Hmmm... yummy yummy.

No difference between the Brits and Americans I mean they too would have been in the hands of Iranians

no one saw or did anything to help the british.

And it bothers them if anyone else does ........ For the EU, self-defense has become too aggressive, it's so much more civilized to surrender without a fight. Our "leaders" here in Israel are not much better so we shouldn't be too smug.

APPEASEMENT WAS A BRITISH INVENTION! THAT'S WHY THEY DIDN'T FIGHT !

how come the British ship didn`t notice or see the Iranian guards approaching on their radars? until they got so close? if the British and their ships are so "accessible" to anyone who wants to approach them, then what kind of a security is that? or maybe they were really inside Iranian waters? who knows? i think the Iranians want to trade these 15 with their Revolutionary guards in US custody. tit for tat.

the english sailors defected to iran because they didn't want to fight on the side of the americans anymore this was reported in the iranian newspapers, believe me it is true and that is why the iranian was able to take them without a fight this english are brave and honest and now on our side

the american commander can go bring the brits so

For their "Kadima" style of bravery

That is exactly what the US wants - to attack Iran. Somebody please replace Bush!!! He will destroy innocent people to get his oil. Anyone with half a brain can see that it could very well be the US itself that has kidnapped the sailors so that it can then "assist" the british to "get their boys back".

When a Jewish soldier was kidnapped, the Israli government immediately went after the kidnappers. When 15 British sailors are kidnapped, the British government files a protest. Similiar to what happened when the North Koreans grabbed some of our sailors a few years ago. Perhaps the US and the British should disband their military establishment and just hire the Jews to fight for us. They seem better prepared and certainly more agressive.

The world knows full well what the American Rules of Engagement consist of....bomb first, then lie about the result.

It's very simple. 1- IF YOU CAN BOMB JAPAN, YOU CAN BOMB IRAN! Whatever the decision process and reasoning to bomb Japan should be exactly the same for Iran. It is the only way to convince these brain washed inbreds. 2- STOP BUYING THE OIL THAT PAYS FOR THEIR OFFENSIVES! LET THEM SWIM IN IT!!

#7 is by far the most plausible while #8 is downright dumb. If these sailors made any such statement the Iranians would be splashing video tape all over Western media. Whatever report you read was intended for domestic Iranian (at most, wider Middle East) consumption, but I assure you it is bupkiss. #11, that is just down right silly...

get real dude, it's not the cartoon u saw last morning.

Oh Yah, They want to be muslim, get some belt bomb and kill kids in iraq after reading your book. this completes your stupit way of thinking.

I think the US Sailors would have fought back. Iran may have taken these hostages just to get back their own. On the other hand they should know better. The US and Britain will not stand for that nor will they give back the Iranian guards. This action is stating that Iran is looking for confrontation, which I feel will happen very soon.

blowhard. Only an idiot would have his men armed with only sidearms fight back against two gunships sporting machine guns and canons.

Yeah! Like they are going to fight the Iranians when they are out numbered. They would surely have been killed. They did what they thought was best to save themselves. This American cowboy metality might sound cool to the American red necks but it would have gotten them killed.

The Brits apparently have a military policy to avoid escalating the current situation at all costs. Aside from being out-gunned, they were following orders. Yes, the U.S. handles it differently. There is not much controversy here. This one ain't over.

It's obvious to me that America and Brittian are the real enemies of the world. I mean, Iran has been acting so peaceful since 1979. Their peaceful record really speaks for itself. Those "Death to America" chants were just taken out of context, I'm sure. Iran has done so many great things for the world, unlike the US and UK. The US and UK are thugs and are only after oil. Just because we don't chant "Death to Iran", doesn't mean we don't mean it. I mean, even though Bush and Blair don't say they want Israel wiped off the map, they probably really mean that. But when the president of Iran says it, it's probably just taken out of context or misquoted. Iran probably really does want nuclear power for peaceful purposes. Why shouldn't we take them at their word? It's been golden since 1979.

If anything, British soldiers are better prepared for unexpected situations, more flexible and intelligent and much more coolheaded then Americans. I don’t know why exactly, but trust me as I had a chance to see both of them in (a peacekeeping) action. What this senior commander is saying is rubbish because there is absolutely no difference in the rules of engagement, and there is definitely a difference between self-defense and suicide. Iranians are arseholes and they will undoubtedly get what they deserve but for now, I think that the British marines made a wise decision which saved a lot of lives starting with their own.

I want to explode 24's head: my “cowboy” brutishness and efficiency meeting his “brooding teen” unlimited naiveté and boundless kvetching. BTW, I’m onboard for #8’s rationalization: Why not endure a dog and pony show on the international stage for weeks in a country threatening to try you with espionage for a shot at living the "Iranian Dream?" Oops, sorry to all of my Farsi friends out there: the "Persian Dream?"