemy wasnt enough they know try to profiteer from this embarrassing incident.

Revoke their citizenship and send them back to Iran!

Ramón Schuttinga, Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands

We are only delaying the obvious, at some point very soon Iran will do this again and will act more aggressive. Great Britian must realize that hiding your head in the sand and/or making no choice is the same in the eyes of iranians as capitualtion. We must strike back brutally hard and give them as Hard a hit and more . The iranians only understand force, these talks are useless.. the Iranian government is the 21st Century Gestapto. Only a brutal response will put them on notice that we mean business. God save the Queen.

JERRY MCCULLOUGH, St.Catharines, Ontario, Canada, CANADA

Years ago during a Royal wedding the BBC commentator famously uttered (on air) the exclamation "Jesus wept!".
Maybe we should hand over to Iran,as a reciprocal Easter gift, the MoD personnel responsible for this PR disaster.
I hope this comments page is big enough to cope with the responses from our American chums when they go online today.

Meanwhile,I wish everyone a Happy Easter, be you lazing around at home, or on duty getting shot at.

Mike Medina, St. Albans, England

So the 15 personnel, who knew they were taking a job where the chances of being maimed or losing their lives are greater than most (including most of the commentators here), have had a run of luck.
They've been at the heart of potentially WWIII and come out of it with all their bodies intact.
And people are berating them for selling their stories for profit (At least they're not getting compensation from tax payers for 'hurt feelings' or sexual discrimination), instead of facing the accusations that the military are mounting a huge cover-up.
This way it'll be a quick publicity job which will die down in a matter of weeks, and those personnel will be able to get on with their jobs. And face death once again in the troubled waters of the Middle East.
I thank them for taking a role i never could. Bravo to them.

Justin, Wuhan, China

Politicization of our society is complete ! New Labour has spindoctors in the civil service and now the armed forces ! We are paying the price for ten years of this wretched government and its control freakery.

So the new defence strategy has been exposed. If the UK is ever attacked - just surrender and give Max Clifford a call !

Brilliant. I rest easy at night now.....................

Dave , Swindon, Wilts

Seems the Royal Service is the only place where you can willingly and enthusiastically surrender like the worst of cowards, and then get paid a reward as a result. All I can say is Vive Le Britain; what a sad and pathetic end to an empire.

Mike A, New York, NY, USA

Jim, Oulu, Finland said:

Are we now just a puppet of the US and will even sell our servicemen and women's souls if they ask us to.
--------
<open faucet>
Sure, the USA is to blame for the incompetence and crassness of the British military, just as it is to blame for all the world's ills.
<dripping sarcasm turned off>.

Jon, Danville, USA, Virginia

Britain is being flushed down the toilet.
Sick,Sick,Sick.

James McNamara, Broken Hill, Australia

So its ok to "parade" them on our television but not in Iran's, for gods sake they broke Iraninan law and deserved everything they got, if it was the other way around we would have shot them all on sight and told everyone they were terrorists, its disgusting this propaganda to justify another attack on an oil country yet again, they should be court martialed and punished for this crime, but that wont happen because we are supposed to be a civilised country not like the middle east, i dont think so. They had every right to detain them and they were not hostages but criminals, they didn't have to release them, and to try and pity these so called heroes is a disgrace, they knew what they were doing, they went into their job knowing the risks and now they are to make money out of it is just pathetic. This country is just as bad as USA.

Claire, Swansea, Wales

What will she say in her paid interviews?

She will go on about womens rights/issues and so on. Its going to have lots of people spewing up. She will also play the emotion card and will do so big style. She will go on about her family and so on. Will she also have a bubble?

The media will try to turn her into a "Jade" type figure. A celebrity that is so because she surrendered.

She will also tell the media how she never cracked under pressure and so on. Soap opera stuff. What did she look like when on Iranian TV? What did she look like in the photographs that were released?

Rena, Bristol,

Will these so-called "heroic stories" be sold under TREASON .. or FICTION?

David, Tupelo, MS,

Oh... and here's another point to ponder...

I'm out patrolling in the Gulf, I'm thinking, 'how easy is it to make ummmm, £70,000 to £100,000', I know I'll stray in to Iranian waters, get captured, hang about for a couple of weeks at the Iranians' expense, come home with a nice new suit and collect my reward'

Absurd? Possibly, but how much do you think this will play on the minds of sailors out there still doing these patrols? What effect will this have on military effectiveness in similar circumstances? As a sailor/soldier/marine, would you try and fight your way out risking life and limb, or simply surrender, put up with a few weeks of inconvenience and grab the loot at the end.

And.... with £100,000 in the bank would you really want to go back to the same job risking death and injury?

Stuart, Halifax, UK

"So like we were on this rubber dingie...and like these scary guys came out of nowhere....after we surrendered we like discussed amongst ourselves the global implications of us like refusing, you know, to like go along with confessionals and the like, so we, as a communal decision like decided to, you know, like accuse Britain of sticking us in a place we had no business in. We were like super duper happy like when our Iranian hosts started to smile and stuff, except for that one time when we were sure we'd offended them somehow. But like being soldiers and stuff, we regained our courage and they let us make videos. Then they let us use toilet tissues, eat food with utensils, and laugh about stuff. The goodie bags were phat, loaded with items to sell on ebay. The moment we heard we're were going home was like sorta bittersweet, cause we thot we'd sorta started a new dialogue with these guys who didn't kill us, and well you know it's all been sorta hectic.........

Oliver, Denver, USA

Heros?

How are they that? They were caught and never fired a shot. They then colluded with the Iranians and made the UK look very poor indeed.

So how are they heros?

And what did they REALLY tell the Iranians? Why would anyone believe a word they say?

Jim, Luton,

My great uncle from Newfoundland served in the Royal Army from 1939-1945. He was one of the toughest men I ever knew, and also one of the funniest. I am so glad that he is not alive today to see the disgrace that has been visited upon the UK by the frightened fifteen and their commanders.

Donald R. McClarey, Dwight, Illinois

I contrast the media circus and comparison with VC and GC winners in some statements with Lt TE Waters GC DCLI attached to 1 GLOSTERS. in the Korean War.

Terry Waters won a posthumous GC for refusing to co-operate with the North Korean propaganda effort, as a result of this, he was refused medical treatment and food by the North Koreans. As a result of this, he died of injuries sustained in the Battle of Imjin. Waters ordered his men to co-operate with the North Koreans so that they would survive. A very brave man.

I'm pleased that the 15 have been released, but please, let's have a sense of proportion here. In comparison with many others in recent history they have barely suffered.

Richard H`, London, UK

Why have so many of your readers have missed the point?

This authorisation is a way for the truth to get out without involving an official statement.

Obvious, really.

Ian, Solihull,

What a sad reflection on this day and age. 15 people who failed become instant celebrities. For achieving precisely nothing, they are to be rewarded.
Their British MOD puppet masters are using them just as much as their Iranian captors, - to put out the side of the story that suits the national propaganda machine. And the wretched 15 are sufficiently greedy to take the cash and run, with no apparent sense of shame or regret.

Edward Nicholl, Stockton-on-Tees, UK

You read the news that comes out of England,and wonder what in heavens name has happened to this once great nation..
And then you find out that these craven cowards have being turned into hero's and are going to get paid for thier gutless behavior.
This is what happened to this "once"great nation.

Jack Hammond, Darwin, Australia

Not even Monty Python came up with anything as hilarious as this. Another thumb's up for Bliar's Britain!

Doug, Pretoria, South Africa

In these days of instant communications with units around the world, the real story to be told is what the politicians in MOD told the captain of HMS Cornwall to do, or more importantly, what not to do on the approach of the Iranian boats?

Kester, Manchester, England

It is with great sorrow I watch our friends across the pond.....oops, got to go, the call to prayer is blaring and I can't find my prayer rug!

Bill Hayman, Livermore, California

ahhh, capitalism at work... love it

Matt, Reading, USA, Pa

I would have allot more respect if MoD told their Armed Forces to go in and overthrow the Iranian government. That British "personnel" could keep all it can loot from the Mullahs' coffers. What an incentive to not be like pussies! Like Pirate-ships in the night, don't you think?

Russ, Chicago, Illinois USA

These cowardly profiteering people are despicable examples of a "soldier." And the British military's support of these activities only serves to diminish (Great???) Britain in the eyes of the world. UNBELIEVABLE!

Jamal, Berkeley, California

I don't know what disgusts me more - the interest of the general public in the minutiae of the sailors' experiences which drives the newspapers' demand for the stories or the brazen money-grabbing attitude of the sailors themselves which is driving them to sell their stories - and what is the story? Simply these individuals doing the job they are paid for, whatever the circumstances. To me they have surrendered all dignity, honour and the right to remain in the Navy/Marines.

If the MOD really wanted the stories to come out, fair enough. Let them be written and then made available free of charge to any and all interested parties. Even now, perhaps there's at least one individual in the sorry group with an ounce of decency who will do just that and effectively end this media circus right now.

Stuart, Halifax, UK

What an insult to mention the Victoria Cross in this fiasco.This country and its morals,ethics and sense of justice are going to hell in a handcart along with the way we are goverened.

Lachlan Murdo MaClean, Drumnnadochit, Scotland

How they can smile and except money when they are a National disgrace the fact is * Marines were sent to protect the Navy and prevent this from happening..

james rogers, london,

Utterly despicable!

Hugo, Copenhagen, Denmark

Disgusting

John Harding, Amersham, Bucks.

In the First World War "Cowardice in the face of the enemy" resulted in a firing squad. In 2007 it results in a blank cheque.
Way to go Navy ! Hang your heads in shame.
As part of a fighting force, the plan is that when engaged - you fight, not curl up like kicked dogs and lick the enemies boots.
I served for 9 years and would be ashamed to call YOU comrades.
Your pandering and greed is an insult to the memory of our troops have fallen on the field.
Enjoy your money - or donate it to SSAFA and have a scrap of pride left.

Steve Young, Leeds, England

"The MoD bracketed the hostages’ 13-day captivity in Iran with winners of the Victoria Cross"

How dare the MoD cheapen this award by making comparisons between real heroes and these yellow bellied cowards. They did nothing brave, they just did what they had to do to save their own skins. Brave would have been refusing to perform as show dogs. They were threatened with 7 years in prison, not mutilation of their genitalia. What a protected world these people must have grown up in. They are sell-outs of the lowest kind and it makes me nauseous reading about the potential to profit from their and their superior's failings that got them in this situation in the first place.

James, London, UK

Absolute cowardice

Lee H. Ex Parachute Regiment

Lee Harrison, Northampton, UK

I despair when I look what has happened to my country and our forces. It was thoroughly embarrasing to watch these 'officers' fawning in front of the TV cameras only to learn that they had caved in merely under threat of imprisonment. To the two servicemembers who held out you have my highest respect and admiration. My father was a POW in WW2, he was treated appalingly but never capitulated the way these servicepeople did. In the press statement Lt Carman said "We as a group held out for as long as we thought appropriate. We then complied up to a point with our captors". I disagee, you gave in rather easily and complied fully with the Iranians making the British look weak and stupid. Sorry but you most certainly did NOT behave "in line with the best tradition of the service." Turney should never have been there, women should not be in the front line they are more vulnerable, this fiasco is testament to that. What comes next the TV show "I'm a British sailor, get me out of here"?

Viv, London, England

So all of you would be war heroes would have had these simpering cowards blast their way through enemy lines, get themselves killed and directly escalate an already tense situation, probably provoke a war just to appease your sense of what 'honouuuuur' is about. Values like that are not what we need to make this century different from the last.

Gussy, Hamburg, Germany

The excuses for acting as prostitutes are already out there. "We are not getting the money, our families are". Do they realy think that will work?

As for the stories they will tell, it will be exaggerated garrbage. It will come accross like something out of "Roy of the Rovers". Of course, "Roy of the Rovers" was a fable and so will their story's. I dread to listen to what the female is going to say. Cringe inducing stuff.

The MOD are surely just encouraging our troops and so on to get captured and not fight back.

It really is like a reality type show. Nothing real about it, it's just about money.

Laura, Cardiff,

If the 15 military personnel held captive by the Iranians are representative of our armed forces, then God help us!

Alan Richards, Llanfairfechan, Wales

These people are not heros. They did not behave as heros when surrendering, nor when complying with the Iranian efforts to demonise Britain. They were not tortured! They were kept in solitary confinement. (When did this become torture - try telling the prison service if you think its torture!)They assisted Iran with televised press conferences, damaging Britain's reputation. The M O D knows that Britain is ashamed by thier actions but rather than apologising for its incompetence in its 'officer' selection processes, it's going to parade them as fine examples for others to follow. - I live outside the U K but I am continually ashamed by the actions of my Government and the people in power - though I never thought I would feel ashamed by the U K armed forces - Wrong again. Just how low can the M O D now sink?

Riley, Kiev, Ukraine

One little farcial spectacle, one great National Disgrace.

James Wong, Macau,

That these individuals and the media will profiteer from this event makes me sick. equating them alongside winners of the Victoria Cross is a joke. The service personnel, by their actions, have rendered themselves 'unfit for purpose'; the media on the other hand are simply following a trend. As in so many other great values in British life, it is now the turn of the Armed Forces to be destroyed by unscrupulous profit seekers.

simon walker, canterbury, uk

In a world that makes celebreties out of complete wasters and low-life through programmes such as Big Brother, should not those who dedicate their lives to serve the Nation have the opportunity to tell their story and be paid for it?
The 15 captives had been briefed to 'survice with dignity' if captured in a non-warfighting situation. This they did through the the manner they communicated with the outside world - faulty English in the 'confessions', the use of the ship's number rather than name etc. Now it is time that they had their say in order to show the despicable nature of the Iranian State

Peter Dennison, Scarborough, Great Britain

This is just outrageous!!
We now really have reached rock bottom.
The services have a job to do.
This is what our servicemen and women have to face as part of their duty.they know that when they join up. There should be no interviews with the press and definately no payments.
This makes a mockery of our Services and plays straight into the hands of those who would do theem harm.

Mr White, Nottingham, Uk

This will make the Iranians look even better in the Arab world when it's clear that the British Government just regard the incident as a great opportunity for people to cash in. How can we ask the United Nations to impose sanctions on Iran and deplore it as a major international incident, when the navy themselves treat it so lightly that's they're falling over themselves to let their people jazz up the story and make a quick buck. It is totally unprofessional.

Doug, Glasgow,

Poor show MoD. What are we doing!? Have we forgotten that despite all of Iran's falings, we should not antagonise? The overriding thought should be that one day, we might be able to shake the civil Iranian hand, and this brings us nowhere closer. If you think what these guys went through was bad, imagine what our prisoners go through in Guantanamo and Iraq and Europe (as in the torture flights we allowed). We are British and should not approach international relations as if we were in the playground. We are bigger than all of this. This selling of stories to the tabloids makes us as small as Iran in their political dealings. It's pathetic. I for one will not be buying a paper. Shame on you Blair.

Richard Sarsfield, London,

The mighty British lion has turned into a meek little mouse.

Jarred Soames, Perth, Australia

The captured people all had one thing in common I thought.

Although some of them were not officers they all came across as middle class. They came across as the village sort whose parents were teachers, sort thing.

Is it any wonder they acted the way they did? Honestly, I thought they were akin to school monitors. It has been embarassing to watch.

Kim, Glasgow,

It is called profiteering and it is absolutely mercenary behavior; they have no honor and the government is losing its collective marbles to not only allow it, but encourage the payment of blood money. What is happening to the dignity of the British military? Accepting blood money on the backs of fallen comrades? Despicable. They have cheapened, indeed negated, the sacrifices of all other patriots fighting this war and they should all be deeply ashamed. This discussion is not over.

Sally, Belleair Bluffs, USA, Florida

Does the UK media really believe that the public are interested in blown-up stories of these 15 so called heroes?
The heroes are those fighting in real war situations.

Juon, Manchester, UK

Your average US Boy Scout troop would have put up more of a fight, or at the very least told Ahmadickjihad where he could put that goodie bag....

Victor Sanchez, El Paso, TX/USA

I get the impression we are looking at the sort who deemed their job as being tantamount to playing a computer game. But when real danger came they simply surrendered and done as they were told like children.

Did anyone here the Navy Officer say that it was a joint decision not to fight back? Now, that is a shocker. What kind of leader was he? A joint decision?

How can these people now return to the forces? Who would want to to be near them?

In truth, the who episode smacks of incompetence in the extreme.

Surely, if they had fought back the helicopter could have returned within minutes and gave them air cover? The whole thing is an embarassment.

Tim Black, Carlisle, England

This is a wonderful illustration of what years appeasement to left wing govenment has produced. Bit by bit we have surrendered ground to the Marxists, bit by bit we have given way to the feminisation of our once great nation and now we find ourselves constructing arguments that can justify this debacle. I'm not surprised that I'm no longer surprised and that is sad.
Our country no longer exists as such. It is now merely a free market area into which people, money and goods flow into and out of and where the self-centred population extract any profit by any means they can. This has been forced on them by deregulation, high house prices and over population which has bred a 'me first' attitude. I give the country another 20 years before it is an Islamic state.
I have for some time been embarrassed to call myself British. This last 'episode' confirms that my position is correct.

Steve, Salisbury, UK

Can some kind reader explain something to me. I know I am not very bright.

Quite simply, people are saying the MOD will use the media stories that the "heros" are selling to them and it will be for propaganda purposes.

But who in their right mind will believe any of it? Surely, propaganda by definition must be, well, believeable? Who will believe any of what we read now? Can someone please explain that? What has our nation came to?

Clare, Salforrd,

What are they going to claim in the media? It is so obvious. They will all claim they did no crack under pressure during "interviews".

Of course, the British people know that they can say anything. We can hardly disprove it. They will even try to out-do each other. That is so obvious as well. They will attempt to say, "The others done this and that, but I was so different, I was a hero".

Why are the Government allowing this? Our country is getting dragged through manure by virtue of it. Official Secrets Act?

Alice, Falkirk,

To all those rednecks and those who think so 'high and mighty' about these 15 soldiers:
Yes, this war is about nothing else but money. There is no 'honor', no fight for 'freedom and democracy', it is about money and hegemony, particularly by Bush and his faithful sidekick Blair. One reader ridicules them for not fighting back. What idiocy! They were overwhelmed and it was common sense to give up or get killed. Get killed for what? 'Honor', 'glory', 'freedom and democracy'/?? What a crock! This is and was about money, oil, geopolitical influence. So if these soldiers were supposed to put their lives on the line so that a few people in the oil and weapons business could get even more rich than they are, then somebody -but not these soldiers- should get a reality check. This war is about money, so let them make it. I hope they will enjoy their money. Why should only Bush and Blair get rich from this war? And they don't even put their lives on the line, only their 'approval ratings'....

P Beck, London,

What must the parents of the 4 soldiers killed in Iraq on the same day as the release feel? How can the MOD be so incompetent as to allow them to sell stories for personal profit.
Pressure must be immediately brought to make these people donate all proceeds to a Forces charity to look after families who were not so lucky.
I am counting the days to when one of the released turns up on Big Brother!

Neil McClure, London,

Are the so called hostages being hung out to dry by the MOD? By encouraging them to sell their stories are the MOD creating hate figures? And in so doing, where does the public look?

Are the MOD simply trying to focus attention away from the real culprits - the people in charge of the operation say? Are they simply trying to create scape goats? Are they simply trying to deflect attention away from the farce that hapened in Iran/Iraq?

John, Luton,

One of the marines says he was only one of two "who did not crack".

How does he possibly know that? It's just nonsense talk. The sooner they boot these people out the forces the better. And how does he know the others cracked and so on? What are these people doing?

Let me tell readers what I think the MOD are doing. They are trying to close the REAL story down by allowing these people to tell us, and the world, a load of tripe. The MOD are intentionally turning it into something akin to a reality show.

It will never work. I am sad to say this but the Iranians have won this episode big style. To say otherwise is bizzare. People will view what the Iranians say as the truth.

It seems to be getting worse by the hour.

Pat, London,

I've seen more 'torture' on the faces of people unable to get their hands on the latest video-game units.
Hey, they're as famous as Paris Hilon, isn't that what it's all about today?

Andrew , Los Angeles, California

Why shouldn't they?

Usman Ali, London, UK

Hahahahaha . . .Whoever said war is a non profit romp misses the point completely. God save the Queenie!

Steve, Axilla USA, USA

Servie personnel profitting from an embarrassing situation on a day when 4 of their colleagues died is sickening. Not only did we have to endure the less than professional conduct of some of these half-wits on national TV; smiling as they compared gifts from the Iranians, but now we learn that they are going to profit as a result. How much did the brave men of 3 Para receive for losing limbs in Afghanistan? How much compensation did the young mother of Cpl Brian Budd VC receive? If the MOD does not stipulate that all monies received are pooled collectively to support the families of those men/women who have died in action, they will have sorely mis-judged the sentiment of those of us who serve. The Navy & Marines should be ashamed of themselves for allowing such a selfish act!

Stuart Mc Donald, London,

To use the vernacular of Second World War confidential reports, the Naval and Marine Officers recently released completely lacked OLQs - 'Officer like qualities' . One must also question if LMF would be another expression to apply - 'lacking moral fibre'. The Marine Captain looked as though he might have been a very good Corporal in my Troop but Officer? I cannot imagine him leading me to the local chip shop.
The Royal Marines have clearly lost the plot when it comes to Officer selection. They nowadays make an incredible meal of physical toughness - selecting perhaps 20 out of a thousand applicants, all on the basis of a glorified PT test. But what is the result? They must now urgently review the whole Officer selection process from the bottom up.

Jeremy, Devizes, UK

Despite the Iranian motives in propagandizing the situation, it is blatantly obvious that the Coalition of British and American efforts are purely to make Iran look like the villian... wether they are or not. It is amusing that these two nations assume that the mojority of people reading these headlines don't see through the smoke screen and call a spade a spade...... for EVERY single party concerned...

gerry, winnipeg, canada

As a recently retired army officer, I am appalled. Have we finally given up on such old fashioned ideals as honour and dignity? Perhaps it is a recognition that, after years of government spin, the public no longer has faith in any form of official statement and that the government must demean the armed forces in order to compete in the international propoganda war.
No serving member of the armed forces should be used in this way and any profits they make will be be hollow indeed when the media scrum makes their continuing military service untenable. However lucrative the deals may be, they will not compensate for loss of a full career.
I speak as one who has, in the past, seen the affects the press can have on survivors and families of those who have perished.

Vic Steadman, Chippenham,

What hostages? These men and woman went on TV before their capture admitting they were spying on Iran, they were taken prisoners of war and released after the poodle kennel promised not to intrude into Iranian waters again. What hostages? What happened to the five Iranian diplomats illegally captured by the Bushist imperialist war criminal brigade in Iraq? Where are they? Why was the one Iranina diplomat released tortured by American war criminals after his kidnapping? What hostages? As for the selling of their stories, if it demoralises British proxy clonial troops of the Bush imperium, all the better. Hostages, huh?

Bill The Butcher, Shillong, India

Let the media build them up to bring them down! The celebrity status these people are now going to receieve when they go on "Richard and Judy" talk show is well rewarded. Their intelligence and sense of dignity will be well highlighted to the point that they will show the British Military for what it is.... a "Nanny Force" They will be seeking compensation next. The smoke screen between a politically correct nanny driven armed forces culture and a highly professional military force is well, is smoke screen! Wait until the smoke lifts..... Nothing surprises me anymore! The cesspit just gets deeper and deeper!

Nick from London, London,

Welcome to Blair's Britain.

It won't be long before he sells his own memoirs of his disastrous period in office.

I expect we'll get a quote from his God about how right it was to invade Iraq.

If he hadn't conned Parliament into doing so these under equipped service personnel from our so called "armed forces" wouldn't have been there.

At least they will make a pound or 2 out of Blair's mistakes - sadly many others had to pay with their lives.

Rob Green, Braintree, England

Typical of a government which has spent ten years surviving on media sound-bites!
Has anybody at MOD or the Cabinet spared a thought for the families of the four soldiers who died while this group are basking in media rapture?
They are servicemen and women. Not so-called celebrities.

Colin Macpherson, Gramat, France

I can not believe that these soldiers are being allowed to make a profit out od doing their job. It is a disgrace and a snub to all those troops who have given their lives not their stories.

J E Roberts, Tamworth, uk

People who know me are aware that I am not often speechless. The morons at the MOD have achieved a new low but I suppose it's just symbolic of B'liar's Britain c2007.

victor, Malaga, Spain

Im Absolutely appalled at this .

I was very embarrassed by their behaviour throughout this episode, but this is the last straw.


What the hell is my country coming to??

Phil Hannah, Perth, Scotland

Lets get the bottom line.

The people we seen on the TV surrendered without a shot being fired.

And now they want to make money from the surrender. That is the bottom line. They will now leave the forces and pretend they are heros. The only people who will believe it is themselves.

"I might get killed, so lets just surrender". Thatss what they done. Where would the UK be if our people all thought like that in the past? Surely, they must be booted out the forces.

John Clark, Bristol,

If I had seen Americans doing what they done I would be cringing. The notion of British people acting like soap stars is quite sickening.

Who will want to join the forces now? Yes, the type who want to get captured and become reality TV stars.

How can people bring their country down in this way?

Micvk Harrison , Birmingham,

The whole Big Brother House Navy Lark began with BBC TV going on board HMS Cornwall, giving Iran useful info about the tourist attitude of the Navy. Now we have the show completed with Fay Turney/Jade Goody telling all. No doubt channel 4 will sign her up. Did anyone read Polly Toynbee in the Guardian berating the press for questioning the seriousness of Fay on the front line? New Labour has made all our institutions touchy feely and politically correct - tne Navy is now truly Blairite, as the first sea Lord shows, lots of spin and denial, detachment from reality

Nez, Hackney, UK

We can do without the comments of all the armchair heroes in the United States. The US is dragging us into unnecessary conflict in the Middle East, an area that it doesn't understand (witness Iraq disaster).

One only needs to look at the warmongering rhetoric directed against "evil" Iran that is being screamed by Americans who have never even left their own country or met an Iranian (or any other foreigner for that matter).

Britons are internationalist, mature and emotionally developed. We can resolve crises such as this one without loss of life. Compare our success to the absurd US hostage rescue attempt in 1979 when their military helicopters crashed into each other over the Iranian desert.

Give me British experience over US showmanship any day.

Richard, Nottingham, England

We certainly cannot hold all the British Servicemen/women accountable for these individuals. I believe the vast majority of the British forces would stand the watch and take on all comers. Every military has its embarassing moments...The RN will come out with its head held high and I personally cannot think of a better ally to have in time of need.

Tim, Hibbing, MN. USA

Well no medals for valour are going to be issued so they may as well take the money not that I will be rushing to read any of their stories - what's it being called - how to snivel and crawl with a smile on your face - reminds me of a certain Mr Blair.
Is the Poet Laureat going to write a poem immortalising this epic tale of heroism, you know something along the lines of 'noble 15 who gallantly surrendered rather than start a shooting war' and how the Royal Navy so readily abandons it's sailors.
Since when has causing a National Disgrace been worthy of payment?

Jon, Cardiff , UK

Even I, as an American of Iranian origin, am disgusted by the Brits and how easily they succombed to AhmadiNutJob and his mullahs.

The Brits have always been our closest ally, and now we can count them out too.

Wake up chaps! Islamic rule is about to take over Europe. You thought the Nazis were bad. Wait until you are forced to live under Islamic law.

God, how I miss Reagan and Thatcher. Are there any Churchills left?

Siamack, Sherman Oaks, CA

The Armed Forces appear to have embarked on a campaign of self-destruction. Not content with humiliating the country by allowing the sailors and marines to be captured in the first place, the prisoners then created the public impression of enthusiastic collaboration further humiliating themselves, the Armed Forces and our Nation. We will now have to suffer these people giving their version of events for their own gain and the consequent criticism of it from around the world. This will continue to overshadow real events in Iraq and Afghanistan where Service People are working under extremely stressful conditions day by day and often in combat. The real heroes of the past week are those who do their jobs quietly and professionally under these conditions and not those swanning around in rubber boats! 4 soldiers lost their lives during this period, what reward will they get? Where is the Navy’s honour and pride? What a disgrace!

John Fentsome, Salisbury, UK

What have our armed forces come to?

These people have come accross like something out of the Boys Brigade and girl guides.

Two fine female troops were killed in Iraq last week as were several males. What will the families of these women and men think?

What is going to happen now? Yes, we will hear excuse after excuse after excuse for selling their stories. And as the years go on their stories will change. Before we know it they will try to convince us that they fought back.

Jane Morgan, Manchester, England

This whole sorry affair makes me ashamed to be British.

Richard Eyles, Gloucester, UK

I have just sent my green beret back to the MOD. Ashamed.

retired commando, Christchurch,

I was in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. I honestly pray that the Scottish marine in the group does not profit from this complete and utter disaster.

Please don't let the Scottish nation down. Don't let Scottish troops and so on be tarrred with this. What we are looking at is prostitution of the worst type. The people who sell there story are traitors to all those who have died in battle. And they are sure traitors to all those who fought in battle - and they sure never done that.

Frank , Aberdeen, Scotland

The Armed Forces appear to have embarked on a campaign of self-destruction. Not content with humiliating the country by allowing the sailors and marines to be captured in the first place, the prisoners then created the public impression of enthusiastic collaboration further humiliating themselves, the Armed Forces and our Nation. We will now have to suffer these people giving their version of events for their own gain and the consequent criticism of it from around the world. This will continue to overshadow real events in Iraq and Afghanistan where Service People are working under extremely stressful conditions day by day and often in combat. The real heroes of the past week are those who do their jobs quietly and professionally under these conditions and not those swanning around in rubber boats! 4 soldiers lost their lives during this period, what reward will they get? Where is the Navy’s honour and pride? What a disgrace!

John Fentsome, Salisbury, UK

Now perhaps I missed the article on here, but has the question been asked how this all came about in the first place? In my mind you have 15 in dinghies. Not real ocean going crafts so I'm thinking they wouldn't stray to far from the mothership. So given radar may not have picked up approaching boats on the surface...what happened to the lookouts on board the ship? Then their air cover. From what I read it left early do to low fuel. Well fuel planning is at the heart of every aviator and air operations center. Both should have known the fuel status. Why wasn't another replacement chopper timely sent to be on scene when the other hit "bingo' status? Is it to be assumed the Iranians knew better about this critical time period than the Brits themselves? Heres my conclusion. They were seen approaching..the thought was they'd veer off. When they didn't, time and a lack of a command decision brought on this farce. To me the ship's Captain should be tried for gross negligence.

Murph, Madisonville, Kentucky/USA

As an ex sailor and prison officer if I was to approach a paper on any subject, I would of been court marshalled by something called the "official Secrets Act" Yet these people are allowed to sell their stories for so we are told 6 figures.
WHY?? because it is either that, ie the papers pay for a story, or heaven forbid the Government pay them compensation, so of course the papers win. These people were doing their job for which they get paid, so I hope the money they get for any story is given to SAFRA or some other charity for the Force's.

John Cherrington, +006 Lausanne, Switzerland

Take it easy guys, the Brits join the army because of the salary and benefits. No more glory no more honor shit of staff. The Sun don't shine 24 hours in Britain anymore (only 8 hours/day in fact -.-).

By the way, we Americans call that 'serve the country", not a job any clown can take.

Henry the IX, 90210,

As a former U.S. Marine, I would be ashamed if a Marine demonstrated such cowardice and boot licking of their captors as was demonstrated by these British sailors and Marines. At no time during their disgraceful appearances before Iranian TV did any of them show the slightest amount of stress during their "confessions".

Ernie Dowell
El Paso USA

Ernie Dowell, El Paso, Texas

Gee! They can't fire their guns for love of country, but they can fire up their pens for love of the pound/dollar. I can't wait to read the part where they gave up.

Murph, Madisonville, Kentucky/USA

Good motivation for those in the military that would fight back and/ or keep their mouths shut in captivity. Well... perhaps there aren't any of those left in the British army.

Maarten, Amsterdam,

I'm wondering - have those prima donnas, during their caper, also sold allied military information to the Iranians? How much did they get for relinquishing their weapons, communication devices, uniforms, and other sundry equipment? Maybe that's why they were smiling before the TV cameras.

What's next - will the chap who reportedly wet himself soon be listing his soiled diaper on some auction site?

It appears as though the "stiff upper lip" has been replaced with a collective smirk!

The MoD squad has just given the british public the one finger salute.

Davole, Hamilton, Canada

This story goes from bad to worse. It is absolutely ridiculous that personal profit will be gained by those doing a job for their country and in a way which is still open for debate. All the money obtained should be given over to a fund to support the children and spouses of those military people who were doing their jobs and won't ever be coming back from Iraq.
The UK military is going down the drain like many other institutions in the country. This is an indication that a country which once defined class is about to now define class-less.

Graham, Abu Dhabi,

I hope this time they remember that it's name, rank and serial number only. For £250,000 i don't think so. They really have let down their comrades by their behaviour. Also i think when a Captain of the Royal Marines says "fighting back was not an option" we need to question morale and leadership in the Forces.

Paul, London, UK

And why do you think the MoD is allowing this departure from the norm? Why the answer is obvious to anyone with more than half a neuron: so that the UK government can continue to propagate the lie that the marines were in Iraqi waters and continue to push the ludicrous stories of the 'ordeal' of the captured personnel which suddenly appeared after their 'debriefing'.
To the whole world watching them on TV tucking in to three meals day and all smiles while in Iran, then all smiles on returning back to the UK with their presents, it would seem lmike they haven't been within a million miles of an ordeal. I don't think I've ever read such nonsense in the British media as I've read over this affair during the last few weeks and I see you intend to give us some more with a liberal sprinkling of scary adjectives.

John Murphy, Lauris, France

I wonder what the ex.POW's from the Second World War think of all this.Many were in captivity for 5 years,and those captured by the Japanese had a terrible time.
The MOD have made a huge mistake here...any sympathy for the Marines and sailors will evaporate overnight,and former captives of recent wars will be queing up to sell their story.
All this shows what we have known for years...the Govt.is quite incompetant.

Andrew Lyle, Lynton, UK

The emasculation of the modern man has now extended to one of the finest military units. Sad to see: now you know why Iran showed no fear.

Tim, Toronto, ON

Its disgusting that any serviceman or woman would sell their soul to the devil (Iran)

David, Southport, USA

Why not sell their stories, this present conflict seems to be conducted for the benefit of the media. No patrol, [or so its seems] is started without a news crew in attendance. Next time there is a hostage situation hopefully the press will be there to report the matter, as it happens!
There is one way left to us to show our revulsion at the money grabbing attitude of these soldiers/sailors, don't buy their wretched stories.

RJ, Glen Vine, UK

This is ,indeed, a sad day for me!I worked with the British Military while serving at Ft.Bragg NC,in the 80s (2nd Para Regt) and those guys were ballsey.But the ones involved in this fiasco should make any self respecting UK service member want to vomit in their berets.If those guys (and one girl) who were taken by the Iranian fanatics had been US soldiers or Marines, I can certainly say from my own combat experience, they would have , to a man, had the hell shot out of them, but would have taken a whole shitload of those Iranian bastards out with them in the process.I remember a time when the Brits would have done likewise.What a bunch of punks those Royal Marines and Sailors involved in this incident must have been?They set respect for the British Military back a hundred years!What a shameless thing to have happen to a (once) great military power.So much for the Royal Marines being amongst the toughest soldiers in the world.

Sean O'Neill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

It's Easter and they've just received their 13 pieces of silver. The Iranians knew what their real names were, but guess what, now the whole word does too.

jac, manchester,

I am serving with the US Army in Iraq. This debacle has made the British Forces a laughing stock and I find it incredible that my Navy & Marine colleagues are behaving like C-list celebirities when we are still out here trying to make a difference in a very hostile environment. What is the MoD thinking of? There can be no justification for their reckless actions in this matter. I feel that my contribution has ben devalued, and I am enbarassed to wear the uniform.

Maj Smith, Baghdad, Iraq

I think this will not help the UK's moral standing in the world. Publication of their stories is not the problem here, It is the manner in which it is being done.

What moral message are we sending out to the world - we'll do anything for money?

Kim Domnick, Torquay, UK

On a week when 6 British servicemen and women have lost their lives I feel this is disgusting and massively in appropriate. This is an insult to those that serve, are serving and for those that have made the ultimate sacrifice.
What message does this send?
Will service personnel now be driving their boats and vehicles around and near Iranian territory with signs saying "I AM OVER HERE IF YOU WANT ME", because this is encouraging them to do so.
For the 15 before you sell your souls consider the 140 that have given their lives in Iraq to date, donate all your payments to forces charities. You are serving British Military personnel, you are not retired! You may well also want to consider your colleagues reaction who you will have to work with again.
Don't fall foul of government spin, you are pawns in their game of the war of words with Iran.

Dave, Bristol, United Kingdom

Are we only 1 generation removed from the Great Britain that sailed half way around the world to re-take the Falklands? 25 years ago this week ! A veteran myself, with 3 sons all serving in the Army, we are all of the same opinion. If this is UK 2007 where,s the exit ? When we have the heir to the throne and his dimwit brother getting drunk and make fools of themselves in public, how can they then reprimand their troops on a Monday morning for doing the same? We have become a weak self indulgent nation led by donkeys. The RAF think they are BA and are a service industry instead of a fighting force.The Navy think they are P&O, only the ships are grey.And the Army ??? Don,t start me ! When my son can,t even organise a simple map reading exercise without doing a "risk assesment" to appease the "Health & safety gestapo" what do we all expect.? And now ? If these people had any dignity, they would shut their stupid mouths, go back to work and save the stories for their grandchildren.

Peter Stevenson, Marchwood, England

Having read the many disparaging comments emanating from our friends and allies in The US, Australia and NZ I would like to apologize. As a recently retired serviceman, son and grandson of servicemen I cannot believe what I am seeing and hearing at the moment. The only, somewhat weak, rationale I can offer is that the sailors and marines were unprepared and untrained to meet their duties. One gets the impression that HMS Cornwall was operating as some sort of holiday cruise ship with adventure excursions in rubber dinghies. This of course does not excuse the subsequent appaling avarice of the released servicemen and woman and the extraordinary incompetence of our Ministry of Defence who have yet again followed rather than led. I am relieved that my father, a decorated RN officer of many years and much active service did not live to see this humiliation.

Chris Field, Penrith, England

I am british and I am ashamed of these so called service personel. They were supposed to be under pressure, but it didn't seem like much pressure to me, they were raking through their goody bags like greedy parasites. They may get some money, but they have lost something much more valuable, the respect of this nation and the rest of the world. Their own self respect is obviously up for sale, to the highest bidder. Real heros dont sell honour.

polly, Middlesbrough,

Serving personnel may not sell their stories of military service. That is the rule and that is how it should remain. I suggest that they be discharged from the service immediately - thus they can be free to write what they want. The added benefit is that we can be quickly rid of these unpleasant individuals. I say 'we' because as a uk citizen they are my servicemen, who I paid for, and my elected representatives control. They let me down, the country down and worse of all they let the service down. They probably need the money from the media as they will now be completely unemployable anywhere in the UK.

Jon Mills, London,

What will be the consequences of this little fiasco among our allies and those who wish us ill? Clearly our military capability and resolve is going to be called into question?

Jimmy, Thrapston, Northants

Before anyone throws brickbats, just think, what would YOU and I have done in the same circumstance?!

Patricia Nordman, DeLand, FL USA

This whole affair is not a reflection on the great and good peole in our military. I continue to watch with pride and great sadness as more are killed wherever they serve. Let us not allow the actions of these 15 both during and after the event undermine the pride we have in our sevice personnel overall.

Richard, Plymouth, UK

Well,well,well . How revealing . Sgt Harris is reported in this column to have said " I am worth it because I was one of only two who didn't crack ". This didn't come out at their carefully contrived media appearance . Perhaps that was why Sgt Harris was not one of the six selected.
It is also all very strange that our invisible Defence Secretary has been just that, invisible. Is that because he had a greater part in the decision to cave in to the Iranians than has been allowed . After all MOD, Fleet HQ, the local CommanderCornwall ,the Lynx and the boarding partry were all in direct communication either by VHF or Satellite . Did the whole incident really erupt as quickly as that. Was it really Capt Air who made the decision to surrender their weapons so cravenly ? So many questions have yet to be asked and so many answers,not spin, must be given.
As for selling their stories to the Press, that is obscene.

Murdo, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

£ 250,000.

The Charge of the Blight Brigade.

Media to the right of them, Media to the left of them,
Media in front of them,
boldly they charged and well,
into the jaws of Media,
sailed the fifteen.

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

Well in a way, I guess they might as well take the money and run.
Most, if not all, of their military careers are already shot after the show they put on while prisoners. Even if they try to stay in the service they won't advance very far, and their fellow service men will never trust them again.

John Kirkland, Birmingham AL, USA

Maybe the government could arrange for some of the pensioners who have lost out through the policies of Gordon Brown (especially those who fancy replenishing their wardrobes with a new Iranian-mod suit or headscarf) to be temporarily enlisted and sent on a Saga-type cruise of the Gulf with megaphones calling to the Iranians "come and get us". Fees could be negotiated in advance.

susie, london,

I've been proud to serve alongside crack British troop. But that was years ago. I think next time I'll be sure I have a solid tree at my back.

Ralph Burr, Oakland, California

I would like to remind the brits of 911. it is us (western civilization) or them (islamofacist muslims). the iranians (not all of them, just the mullahs and their ilk) included. These 15 hostages had a choice when confronted by the Iranians. They could have fought. They should have fought. I might remind you of flight 98 on the day of 911 when ordinary citizens chose to stop the highjackers from doing more damage. These everyday people got word from their loved ones that the twin towers had been hit. They knew that they could either give in or they could stop these highjackers from hitting their target. They chose the latter. They knew that even if they died, they would not let those highjackers win. That is what brave is. Not these 15. and now they want to profit from cowardice?

carol, San Antonio, Texas

I totally understand that these Brit soldiers just wanted to get home, BUT, you would never see a United States Marine performing for Iranian television, standing in front of a huge nautical map and gleefully admitting and pointing to these phony coordinates (unless they were horribly tortured).
This clumsy little PR victory for Ahmadickjihad will not help shield them from our fighter jets which will soon be conducting missions over their ragtag military installations.

Doolittle, Washington DC, USA

Do you think the soldiers are responsible for the story?
Sadly the first victim of war is still truth. Maybe Brown and Blair should move to run the Ministry of Truth the real wimps are the back benchers who allow them to walk all over them

John Stanley, Auckland, NEw Zealand

The MoD's new recruitment efforts are obviously going to bear fruit. What young leftist in Britain today wouldn't be drawn to military service by the promise of training in how to avoid conflict, aid the enemy's propaganda effort, and secure lucrative movie and book deals whilst doing so.

Adam, Los Angeles, US

My God. What happened to the British military? Where's the pride and dignity???

Cab Cabro, Cleveland, USA

What's the British equivalent of a court marshal? Court marshal the commander of the HMS ship that let the Iranians approach, the crew for surrendering without firing a shot, and then the crew again for giving up the goods because they were pressured?!? The Iranians didn't even get a chance to torture the 15 Brits because they were giving it up to quickly, getting on TV, and writing letters saying how bad we all are! The once great British military had better not notch this as a victory, because it was a humiliating defeat.

Ken, United States Army, USA

God save the Queen! We have sent jelly fish into battle.

Roen, Miami, US / Florida

I'm sorry to say that it looks like the Brits couldn't even wait for Parliament to cut the once proud and respected British Navy in half, it looks like half of the navy has already sailed!
What a sad day!!!

Dennis Hughes, Victoria, Texas, USA

The English dogs are traitors but I sure liked their new shinny suits. In a way they are TV stars. They were quite polite too when thanking their captor. "Thanks, had a swell time and thanks for the suit old sausage." England should be very proud indeed.

LordRobot, Smallsville, New Zealand

Please excuse me, everybody, but have you all forgotten "Bravo two zero" and its endless procession of sequels and copies? And General Sir Peter de la Billiere's shamelessly opportunistic biography, "Looking for Trouble", inspired by the runaway success of the SAS genre? It's not big, it's not clever, but it's nothing new.

Geoff Mortimer, Maranello, Italy

I'm surprised that the UK isn't currently being wracked by earthquakes what with all the dead soldiers turning over in their graves.

With your shield or on it.

Monica Adri, Ventura, CA

When is the auction for shoes, clothes and the presents they have got from the Iranians?

Bess, Uppsala , Sweden

Horatio Nelson is rolling in his grave. If there was any question as to why the Royal Navy would allow its sailors and marines to be captured without a fight, look no further than the clowns running the MoD. They’re probably concocting a plan this very instant to replace the statue of Nelson at Trafalgar Square with a modern figure more representative of Britain’s leadership: Krusty the Clown.

David, Katy, USA

How can someone that calls themself a marine freely give up without resistance. To give this lot a reward is unbelievable. All patriots past present and future will surely hang there heads in shame for this group. I guess the new saying will be God save me and the heck with the queen & country.

Terry, Charlotte, Mi. usa

It's not about making money... it's the fact that they are being used as propaganda tools...

Although if you wish to make money start a genuine business.. I would say there are no short cuts in this world but then I would not quite be telling the truth as this seems to be a short cut to the destruction of Iran that the British government is using.

Jim, Oulu, Finland

The MoD wanted to tell soldiers that it pays to become captives than to fight. I am wondering if they were selling their real stories and not a scripted stories for damaged control.

John Macintosh, Melbourne,

Pathetic. Just pathetic.

John, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

I was brought up in the black and white age of the post-war feature film when captured heroes were tight lipped and stoic save for their 'name, rank and service number'. How times have changed.

William Bemister, Oxford, England

The West is fading away as this episode makes far too clear. While we may critique the soldiers for their poor conduct, they are merely a reflection of the society that produced them. When I think of the "greatest generation" that sacrificed immeasurably in World War II and compare those heros to their whining and self-centered offspring, I am deeply ashamed. We in the west were once a great people but, I fear, that time has passed.

Chris, Allen, TX

I have held my tongue waiting to find out why these detainees were so accomodating to their captors. No more, the detainees were disgraceful cowards. They acted immaturely and exhibited not a shred of bravery or courage. I for one do not want to hear their miserable story. Had they done anything honorable I may have wanted to hear from them but now I want them to go away.

James Fuerst, Muskego, USA

Cowardice pays and you people just made the world a more dangerous place.

James, Sacramento,

I am absolutely appalled. If we needed a way to degrade our service personnel the MoD has certainly found it. I would have hoped the 15 in question will have more dignity.

Sue Shaw, Morpeth, u

This is appaling, I for once agree with Max Clifford this is nothing short of a propaganda war now.. These "Military" personnel and I use the word with extreme irony are not doing anything other than fuelling the fire of public opinon in the way the British and US governments want them too. This is just another step closer to a first strike situation against Iran and should be seen in no other way..

Of course I do not mean to sound pompous in anyway but not only is this also undignified it is also a very Un-British thing to do.

Are we now just a puppet of the US and will even sell our servicemen and women's souls if they ask us to.

Jim, Oulu, Finland

I would not criticize any Brit because I respect your history & courage too much. But your voices raised in outrage at this proves that the spirit you exhibited in the darkest days of the last century is not completely gone.

John, California, USA

As an ex military man myself I am disgusted at the attitude of the fifteen servicemen/women, who are now selling the story of their capture and experience to the media. Having failed miserably to do their job properly and conduct themselves in a dignified fashion whilst in the custody of Iran they now think they are something special, they are to be despised for their greed. They should be subject to military discipline whilst still serving and remember the many who have died for their Country without recognition or reward. What on earth is happening to our Forces? Where is the command and leadership, are the Chiefs frightened to speak out? We seem to the the laughing stock of the World at present you only have to read the comments expressed in these columns. Maybe we should do what a writer said earlier, put the Royal Navy into North Harbour at Portsmouth,l and leave it there. I have to say that I am surprised at the Royal Marines behaving in this manner though.

Derek, PORTSMOUTH, uk

A sad story in the unraveling of the England....there isn't much to be said about this incident.....
And now they want to sell their story of cowardice and capitulation to the enemy, as a story of heroism and bravery in the face of dire circumstances....

I'm sure this makes the real hero's of the once proud and strong England, roll over in their graves....

It shows me, a simple everyday American, that the British have already lost their empire and their country....they just can't see it.....and they won't, until the bitter end....smiling with half full glasses of wine...surprised to the end at their own demise......

j.w. robertson, tumwater, washington

Can it get any worse?

We'll hold our breath, but I can' t imagine how...

such disgrace.

KMS, Santa Ana, CA, USA

Why so much jealousy? What is wrong with making money and allowing people to read their story? The money is not coming from the tax payers but from the private media. They deserve it much more than a pop star or footballer.

Steve Giles, Devon, England

Outrage may be misplaced.

If the world were to be moving to an era when wars and widespread loss of life were replaced by ‘incidents’ with propaganda working, diplomatic resolution, and news generation, that might be viewed as preferable to the alternative. In much the same way, sentiments of nationalism and aggression are increasingly being channelled into international competitive sports.

By humanitarian criteria, deterrence is preferable to military action.

dr venables preller, Warminster, UK

I am appalled at what I am reading about this group of rather weak servicemen/women who have been released from captivitiy in Iran. I cannot believe that they can be allowed to make money out of displaying such weakness in the face of the enemy. They should be all discharged from the miltiary forthwith and someone along the line should be Court Martialled for allowing this sad even to take place. I am reminded of the many brave men and women have given their lives for their Country and received little in exchange. This is establishing a precedent which should be avoided at all costs. The miltary are there to do as they are told and get on with the job and not look for devious ways of making money out of a discracefully shameful episode.

Derek, PORTSMOUTH, uk

What a contrast to New Zealand's WW2 hero Charles Upham, V C and Bar. Upon his return the public whiped the hat round, getting 5000 pounds, enough to by a top class farm. He graciously turned it down as unbecoming to a serviceman who did his duty, and directed it to a trust to educate the children of fallen soldiers. He also turned down a knighthood.

Ewan McGregor, Hastings, New Zealand

Just when you think it couldn't get any worse......

Well, Iran said it wanted a 'gesture' - why don't you send them back?

M. Fernandez, San Francisco,

An absolute disgrace to the once proud Royal Navy! Are you people even aware of what kind of jokes you are becoming?

Mark Noethen, Chicago, USA

I must say that as an American I really thought the Brits were stand up people - but after reading your papers and reader comments the past few weeks, I may have been all wrong. You have a serious problem in your country and this entire Iranian incident from begining to now has been a pathetic lesson in lack of British leadership, courage, and pride. You folks are going to be in big trouble sooner than I would have ever thought possible. The fascists really are coming for you again and you have no Churchill, or even Thatcher. What happened to you the past 25 years??!!

Patrick, Indiana, USA

Disgusted!

I wonder how they will be able to look into the eyes of the relatives of soldiers and killed in action!

I hope they are ashamed of themselves. A black, black, black day for the British military, it is now a reality TV programme!

RIP all those who died for their country but only in the hope of making the world a better place and not furthering their owm pathetic media careers.

Shame also on the parts of media who have offered these obscene payments!

Anon, London,

welcome to the world of mockery to the dead in battle. i bet there will be other army personnels who will look to be engaged in some controversy of sorts so that they can make big bucks out of it!

James, London,

This is outrageous. First, they didn't behave as brave soldiers. Sorry but that is very apparent. Second, to sell out like this. We are in a war. Iran won this round and these soldiers were paraded around by the Iranians in public to disgrace the British and the West in general. This is an embarrassment. Where are the cajones of the Royal Marines and the Sailors... the British used to be known as tough men. It is an utter disgrace.

carol, San Antonio, Texas

"But some former soldiers said it was a shrewd move by the MoD to control publication of the captives’ stories."
Quite.
The money lies in horror stories about Iran.
MOD "help" will make sure that the most lurid coverage possible will emerge and all positive angles will be buried.
I can hear it now.
"We're not paying you £70,000 to be nice about them".
"All the others have told it this way. Why are you telling it differently?"

Gerard Mulholland, Paris, France

Brilliant, perhaps this was all part of an ingenious get rich quick scheme. I suppose if any of us are a bit cash-strapped we can all now sail to the Persian Gulf and "accidentally" drift into Iranian waters.

Stephen, Manchester,

Arrant prostitution of service ideals for selfish gain.

Mercenaries have more dignity.

Richard Adams, Canberra, Australia

And you people just hate those American "cowboys" don't you.

Good luck in the future, you are going to really need it!

A. Davis, League City, Texas, USA

This is an insult to the memory of all those soldiers who suffered and died on the Burma railway etc. The money on offer is the biggest incentive so far for ourtroops in Iraq to drop arms and make their way to the Iranian border! Cash in while you can men and women of the once proud elite British army and navy!

Chie, Tokyo, Japan

Dissapointed to say the least. So if you get captured you can make buckets of money. Perhaps this new incentive scheme will prompt more members of the armed forces to put themselves in more danger in the hope of it being palatable to the media for a quick buck.

You dont join the armed forces for the money, you join to serve your country.

Jaime Gorman, Perth, Australia

Disgusting

ahw, Greenville, USA

The term "hostage" is misused here. The sailors and marines were threatened with legal process. They were released without a bargain. There were no obvious threats. Calling them "hostages" rather than "prisoners" or "captives" is inaccurate and adds tension to a situation that needs calmer consideration.

kathleen bell, Nottingham, England

I am absolutely speechless. Make your fortunes boys and girls, paddle hard for Iranian waters then smile pretty for the cameras. Just make sure you have your agent on speed dial.

Disgraceful!

C Heathcote, Tonbridge,

Unbelievably ridiculous in so many ways. And americans are supposed to be shallow and money focused? Pardon me while I pick my jaw up off the ground.

The3rdMan, Manhattan,

Ye gods...its been almost 40 yrs since I was last in the U.K....and I've always entertained a notion (fantasy) that you were perhaps a refuge from the rampant, nauseating commercialization of everything in the U.S. What a disappointment to see our disease has spread to you as well.

Doug, Grants, NM

When you sign up, you accept the risks and stand by that. Reading the comments made by the sailors, it just hightlights greed; Is that what the Forces have resulted to to gain exposure.

As a former Sailor, I am ashamed that it has come to this.

Neil Shepherd, Sydney, Australia

Integrity and honour in tatters. Five soldiers slain in Iraq and the MOD OK's the "captives tales" in exchange for pots of money. I'm ashamed of my country. I can now sympathise with perceptive US citizens who acknowledge their nationality with head lowered.

Mags, Ormskirk, UK

"My worst moment was when they cut the third choice of dessert."

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

This would be outrageous.I sympathized with these people,but if they sell their stories they should resign from the service forthwith.What the hell is going on here? People are being slaughtered in Iraq by the thousand,and these people want money? Blood money is what it would be;nothing more,nothing less.

Michael J Rigby, Blackburn, England

A very sad spectacle.

Adrian Canning, Perth, Australia

This is a late April Fools joke, right? Not only did these poor excuses for soldiers collapse at the first sight of their abductors, not only did they fall over themselves to fawn at the feet of those responsible for kidnapping them but they will profit from their lack of resolve and courage? Please tell me this is a joke!

Keith Downer, London, UK

Sell their stories or sell the scripts dictated by the MoD for damage control.

Paul McKenzie, Perth,