Not sure I have too big a problem with conduct whilst in Iran - survival should have been a key issue.
To be honest the Iran stunt of making them say they were in Iranian waters when it is pretty clear they weren't just confirms my fears about how trustworthy the current regime are (i.e. not at all) - and makes Iran look quite rather childish / dangerous. Weren't some of the GW1 aircrew forced to denounce the war etc. on telly under duress?
Its the "sell your story" aspect I really can't quite get my head around. Just feels all wrong, and I'm not sure MoD in the widest sense (or Browne/Blair) can pick up all the blame.

It is all about MONEY!!!
 

Pay peanuts.....you get monkeys.
Whilst everyone is clearly entitled to their opinion with regards to the 15 being paid for their stories, someone please remind me why we are in that part of the world again ???? What is it really all about ???

Its all change (Again)
 

The Ministry of Defence has banned personnel from selling their stories to the media until a review of the rules governing the issue is completed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6538921.stm

Is their case for discrimination now, if anyone elese wants to sell their 'story'?

A gutless and gormless bunch; a sad indictment of the modern Royal Navy, who were once a strong and proud service. No longer it seems. Poor Nelson will be turning in his grave.
I bet the naval benevolent fund does not see a penny.

He told the newspaper: "A guard kept flicking my neck with his index finger and thumb. I thought the worst, we've all seen the videos. I was frozen in terror and just stared into the darkness of my blindfold."
Holy Crap Batman! I wish he'd seen the bruises left on my body by that very bad boy at the desk behind me. :yuk:

From the BBC News site

"Meanwhile Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors and how he "cried like a baby" in his cell."

Well I guess he is now laughing all the way to the bank.

I'm sorry but I think the RN personnel have shown themselves and their service in a poor light.

Granted, we were not present in Tehran, but the media coverage didn't show beaten personnel reading a preprepared script, as happened with the two Johns in 1991. It showed RN personnel gushing forth apologies and explanations of why they were in the wrong.
'Felix' pointing at a large map and spouting on like a demented weatherman, all rather pitiful. What was their tipping point....the threat to remove the chess board?

As for selling their stories, a large stride in the wrong direction by the MOD, though it reeks of either a New Labour stunt, or an attempt by a hollow, PR obsessed RN to claw back some credibility. Either way, it is rather sad.

I have witnessed far greater feats of heroism both in the air and on the ground. I have nothing but the highest respect for the Warrior crew killed last week. They know the threat is real, yet face it every single day of their 6 month tour. I doubt very much whether the sound of a rifle being cocked would have them cowering in the corner.

2 Weeks 'compassionate' leave and £150000? Maybe a P45 and an Iranian passport would be more apt

Just seen ZH875 latest
 

So the MOD have now decided to review the latest ruling to allow future disclosures of "operations" or their fall-out..., to the press...., and revert to the original instructions which are clearly stated in QRs. Strikes me that someone was a bit slow in closing the barn door...., methinks that MOD will rue the day they took this decision.

I now see that Faye is appearing on ITV "Faye's Story" on the program 'A Tonight Special'..., is the next thing..., 'I'm a Celebrity - Get me out of here' ?

By all means..., screw the journos for all you can get, but as far as those who have "signed-up" to a deal with the press...., I believe that their only way out of this..., and their road back to some sort of normality and standing with their colleagues, is to donate their fees to the appropriate benevolent fund that supports their Service.


:\ GengisK

I seem to get the impression that the Navy gets the blame for this cock up and the MOD are innocent !!!!!!!!!

Can I apologise on behalf of all the decent people of Shrewsbury for what we are about to witness on TV at 20.00. May I emphasise that this Turney bimbo is not a native of this town, but a traitoress from a not so civilised area.

Pity treason is no longer a hanging offence.

Disgusting.

This whole affair and the farcical way it has been conducted by the govt and MOD does nothing but further undermine the public perception of the military at a time when we need all the support we can get.

Dark Day
 

Its a dark day for the forces I fear.

Its the hard working people currently on Ops, who will feel let down most by these greedy, unprofessional and "celebrity seeking" individuals. Its an absolute disgrace!

Admittedly, it was pure PR spin in Iran (however, put yourself in their shoes folks, for a brief moment). But ever since they had been released, the PR train steamed ever forward, at the detriment of the three services and serving service individuals.

The Government nor the MOD has come out of this with any credibility at all. The staged scenes we saw in Iran, have been paled into insignificance since the hostage circus came home. Lets all hope this is a nasty dream, and we wake up for work, with all our professional integrity intact.

Well, having watched a bit of the ITV thing, it would appear that 'Faye' wasn't starved during her short stay in Iran:E

"cocking of rifles", Or was it 'Faye' just scraping the inside of the metal bowls, obtaining the remnants of the chicken balti, which was supposed to feed ALL the crew.

I ask you....

Captured Personnel NOT Permitted to Tell Stories for Money
 

First they can, now they can't....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6538921.stm

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...259729,00.html

It seems that Dismal Desmond has suddenly realised that letting people sell stories to the jackals of the press within 24 hours of repatriation Is Not A Good Thing....:rolleyes:

Is it nowadays totally impossible for the idiotic Ministry of Dimwits to assemble their excreta and hosiery correctly....??

Oh Tempora! Oh Mores!

And I just hope "Faye" is aware of the total disaster she has proved to be for women in the Armed Forces....

Mother Of All Blunders. With roles models like her, who needs enemies.

They're just responding to public pressure - rather than having a policy and following it. Now, if we all start shouting that they should be able to sell their stories, and switch back when they change their minds again, we could have them really dizzy by the end of the week!

I think we used to call it "Greatcoats on, greatcoats off" :E

You put your left foot in............
You take your left foot out,
you chop the budget up
and send all the boys out

you start 3 wars
and lie about it all
oh spin Tony Spin

etc etc

Inevitable really...

1) CGS thinks 'Harumph. Not happening with any of my lot, whatever main building thinks.' Issues succinct order to this effect.

2) CGS's order passed round army

3) News of CGS's order reaches media

4) News of CGS's order reaching media reaches Swiss Des

5) Swiss Des remembers CGS is Man With Whom One Does Not Trifle (see Daily Mail interview).

6) Swiss Des panics and thinks of what may happen if CGS is said by media (who seem to like CGS) to be telling colleagues that Tony, Gordon and Des are bunch of blundering incompetents.

7) Swiss Des issues instructions that his last lot of instructions are now to be ignored and that anyone ignoring instruction to ignore instructions to ignore long-standing instructions that one does not talk to press will be in trouble.At least until he issues another set of instructions that make him look even more of a spineless, weak-willed Sec of State emerge.

Or something like that...