Three basic questions of minimum expectations:

Did the group of the 15 members of the Royal Marine/Navy/whatever-unit-it-was use their personal weapons and shoot towards the enemy?

Did anyone of those 15 use his/her personal weapon against the enemy at all, say just a symbolic single bullet?

Were/are they part of what is referred to as an elite unit?

Avraham, Tel Aviv, Israel

The MOD should not have allowed Fay Turney to profit by selling her story.. She wants to had a chance to be part of the the official press conference but refused - one can only assume that she had already been "tapped" and to take part in official press conference would devalue her potential earnings.
It's a sad state of affairs that someone as weak and pathetic as her can profit to the tune of £100,000 - if she had any sense of honour she would just shut up or donate all of the money to servicemen's benevolent fund. There must be plenty of real heroes in Iraq and Afganistan who must be sickened by this disgraceful pantomime.

Tom Tennant, Glasgow, Scotland

I would have avoided serving as propaganda for the Iranian regime.
I do not know under what duress the brave troops were under.

Don, San Francisco, USA

This shambles is no surprise. With Des Browne and Adam Ingram (both Scottish local council re-treads) in charge, we can expect more disasters to heap on an already-shamed country for its role in Iraq.

Pack these people off to "Bad Lads Army", it's all they are fit for.

James Brown, Ayr, Scotland

THE FIFTEEN:- Yet another kneejerk reaction by a government which seems incapable of thinking things through to any logical or long-term solution.

I wonder if the FIFTEEN will consider issuing a joint statement declaring their decision not to take up the offer of further publicity. If they were to do so, I believe it would enhance their reputations and dignity and that, also, of British armed service men and women throughout the World wherever they may be stationed.

B. J. Woolf, Horsham, U.K.

Derek of Dundee - it is misleading to say that heroism requires, almost by definition, action above and beyond the call of duty. That may be the citation for a bravery award, but that doesn't exclude conduct within the call of duty from being heroic. Indeed it wouldn't be necessary to add 'beyond' if it did. Anyone who puts himself in harm's way and, knowing the risks may involve loss of life or limb, does his duty shows much courage. Col Bob Stewart has been close to what it takes and if he sees them as heroes that's a fair description in my book.

David, Oxford,

Horatio, Lord Nelson : England expects that every man (or woman) will do his (or her) duty. By the way don't accept any less than £100,000 from the Mirror or Star Newspapers.


Winston Churchill : Send a gunboat.

Royal Navy : There's a gunboat coming. Now where did we put that white flag?

Bob Bone, Harwich, Essex

kevin gould, cleckheaton, Yorkshire - and you believe everything you read in the papers? If you have not served and have no idea of the conditions that servicemen and women work under then again, I say, you are in no position to pass comment on how you might react under similar circumstances. Who knows, you too could be a 'cry baby', you might even wet yourself.

Kenneth Armitage, Suffolk, England

Most of us oldies who lived through WW2 can't bear even to watch the behaviour of our sailors and marines on Iranian TV. Their apparent willingness to fraternize with their captors and apologize for their 'crimes' was a sickening spectacle bringing shame on themselves, the Royal Navy and Britain herself. We might have behaved in a similar way if under the threat of torture or execution but we should have been deeply ashamed of our weakness and believed that we were betraying our comrades, our service and the nation.

Such notions appear to be incomprehensible to the Blair generation - and not only to the lowly amongst us but all the way to the top since our political and military leaders are complicit in the whole sorry farrago from the initial capture of the boats to the degrading scenes that have followed the release of the hostages.

The one last pillar of the state that we thought had escaped the corruption of Blairism has in fact been suborned along with every other part of our traditions and heritage. The Britain we grew up in is no more.

Anthony Back, Wellington, Telford, England

Fay Turney should not return to the Cornwall - she should be given a land-based job now as should the young man who also gave paid interview to the Mirror.
It is a real pity that the MoD (I am sure that the Secretary of State is the instigator in this) made this terrible error in judgement -- what should have been done was for all 15 'hostages' to appear before the mass media and questioned so that te truth was heard by the entire country and indeed the world.
Reputations will now be damaged and these young people will suffer as a result. The Govt has again proved its uselessness - let's throw them out please.

Chips Westwood, Sarlat La Caneda, France

There is no doubt that any reasonable person would view the whole Iran/Royal Navy business with dismay.

Equally worrying is the the invidious spectacle of a retired Army officer pontificating about another Service - so much for the 'band of brothers' that is supposed to be our modern Armed Forces! Just watch the Army make as much capital out of this incident as they can - at the expense of the Navy - but you will not see too many Army officers, retired or serving, queuing up to talk so piously about Camp Breadbasket or Deepcut.

Some solidarity form the top of the shop would not go amiss. According to General Patrick Cordingley, General Dannatt, the Chief of the General Staff, has jumped on the 'bash your fellow Service' bandwagon by issuing a directive to Army personnel not to sell their stories. Too late General! They have been doing it for years - including Bob Stewart - who it needs to be pointed out was a (pretty junior) UN commander in Bosnia. Past his sell-by date?

Humphrey Fanning, Marlborough, UK

So Faye felt like a traitor. Faye acted like one and is now profiting from it. That she and her colleagues acted like they did is a full stop to our armed forces credibility. That they were allowed to profit from their disgrace is yet another full stop to our governments credibility.

Uri, Reading, England

This was a really bad event all the way around. The Naval personnel shouldn't have been assigned to that task with so little preparation or force protection coverage from the Cornwall. Once they were in the boats and couldn't escape - surrender was the only option. A lightly armed force in rubber boats would lose to a heavily armed ambushing force that outnumbered them. I lack the military experience to judge the decision to try to run for it vs. staying on the cargo ship. The actions of at least some of them in captivity weren't impressive, but we don't know what training or orders they had.

What matters now is to understand what went wrong and how to prevent it in the future. For starters, Iran is pretty hostile and it's run by a pack of ruthless thugs. Judging the Royal Navy or Britain's entire armed forces by this one episode is foolish. The UK is the USA's strongest and closest ally. Kicking a friend when he's down is not right, and it gives a cheap victory to Iran.

Jill, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

So Lester May agrees with Bijan Sharif eh? Don't want to be picky but unless our people spent a lot more time on Iranian TV than we've been told, then Bijan's opinion has at best to be based on superficial evidence. Secondly we have no idea of Bijan's position in the great scheme of things pro or agin his/her government and its policies.
If Lester thinks they aquitted themselves well then by God he's out of step with a lot of people who expect better from those who "take the King's shilling".
Finally, typical of inter-service rivalry and defensiveness, he hopes people will shut up and it will all go away, after all Iran is benefitting (his words) from Col Stewart et al cricising a Navy foul-up. Thank God he is ex-Navy. To quote old history: The Light Brigade charge was a foul up. Magnifique but not War! Lessons need to be learnt and fast! Maybe Honour should have a higher place in the training syllabus!

Peter Jones, Caernarfon, Wales UK

How could Tony Blair say with a straight face that British troops are there at the invitation of Iraqi Government & has the approval of UN.

Hello - last I know Saddam never invited any troops and even warned of the consequences we are seeing and UN never authorized the invasion.

Lies and more lies to justify and unjust invasion.

Now Skynews is reporting of the spying mission of our Navy.

When we will tell the truth to our people and the loved ones who are paying the highest price.

Zarbe Kalim, New York, NY USA

7th, final part of multi part post:
One big question nobody (particularly the Navy) has answered so far: How did it happen in the first place? They were supposedly 1.5 miles inside Iraqi waters, they had a helicopter for top cover and a destroyer as escort/mothership, radio, radar, sophisticted weapons and technology, yet a small flotilla of Iranian boats can steam up and simply take them away! The forard mounted 4.5" quick-firer alone should have been more than enough to maintain order! Or had it just been cleaned so everybody was taking a well-earned siesta?
Great Britain? Land of Hope and Glory? What has become of you?
In sadness Peter Jones Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales, UK.

7th and final part ends.

Peter Jones, Caernarfon, Wales UK

6th part of multi part post:
If all we want is "pretty boy" people in uniforms to parade around or sail about it would be cheaper and the choreography would probably be slicker, if we replaced our armed forces with the Cors de Ballet.....we could even include some nice pastel shades too instead of all that drab camo stuff. As a by-product the enemy just might not want to capture them!
The only consolation in all this is that so far, no commentator (press/political) has applied the term "our heroes" because if they do I may just have to vomit on the said person.
One big question nobody (particularly the Navy) has answered so far: How did it happen in the first place? They were supposedly 1.5 miles inside Iraqi waters, they had a helicopter for top cover and a destroyer as escort/mothership, radio, radar, sophisticted weapons and technology, yet a small flotilla of Iranian boats can steam up and simply take them away!
6th part ends final part to follow:

Peter Jones, Caernarfon, Wales UK

5th part of multi part post:
So to the people who said it doesn't matter so long as everybody is back home, safe and sound, with nobody hurt on either side. How bloody wet can you get? We have armed forces to carry out armed actions on behalf of our governments and, in some cases, on behalf of supra-national bodies such as the UN. The essence of the process is that people will be applying/be subjected to things that go wheee, bang, crump (or even more personal: cold-steel, boots, knees, fists, rocks or whatever comes to hand) when all else (inc diplomacy) fails and that means people WILL be hurt, maimed and killed. If the enemy doesn't believe you have the will to do that then you might as well not deploy armed force (in fact you make them even more of a target for an emboldened enemy).
Those who said the West has been made to look weak and silly are right: we will be in for a hard time from now on.
5th part ends: more to follow

Peter Jones, Caernarfon, Wales UK

4th part of multi part post:
A cloud unseen of witness our eldern comrades stand" as the old hymn has it.
When I qualified as a TA paratrooper back in the 70's "Name, rank and number" was the total we were drilled to give. Anything else was co-operating with the enemy (not that we needed threats of court-martial or anything else), we had a much higher and greater loyalty: to the men who went before us at Pegasus Bridge, Arnhem etc and whose standards we now had to strive to meet. We were proud to accept that challenge, proud to be on "24hour alert" as the firstline reserve to be parachuted into Europe should the balloon go up and the "Red Menace" begin the dash for the channel ports. We were under no illusions that war was a game played out on sunny days in nice uniforms. They were going to try to crush us and we were going to stand and stop them, making them pay dearly indeed.
4th part ends: more to follow

Peter Jones, Caernarfon, Wales UK

3rd part of multi post:
I wonder if any of them (officers included) know much if anything, or cared or thought much, about Nelson, Trafalgar (for which we only recently celebrated the bi-centenary), about Jutland 1916 and how Jack Cornwell (16 years old) won his VC. The epitaph on his memorial stone reads: "It is not wealth or ancestry, but honourable conduct and a noble disposition, that maketh men great". Yes the same Cornwell that the scout movement's highest award for courage is named after! (Google it).
Did they think of Capt Fegan on the Jervis Bay (armed merchantman) engaging the Admiral Scheer (German pocket battleship) to allow most of convoy HX84 to escape? Hasler and the cockleshell heroes (Commando raid on Bordeaux harbour 1942?
The list is long and honourable:"A cloud unseen of witness our eldern comrades stand" as the old hymn has it.
3rd part ends: more to follow

Peter Jones, Caernarfon, Wales UK

2nd part of multi partpost:
Incarceration and a bit of interrogation and shouting at for a few days? Maybe they should read up on years in Auschwitz and the other death camps, or Colditz and the other Stalags, Major Pat Reid anyone?
We'll neglect the "manufactured" videos by the "dishonest" Iranian video people of the guys playing chess, being together as a group etc and also we won't deduct all the time needed to be moved around, get on the wide-boy suits, appear on TV, press gatherings etc from their period of "extended detention". I suppose if the Iranians wanted to turn really nasty they could have threatened the Spanish Inquisition (Python style) and the cushions too! Those people should have had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, bloodied and bruised, onto those platforms. That would have put a bit of a dent in what was a superb propaganda coup for the Iranians.
2nd part ends: more to follow

Peter Jones, Caernarfon, Wales UK

"It is not wealth or ancestry, but honourable conduct and a noble disposition, that maketh men great".
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!
What are they teaching these people during training about courage and self-respect in adversity? They're joining the armed forces, not a boy-band (where tears and running home to mum is the expected norm).
End of part one..several to follow

Peter Jones, Caernarfon, Wales UK

Do I detect the handiwork of the Downing Street Spin Machine at the back of all this?
The mistaken belief that we will all be the stronger in our resolve to see Iran gifted the same freedom and democracy which Bush and Blair delivered to Iraq and Afghanistan, knowing, as we will by 22.30 tonight of the suffering inflicted?
It would save the need for any 'dodgy dossiers', and tales about WMDs.

Opps, sorry, Iran already has those, doesn't it?

Tom MacFarlane, Blackpool, UK

I only have this comment make at the moment.

I suggest the rules for hostages of fortune should be extended from NAME, NUMBER and RANK to SUIT SIZE!

Roger, Buckland-in-the-moor, Devon, England

Good old Britain, she ain't what she used to be. What a shameful and humiliating episode for a once great nation. You must be getting earthquake-like symptons from Nelson, Drake, Churchill etc. etc. rolling in their graves. First they surrender without any sort of struggle, and then they humiliated their country, their families, and themselves by kow towing to the aggressors. I can't recall any such acts by the British prisoners of the Nazis or the Japanese. (Not saying it didn't happen, but if it did at least the British military didn't lavish praise). No wonder the enemies of freedom and equality hold us all in such contempt.

A Dallow, Brisbane, Australia

Paul, Dallas, Australia exactly expresses the anger I feel over the way Britain's reputation now lies in tatters in the gutter. What surprises me is that there are some idiotic people in these comments who appear to support the whole affair, from the captives' willingness to show compliance, even deference, to this crass acceptance of money for their stories. I have long thought Britain to have become a basket case since Tony Blair became PM, but this latest example beggars belief at what the fools in our government will come up with next.

Mike Mitchell, Spalding, England

As an American, I have always been a true believer in British resolve in the face of adversity. No more. The sailors behaved like sheep during their captivity and the british government might as well relocate to the Midde East after it's shamefull butt-kissing demonstration. And where was superior British firepower when these sailors were being captured? Sounds like the Royal Navy thought it was on a fishing holiday.

Porcupine, Washington, DC

If troops are taken prisoner in the future they can expect poor treatment.

Why?

Well I reckon these people were well treated. But what are they now saying? So why treat future UK detainees well?

It will also encourage insurgents to attack our troops. Why? Because they will hardly be afraid of the British now.

A very sad day this is.

William Boyle, Leeds,

Just one little point to those referring to the Iranians as "the enemy", we are not at war with Iran (thank God).
It may be that some Iranians are behind some of the atrocities currently experienced in Iraq, BUT:
- President Ahmadinejad's views are not necessarily shared by others in power in Iran. Most of the Iranian nation are very civilised decent people, who just wish to get on with their lives;
- President Ahmadinejad has so far failed to deliver most of the promises that got him elected, so he needs a side show to keep him popular - bit like Margaret Thatcher did with The Falklands - remember that?

Steve, london, UK

I'm glad that the sailors and marines are home safe. This does present a much bigger problem for the Ministry of Defense. The UK was beat up and shown to be an impotent western power by a group of thugs like the Barbary Pirates during Lord Nelson's time. If the current government continues with this type of action, than the UK will start looking like the military in Belgium or the Republic Ireland. Everytime there is a problem they will have to ask for help elsewhere. Selling of the stories really reflects on the poor leadership in the Ministry of Defense and subsequent poor resolution of the UK to be a professional military. This is contrary to my military training!

Jim Phipps, Trent, USA/Texas

They looked like a boy band on telly anyway ! What will our soldiers do next, sell the country for a six figure sum. No wonder we are nothing more than American sidekicks. Shame.

Cecil, St.Albans, UK

As a former Royal Navy officer, I am surprised to find that, from among all the contributors here, I agree with Bijan Sharif from Iran (other than the Brits being up to no good in those waters - it is a UN mandate, after all). Thanks Bijan!

The detainees did indeed conduct themselves very well in extremely difficult circumstances. At no time did I feel they were agreeing with Iran's view of events and at no time did I believe that they really meant what they said on camera. The whole PR game was clearly a sham and it did Iran no real good at all. Iran is hardly likely to offer the media footage of the detainees in other than happy surroundings, after all! But surely politeness can never be wrong?

Where Iran does perhaps gain is from the likes of Colonel Bob Stewart, whom I much respect, and other commentators and contributors to these, and other columns, criticising the Royal Navy and each other.

This is a storm in a teacup but the sooner we all shut up the better!

Lester May, London, UK

The British MoD has made a disastrous decision in allowing the British soldiers /sailors to be paid.

There are clearly very serious questions about how these service personnel could have been exposed in such a way. HMS Cornwall should have provided cover.

Even allowing for the fact it must have been a frightening situation to be in, soldiers of the Queen should not be so eager to please. Iran has thus far won the propaganda war.

The problems may be one of training. I have noted some of the disparaging remarks from Australian and US writers. They should really take a more balanced view of things. The Australians did not exactly cover themselves with glory in defence of Singapore against the Japanese;there seem to be a number of US marines committing atrocities in Iraq. It may all amount to faulty training but I don't think any wider implications should be drawn.

Rayman Perera, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I don't know what their orders were in the event that they met resistance in searching vessels, but I imagine anyone running illegal arms in the future will be emboldened to resist by this shambles.

David, Oxford,

Totally bizarre. We have seen these guys in perfect health and with no signs of mistreatment.....the latter day hyperbole they started to tell is just rubbish...happily the world can see it plainly and the media would do better to keep their cheque books pocketed.

But what about the Blair government....is it simply more potty than we might have expected with its encouragement of such a dismal charade...you would think they would to bury this shameful episode, instead they want to increase the humiliation. Go figure!?

John Hanna, Taoyuan , Taiwan

Kenneth Armitage, Suffolk. I think it is YOU that wants to check your facts, not Voyager,Leeds. I have just been reading this article in another daily paper. It quoted ALL their salary ranges, apparently gleaned from the Navy's own website. Even the cry baby is on a minimum of £15k-£19k. Most were in the region of £25kmin and the joker of a captain £33-40k. Compare your "contribution" to that of Derek, Dundee. There isn't one.

kevin gould, cleckheaton, uk

I am grateful to Seaman Faye Turney and The Sun newspaper for a view of the events of the capture and treatment of the fifteen marines and sailors without political spin or military stiff upper lip. For those who condemn service personnel for taking this opportunity to tell their story paid or otherwise where are they when service men and women face paying the ultimate price for less than the average wage, substandard housing and a nation blind to the plight of disabled or homeless veterans. Put your righteous indignation where it is justified.

L Horsfall, Bristol, UK

marshfield (whatever gender) of salisbury, yes, of course. But I was simply pointing out to a previous correspondent of Leeds who was suggesting that service personnel are overpaid when compared to junior doctors and putting him correct. Perhaps you might care to read my comments and the previous one also. And, whilst one might agree with our presence off Iraq we are there in support and following a UN mandate to board and investigate vessels between Iran and Iraq who might seek to ferry weapons and material from one to the other, or do you not read you papers?

Kenneth Armitage, Suffolk, England

While this sorry saga does leave a bad taste in ones' mouth I think the reactions and abuse hurled by some of our US and Australian friends here is little short of hysterical. I have absolutely no problem with the fact that they allowed themselves to be arrested (not captured, we are not at war!) to do otherwise in the circumstances would have meant almost certain death and the implications appalling. As for their conduct ,there have been some unfortunate lapses on the part of one or two of them but no more. Faye Turney can be critisized for writing the letters even though they were obviously dictated to her and written under duress. Some of the comments made when interivewed on TV were again, unfortunate . We could all have done without the expressions of thanks to Ahmnadinejad on their release but I must admit that given similar, almost surreal, circumstances, with release seemingly a hairs breath away,I wonded what I would have said? Selling their stories however, undignified.

Paul, Hull,

Oh, the horror, the horror! Arthur Batchelor cried himself to sleep. Apparently his guards had flicked his neck and called him "Mr Bean". He said: "It was beyond terrifying."

Shouldn't this great British Hero be given a medal for his courage, as well as a huge fee for telling his story?

Mark, Johannesburg, South Africa

As a former Army officer, with operational experience in the Balkans, and some 14 years service - both with the Regular and Territorial Army I pitch in my tuppenceworth. I saw 15 bright, fit young people who are no doubt professionally and technically competent. What I did not see is that virtue with which myself and my colleagues were inculcated from the day we took the Queen's shilling - moral courage. It is, by far, the hardest courage to find and the hardest to display but thankfully it has always separated our chaps from the other side when the chips are down. Also what does it say about our country that we send a young mother to do a man's job? This integration of women will result in us losing a war one day. This is the start, a sharp warning of things to come. I am not a misogynist or an old fogey, I had the privilege to command some first class female soldiers but their role and job was in support freeing men for the front-line. Something has gone badly wrong.

Andrew, Bury St Edmunds,

Can someone tell me exactly what type of training these folks received? It doesn't appear that they had any preparation for this. As far as the the EU doing such a great job in promoting democracy, does Bosnia ring a bell, it seems like Europe did next to othing until the U.S. came in; you poked your finger in the eye of Turkey, the closest thing to a democracy in the Muslim world, in regards to EU membership; and the EU put the Euro over backing the UK in the taking of the Royal Marines inside Iraqi waters. Yes a great job indeed.

Chuck Schmitz, Gahanna, Ohio, USA

Why did the captives have to comply at all? Isn't the British soldier, sailor or airman obliged to hinder the enemy in every possible way, even at personal risk to himself? Some say, Iran is not the enemy, but in the instant of arrest in Iraqi waters, it made itself so. Now that the Fifteen are allowed to sell their stories (presumably about the skills needed to play chess or table tennis in 13 easy lessons), the next bunch of hostages should make sure they punch each other's faces in, and thus be entitled to claim even more from the meeja.

Mike Mitchell, Spalding, England

Mr Kenneth Armitage of Suffolk is very vociferous on the subject of 'poor' services pay. Recruits know the terms when they enlist, so what's the gripe. This whole thing has been a farce from the very start, and has been compounded by this 'celebrity' nonsense, Britain and its armed forces have been dragged down to an all time low. Why are we there anyway, and furthermore 'women' with young children should be at home where they belong, not swanning round playing 'soldiers'

marshfield, salisbury, UK

I agree with many things that Bob Stewart says but I have always drawn the line at describing service personnel killed or injured in a conflict (war or otherwise) as heros. Heros are those, almost by definition, who do something 'beyond the call of duty'. Most who die or are injured in conflict therefore are not heros - however painful this may be for their families to comprehend. In so describing every casualty Bob Stewart himself has laid the foundations for the very behaviour that he now bemoans. Perhaps this is because he himself is ultimately a true son of a society that is now so lacking in moral backbone, so feminised and so bloody emotional about everything that it is unrecognisable from the society that I understood completely as a youngster.

Derek S, Dundee,

Dear Brits it would appear you are losing you way a tad.As an Australian I lived in Richmond upon Thames in London between 1991 and 1996 and thoroughly enjoyed my stay.I worked for a major cable news channel and was for a time sent to the Bosnian front lines and other such wonderful locations.I am no soldier but have been close enough to see the servicemen and women of Britain engage in their duties.Always proffessional and even polite.
My beef is not with your services as such but with the aftermath.The very thought of any service personnel selling their stories to the media is repulsive and highly unproffessional.The said 15 signed up for the possibility of combat and possibly worse,not for reality tv celebrity.I am truly glad that all of them have returned safely and no lives were lost.The decision at the time to go quietly was correct but the bad advice since home in Blighty has been poor.
We need Blighty back;strong,no more reality tv etc.Take charge again chaps..

matt maguire, canberra, australia

In addition to what has already been said, this decision is a recipe for embellishing the truth.
When I served in the Army, we signed the Official Secrets Act and were told that even to disclose how many lumps of sugar our CO had in his tea, was an offence.
Finally, what about training? I had assumed that Service personnel operating in such a place, so near to the Iranian border (or perhaps on the wrong side of the border) would have been trained extensively about what to do if detained.

Steve, london, UK

The record of US mindless aggression in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq shows that doing the opposite to what the US would do is patently correct.
Loss or reputation in the US has to be a good thing for the long-term interests of the UK. If the US shows no interest in the UK then we just might get the hint and show no interest in them. Think of all the problems Blair would have saved himself had he accepted Rumsfeld's statement that the US did not need UK trrops in Iraq.
As the Economist pointed out in its review of 50 years of the EU, weak, pacifist Europe has achieved more in its backyard to promote democracy than the US has done its.

eddie reader, bimingham, uk

This whole affair is deeply shaming. It is hard to know what is more embarrasing, the conduct of the 15 while in detention or the whole circus that has followed on from their release.

I am shocked at the corrupt and cynical attitude of the MOD and the tabloid press but also I find the comments of certain prominent bishops to be no less shocking in their craven toadying to the Ayatollahs - it is almost as if they regard fondly a regime dominated by clerics arrogant enough to impose their will on others. I suspect that in their hearts those two bishops despise the secular society the lottery of birth placed them in and would much rather that England became a Christian mirror of the theocracy in Iran.

P. Osborne, Cambridge, England

This is truly a new low for Britain, and it's laughable Eurabian partners. You allowed a bunch of savages to bend you over and rape you on world wide tv without so much as struggling. From the bottom to the very top your government and military have been thoroughly disgraced. Your fighting men and women surrendered without a shot being fired, by either them or their compatriots on the ship that should have been supporting them. Your government wimpered and ran off to the UN to beg for a laughable diplomatic reprimand. Your "fighters" co-operated fully in a series of shameful Iranian PR stunts, then their high command not only supported their actions but allowed them to sell their sordid stories to the highest bidder.
As an Australian of British descent, I've always opposed the republican movement in this country. No more. With the rot set in so deeply, it's clearly game over for the UK. We're better off without you, you'll only drag us down.

Paul, Dallas, Australia

I believe that the captives will regret revealing other than the basic facts about their ordeal to the public.During the Iranian Embassy Seige in London 1980, my colleague, (hostage) PC Trevor Lock was knelt down in the embassy to be executed as negotiations faltered on the field telephone.Trevor had a Smith and Wesson pistol secreted on him and an oppurtunity to despatch his single armed guard , crash through the front doors and escape.After his release a small party was held at the DPG base in Walton Street.Trevor confessed to feeling terrible guilt at this temptation. He was fairly sure that to kill a guard and escape would have triggered the execution of the other hostages, however feelings of self preservation were strong.Trevor handled the Press with quiet dignity and recieved the George Cross.I was part of the armed containment for five days.Most of what went on during and after the seige has,rightly ,never been revealed, including some ITV footage .A different Country ?

Richard, Wiltshire , United Kingdom

These servicepeople are a disgrace to the UK. It is acceptable that they did not fight back when captured - they would have been killed and the UK is not at war with Iran. They behaviour in captivity however was very poor as they certainly did not appear abused in any way and most definitely were treated far better than if the position had been reversed. However they show themselves as greedy and dishonourable in accepting any publicity or fees - they have nothing to be proud of and have greatly damaged the image of the UK and have probably put the lives of British servicemen in the region at risk by their lack of backbone.

On the other hand, why is the UK even in this region ? There are no British interests at stake and you have to wonder what hold Bush has over Blair that the latter blindly obeys his master's command at all times. It is time to abandon the "special relationship" and to realise that with friends like the US, we do not need any more enemies

Olga Shaw, London, EU

Voyager, Leeds - you clearly speak from a position of total ignorance of pay and conditions for all naval and military personnel. All service personnel, sailors, soldiers, marines and air force personnel, start on a salary of approximately £13,000 before tax and national insurance contributions and before paying for their food and accommodation and, when ashore, the council tax. As a Leading Seaman it is possible that Turney might be in receipt of £19,000 a year before tax and national insurance contributions. Last I heard an NHS junior doctors start on £28,000 per annum, GPs are on £75,000+, Consultants more and a newly qualified nurse starts on £19,600 per annum. Please check your facts before spouting.

Kenneth Armitage, Suffolk, England

..it is clearly evident that UK has lost it's way in the world. This episode, foreign policy or indeed issues at home...everything is in shambles.

Paul, Reading, UK

I am not qualified to alocate blame for this deeply shameful episode but I suspect it is yet another consequence of having Prime Minister who surrounds himself with inadequate cronies.

Michael Francis, Hillingdon, UK

"the reputation ..... is going to suffer" - its already suffering! Look at the comments posted by American servicemen on websites both here and in the US. This is the most disgraceful episode in the recent history of the forces. Admiral Byng was hung for less. Has morale sunk so low that a Captain of the Royal Marines can say "fighting back was not an option". However i am not sure all anger should be directed at those who appeared on Iranian Tv and are now selling their stories - i'm sure our government has a large part to blame by underfunding the Forces, using them as cheap political tools and asking them to carry out tasks they don't have the right equipment for. Full public enquiry please.

Paul, London, UK

Looking at the physical fitness of the woman detainee the Iranians fed her well. It begins to look as if The Royal Navy is so featherbedded with salaries comparable to a young NHS hospital doctor loaded with educational debt; that it is not what we imagined it to be.

Maybe we should scrap the surface fleet and just have submarines and spend the rest of the "poor bloody infantry" who are getting shortchanged at the sharp end while the Navy cruises in every sense

Voyager, Leeds, England

Any viewer with an ounce of common sense would understand that what was said by the captives on Iran tv was meaningless. What was said then is not therefore an issue. But what is being said,or not said now, certainly is.
Shouldn't Iran's president have been officially thanked for their release; for the sake of simple politeness if nothing else. And to think that the MoD in their wisdom can now drop the ban on selling their stories to the press is an embarrassment to Britain and an insult to all other troops who are involved in actuallyy fighting the war. Where is our pride?

Colin Bedwell, Colombo,

To Colonel Stewart and all posters on this subject the fact of the matter is that Britain is not, to my knowledge, at war with Iran and therefore the notion of fighting back when grossly outnumbered and name, rank and number simply does not apply. It is also a fact that what Iran did with this action was illegal and against international law, especially stripping and blindfolding personnel, keeping them in cells and applying psychological actions because the Royal Navy personnel were operating under a UN mandate. If there is any shame to be attached to this debacle it must lie with senior UN staff and with senior British politicians. I might agree that selling their story is unacceptable, unless they give the money to military charities, but Colonel Stewart was probably paid for this article and for appearing on television to give his view. Likewise, the papers each day carry all sorts of stories from sports people, pop stars, models and other 'numpties' mis-behaving. Next!

Kenneth Armitage, Suffolk, England

Britain's armed forces appear to have gone the way of their cricket team - pathetically embarassing. It's time the British took a long hard look at what has happened to their national pride and character, and regain some of that Churchilian resilience.

Darren Stein, Sydney, Australia

What will girly-boy Blair do next? Put their statues in Trafalgar Square? I never thought British prestige and self-respect could sink so low.

Rachelle Young, Los Angeles, California

Briton could not have sent us better team of goodwill ambassadors than the 15 young sailors picked up in the Persian Gulf.

What we saw on TV were a group of polite young people who carried themselves with dignity and poise. Young working women here also sympathized with the young mother who had left her child behind to do a job.

We knew these sailors were under duress to admit to things on the TV here. We also believe that the Brits are up to no good in the Persian Gulf. But that being said, your young people really found a place in our hearts.

Now we believe that Briton produces some really good people, not just posing politicians and football hooligans. No matter what follows, we liked our “Guests”!

Bijan Sharif, Tehran, Iran

To M Paul Springfield USA. I rather think that next time around even the Aussies will balk at being sucked into another USA no win shambles (Iraq) For all your might you have organised the biggest military dogs breakfast in history. As a supposed world leader you have via the offices of your president humiliated our country's leader ignored his counsel and treated him like some low life pet. Shame on you !!!!. (YO BLAIR ! ABOUT SUMS IT UP)
God bless our people who have been killed in this war.
We stood by you post 9-11,have fought on your side, and you have the gall to label our services as cowards. In case you didint know we Brits are not at war with iran. Our staff were arrested and abused. On that basis they can scream their stories to the international community as far as Im concerned. We dont throw away the blood of our people on your political geopolitical aspirations / US National Interests
just becasue you expect us to do so. Happy Easter ! Mister.

Donacha, Glenrothes, Scotland

Some questions. Did Col Stewart (Retd) receive payment for the article above and if he did then how does that differ from the potential payment to the 15 military personnel (or is it simply a matter of how much)?
And to the many experts on the laws of armed conflict; I would ask when was Iran formally declared our “enemy” (as in enemy combatant)?
There is no doubt that mistakes have been made and the MoD could have handled this a lot better (spokespersons making comparisons with the VC for example). However, one might also ask whether the actual participants are entitled to their say. Especially when, in this media frenzy, it seems every bulletin board, blog, news article and magazine is producing one or other version of the truth often containing offensive and ill judged accusations of cowardice and greed. The fact they are being offered large sums is hardly their fault nor can I see how anyone can claim the 15 have attempted to portray themselves as heroes.

P Ursus, Swindon,

The reputation of Great Britain is at rock bottom I'm afraid here. The general consensus seems to be that the sailors and marines are unprofessional, cowards, liars, and their butt-kissing antics were appalling.
Then to credit their release with "British Diplomacy"...no one believes that. It's clear the Foreign Office had no clue about the release and was caught as surprised as everyone else. Britain was impotent, powerless, and embarrassingly quick to surrender. The failure to even get EU partners to cooperate and stand with Britain, along with the weak UN resolution were humiliations.
Now for your MoD to say the traitor sailors and marines may break the rule and earn money from their story?
Britain has been severely damaged and is standing at a low it's never been at before.
If I were president of the U.S. about to engage in a serious and necessary military job, I'd question the competence of the British military and think about only inviting Australians.

M.Paul, Springfield, USA

Can the Colonel Stewart or the Times please give us ordinary people some definition of what many of us know to be offences under military law and which seem to have been committed in this episode? Offences like 'cowardice in the face of the enemy' and 'collaboration with the enemy'? Are these no longer breaches of military or other law? Were they not committed in this episode?

ALEX CLARKE, LONDON, UK

As a former US paratrooper, ranger and West Point officer, I find it disgusting and pathetic that these 15 British servicemen, who cooperated so freely and willingly with the enemy thereby dishonoring all the brave British soldiers held in enemy captivity who fought back before them, will now significantly profit and become famous from their cowardness. Unbelievable. They should at least turn the money over to charity. I'm sure the Bristish soldiers who fought and died in WWII and other previous wars are turning over in their graves.

Tom Costa, Los Angeles, USA/CA