FFS. How impressively tall people's horses are.
That the MOD's decision is appalling, there can be no doubt. But to blame the individuals and to use terms like "holiday in Iran" to describe their ordeal is a bit unfair. I don't think it's fair to blame them because some misguided civil serpent tore up decades of procedure and military impartiality in this way.
I agree, those who have any sense of dignity will turn down the cash or, as Lt Carman has said, will donate it to charity. Surely, though, there is no justification in diminishing their ordeals because some fool at Main Bldg decided the sensible thing to do would be to generate an even larger media circus by making such a wrongheaded decision?
Ex-FCO twit Craig Murray: The idea that you can make several years' pay out of being captured - as opposed to not being captured and doing your job normally - is a rather strange incentive system.
Aaaah... so, they got caught on purpose or through lack of courage? Is this man talking about the same story of illegal Iranian piracy as everyone else?