Paul, Can you see your pancreas from up there?

Alan, Brooklyn, NY

Paul/George

In WW2 they didn't have female colleagues captured with them. All the Iranians had to do was remove Faye and the rest of the lads would be told to comply or she would be harmed. Would you still be defiant, especially knowing what a shower you have for a government who regularly send the Forces in harms way without backup or equipment? At least in WW2 and until the arrival of the latest Labour anti-military/ex CND/socialist crowd you had a national government who would fight tooth and nail for their people!

dave t, Elgin, Scotland

Er...we're not at war, Paul. And, fortunately, we're still not at war, either.

George: by making such admissions I believe the RN/RMC personnel were following the advice that was given to them by the Navy, weren't they? i.e. say what ever is needed to get themselves released.

Let's be pragmatic: whatever they said is of little consequence. The only thing that matters is that the RN/RMC people are back, that the navy learns from the incident and that it doesn't permit the same thing to happen again.

Rhys, Lisbon, Portugal

Paul - the reason you think WWII PoWs were any different is that there were no cameras there.

Tony , london, london

Four young soldiers have lost their lives by a cowardly
bomber and all you are worried about is whether
the captive Marines put up some kind of show so that
we sitting in our nice little homes could critize the fact that
they complied with their captors and showed signs of
weakness. Armchair war is always easy there is no
threat.
The fact they were paraded like sheep surrounded
by people who's retoric could be construed in many ways
may have had something to do with it.
Frances born UK live in the US

Frances, London, UK

I would suspect that the British military will review and improve their training and strategy after such an embarrassing incident as this hostage taking. After exploring UK & USA news, I have yet to find any official or other substantive reasons as to why so many sailors & marines could not repel or resist this flagrant assault, how it occurred, and then why were they so easily captured, especially with a Royal Navy warship so nearby. Was it a lack of preparation or official policy not to challenge Iran on the seas? Was someone asleep at the wheel?

Ernest Abe, Sacramento, USA

Paul, Skegness, who are you to make such a claim about these sailors and marines? You aren't in their position.

The ignorance in your comment is shown by the fact that we are not at war with Iran and this was purely a diplomatic incident so why should those sailors not want a peaceful way out. As for other conflicts, are you similarly ashamed of the two pilots paraded in front of the cameras during the first Gulf war?

I am proud of the way they stuck together and proud of all the servicemen and women who continue to serve in difficult scenarios with faulty leadership.

Paul, London,

I am saddened by the way our military men have been paraded and humiliated, a great deal of which is down to their own incompetence.

What is worse, however, is the obvious fickle nature of the Iranian people who, given the opportunity, attacked and lawlessly paraded without any real understanding of what was going on.

One suspects it was a case of "[Iranian] whispers" but this is increasingly becoming the case throughout the middle east.

When are these countries going to learn civility and to begin to understand democracy has nothing to do with power & aggression?

Phil, London, UK

These soldiers have been thru enough already without having their actions second guessed by people who have not been in their situation. Shame on you. I am just thankful that they didnt lose their young lives and have returned home to their families.

Kristina Jensen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Paul and George,

In this case they were not prisoners of war. Britain is not at war with Iran, and the normally-expected behaviour of POWs is not necessarily appropriate here.

Colin, Doha, Qatar

At least this American agrees with Paul that the young British warriors groveled before Mr Ahmadinejad. I wasn't aware Royal Marines ever groveled. On the other hand I personally prefer groveling to torture and imprisonment. A real Hobson's choice. Perhaps the best that can be said is they are all home safe and hopefully sound.

Nathaniel R Helms, Saint Charles, MO USA

In reply to Paul of Skegness.
We send 15 of our people into hostile waters in rubber bags full of air, arm them with light innefectual weapons, and compond this by failing them, in providing zero armed air cover, & zero surface perimiter cover of their backs whilst they carried out their task. You are ashamed ???. You should be !!!! . This is what we have given our Services, cut after cut after cut until they have been reduced to this level of operational effectiveness.
Im ashamed, but for quite different reasons Paul.
D

Donacha, Glenrothes, Scotland

To Paul, Skegness, UK: I share your feelings and sympathize with you and all the Brits who feel the same.

Michael, New York, USA

I agree with Paul, I felt the sailors didn't have to show such tail-wagging, puppy dog gratitude - although I suppose freedom is a very juicy bone to be given.

Derek, London, England

I think we can all understand complying with what ever absurdities the Iranians came up with but what is intolerable is the seemingly genuine casual state they have presented. They frequently looked as if much of their behaviour was true and not coerced at all.

Richard, Dallas, USA

Paul & George. Please grow up and look at facts rather than shoot from the mouth.

Firstly, the coalition is not at war and so any rules of Geneva convention and so on are not applicable. These service personnel were hostages and so quite entitled to say anything to get themselves released.

Finally Gerorge, perhaps you would do well to reflect as to why they were put in the position that they were: so that you can continue to drive you gas guzzler?

Snort Drain One, Cobham, UK

One thing you can be sure of. The Marines when returning to camp will be ridiculed by their colleagues and will most probably have to resign . The Navy lot,well they really should'nt of been in the front line in the first place. Their Captain should resign.

mike, london,

what you fail to realise, Paul and George is the world is very different from that of WWII. no longer can we rely on our enemies to do what is right and fight by the rules. If you had ever been in a combat situation or been put under the pressure that these young men and women were you would understand that it is not as black and white an issue as you seem to think.
If you believe that you are better than thewy are i would suggest that you get off that thing you are sitting on and enlist. Serve your country and back up these brave young people who are fighting so far away from the land they belong to. What ever we may feel about the conflict we must always back our forces to the hilt and never show anyone that we do not. These people are heroes who put their lives on the line everyday on our behalf and we should be grateful for it.
Lets all be thankful they are back home safe and well.

simon , newcastle, uk

The job of the hostages was not to make things worse by their actions. Their job is to let their captors show they are acting out what their captors think is correct behavior. That is what we have to judge and act on. That means stopping Muslim immigration. If we watch that and can't speak up to say stop Muslim immigration, it is we who are the hostages.

Old Atlantic, Atlantic City, NJ

To Paul and George, confessions of guilt are as meaningless as the "charges" against them. It was just play acting, the Iranians wanted to playact, the Brits went along. Go along with it now, there will be chances later, to stand firm, when it means something.

R. Boyd, Oakville Ontario, Canada

Anyone could see from the expressions on their faces and the wording used that they were only saying what they needed to say to facilitate their release.
I defy anyone to say that they would not do the same in their position and then put the books straight when they return home.

Tony Dunne, Maidstone,

I agree with you, Paul. I noticed that only two of the crew members seemed to be easily coerced into cooperating with their captors. I can not possibly know what strain was placed on them, but the actions of those two crew members was quite unexpected here.

George, San Jose, California

I was ashamed of the hostages when they grovelled their thanks to the Iranians after hearing that they would be released.
What a contrast they are to the British POW's of World War 2 and other conflicts.

Paul, Skegness, UK