Comments on: U.K. Bans Military From Selling Stories

Defense Ministry Reverses Decision After Controversy Over Sailors Cashing In On Iran Capture

[Razzl]

One of the facts of our modern political life is that virtually all conflicts which the US has involved itself in since the end of WWII have been ill-advised, innapropriate, or illegal misadventures which bring no honor to the dead and guarantee endless pain and disgrace for the soldiers and their families. This is one reason why military families need to speak up before and during the runup to war rather than try to silence the rest of the citizenry who are doing their duty as citizens to stop it. In the case of Iraq the same applies to our British allies, whose government went to war in spite of the near-universal opposition of the citizenry. The families of the dead need to be willing to focus blame where blame is due and not on the unimportant sideshows that a failed military venture inevitably generate...

[obiquital]

Some of you people are unbelievable. When they are captured by the Iranians and they tell one story while in Iranian custody then you believe it. If they tell another story when they are free you dismiss it as propaganda? People have been capturing enemy soldiers and using them as propaganda tools for as long as there has been war. Are you really that naive as to think that their stories told while in captivity are the truth?
As for the pictures of her with the other captives, they could have been taken any time within those 2 weeks. One scenario is the pictures were taken when they first were captured then they were split up and a few days into it she was told that she was the only one there now. OR they were taken after she was forced to write the letter. Your agenda is getting in the way of your objectivity.

[omega39-2009]

Why are so many of you mad at the British soldiers? I remember at the start of Bush's term, when a Chinese aircraft ran in to one of our spy planes, rather than ditching into the ocean, the crew turned the plane over to the Chinese. They were all given medals for their actions and Bush sponsored the Chinese in to the WTO for all their troubles. What great Americans.

[briannorwood]

I'm sorry but I gotta believe these Brit soldiers were spineless and cowardly. A disgrace.

[ramos937]

People like Tommy Franks, Oliver North, etc. can write about their war experiences and make money off of them but this lady cannot?

She never asked to be captured or mentally abused which she was. If she can make a few bucks off the experience, why not? On the salaries military enlisted make she most likely can use the funds for living expenses.

Keep the above types from making money off their military experiences and then you can crtitize her.

[cathaleen]

Montgomery and Churchhill must be spinning in their graves.

[toldyouso21]

The US lady soldier had many bones broken in her body that was exploited by the press. That was not worth any amount of money. She may be paralyzed now.
Posted by billysmith6 at 08:45 AM : Apr 09, 2007


Nope Jessica is fine, she got rid of her boyfriend, found another had a baby and may even marry this guy plus she made tons of money--we know at least 3200 American soldiers and over 70 journalists that will never get to tell their side and many suffered unspeakable horrors before dying.

[toldyouso21]

If Faye Turney believed she was left behind, then how did she account for all the British men sitting around her in the pictures?
Posted by Barbaraf4 at 08:08 AM : Apr 09, 2007


Her failure to get her lies straight before telling her "story" begins to explain her and the rest of the crews "sound judgement" about the entire incident. Maybe next time Britian wants to spy on Iran, they will not send kids who want to be on 'American Idol' and will send real soldiers instead--you know, the kind that either would rather than die before dishonor or at least know how to give Name, rank and serial number and no matter the circumstances realize the gravity of the situation does not call for grinning photo ops---no matter what the captors want. I think they are the only cheshire cat grinning captives in the war so far.

[toldyouso21]

Walk a mile in their Moccasins before you cast aspersions. In other words, if you have never capatured at gun point and held as a POW, then shut up. If you want to blame someone, then look at the Royal Navy for starters.
Posted by gunnerv1 at 07:33 AM : Apr 09, 2007


We don't need to walk a mile in their moccasins or boots or their ballet slippers or anything else to know this sucks a big weenie. They sold out. I am not speaking to their capture and capitulation--but then to have the gall and balls to market it that is beyond tacky and just think if they are lying--it could make Bush's lies about WMD to start the Iraq war--lok like child's play. She thought her fat azz was being measured for a coffin and she was all alone? Yep--she must of thought all her mates sitting around her were some sort of mirage.

[toldyouso21]

By allowing soldiers to "tell there stories" and get paid for it--Britain has lost all credibility. Of course the more outrageous the story, the more they get paid for it--and in the midst of a war. America should do the same right? Have London and those who murdered Abeer to share their story?

This is sick--think about all of the people who have been held captive and who have NOT dishonored themselves and the services by going public about it for the tabloids... now, that...coupled with the news about it maybe being a spying mission--leaves me in no doubt that this is not only propaganda, but is being done to undermine the already sensitive situations in that part of the world. Oh well...now the Iranians know that if they catch any more sailors they will tell such tales so why not give them a bit of torture to make it really authentic, instead of letting them play pingpong.

[honest_news]

Every facet of the whole sordid affair is sickening -- from the grotesque propaganda ploy by the Iranians, to the spineless behavior and willful treason of the sailors themselves, to the British Navy pandering to the greed and avarice of these shameless opportunists.

It makes me wonder... although the British have done a superb job fashioning and perpetuating the myth of their "stiff upper lip" and fortitude, have they ever truly exhibited valor?

[zootallures2]

Well, well, well, United Kingdom....

Our space program is fake, huh? At least Neil Armstrong didn't surrender to the aliens and play golf with them.

Cultural Learnings of America....? Sacha Baron Cohen did have to go to IRAN to find the true America.

And of course Americans sell themselves out as a way of life? Ha ha ha ha HA!

[lochlan-2009]

"It just seemed to me every time I seen them on TV they looked as if they were at a party rather than a hostage situation."
-Posted by swwils

No, they were being tortured, didn't you hear. They looked pretty ruffed up too, with the smirks all over their faces.
There's the answer soldiers, tired of the pennies the armed forces pay you, trespass into Iran and then make up a story and book deal when you get released. Rich and get out of the war early.

Parts of Faye Turney's story just don't appear to make sense.

Of course, most of us will never know the truth about what happened.

But the question is - who is using who here?

[zootallures2]

$200,000... The Brits may become Irans new Mexicans.

[preacherbob1]

swwils, you must be over 60. In the Army I served in - back when "America was the home of the free and the home of the brave', GIs gave the enemy NAME, RANK AND SERIAL NUM,BER. Anymore was forbidden by the Code of Military Justice....and punishable as treason.

Things have changed.

[oleander8]

Bad decision by the Ministry of Defense.

[barbaraf4]

If Faye Turney believed she was left behind, then how did she account for all the British men sitting around her in the pictures?

[zootallures2]

Now do you believe the US pilots when they say they can't tell the British from the enemy?

[zootallures2]

13 days with out a webcam or mirror - the Arthur Batchelor story.

OUCH!!!

HIGH FIVE!