UK Crew Tells Of Pressure By Iran

Back In London, British Sailors Insist They Never Strayed Into Iranian Waters

(CBS/AP)  British sailors and marines held for nearly two weeks in Iran were blindfolded, bound and threatened with prison if they did not say they had strayed into Iranian waters, a Royal Navy lieutenant who was among the captives said Friday.

Lt. Felix Carman, safely home with his 14 colleagues, said the crew faced harsh interrogation by their Iranian captors and slept in stone cells on piles of blankets. Unable to see and kept isolated, they heard weapons cocking.

"We were blindfolded, our hands were bound and we were forced up against a wall. Throughout our ordeal we faced constant psychological pressure," Carman said. "All of us were kept in isolation. We were interrogated most nights and presented with two options. If we admitted that we'd strayed, we'd be on a plane to (Britain) pretty soon. If we didn't, we faced up to seven years in prison."

Within hours of the news conference, Iranian state television said the British military had "dictated" to its sailors what to say.

Royal Marine Capt. Chris Air said the crew of 15, which was out on a routine operation on March 23, was confronted by members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

"They rammed our boats, and trained their heavy machine guns, RPGs, and weapons on us. Another six boats were closing in on us," Air said. "We realized that had we resisted there would have been a major fight, one we could not have won, with consequences that would have major strategic impacts. We made a conscious decision not to engage the Iranians."

Iran insists the British strayed into its territory; the sailors and the British government deny the accusation and maintain they were in Iraqi waters.

Britain's top naval officer said boarding operations would be suspended while a review is conducted.

"Coalition operations continue under U.K. command," said Adm. Jonathon Band, head of the Royal Navy. "Currently, our (operations) have been suspended while we do that review."

A White House spokesman said Friday that Iran's reported mistreatment of the British sailors and marines was "unfortunate and extremely disappointing," CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports.

The spokesman said it was unfortunate that the Iranians ever detained these sailors to begin with, considering they were operating under a U.N. mandate in Iraqi waters. He said the White House is again calling on Iran to comply with U.N. resolutions demanding an end to its uranium enrichment program.

The most visible of the seized sailors and marines was Leading Seaman Faye Turney, a 26-year-old mother of one. Her letters home received widespread publicity in Britain, particularly one in which she requested the British government withdraw from Iraq.

Air said she was singled out for propaganda purposes, held in solitary confinement and told the others had gone home.

"Being an Islamic country, Faye was subjected to different rules than we were. She was separated as soon as she arrived, and was told that her colleagues had been flown home," Air said. "She coped admirably and has maintained a lot of dignity."

While much of the country rallied behind the crew's return, others criticized them for offering apologies where none was required — namely for appearing in videos in which they admitted and offered regrets for entering Iranian waters.

The servicemen said they had tried to be vague about whether they had strayed into Iranian waters in statements they made during captivity.

"We were very careful about what we said and what we didn't say," Air told The Associated Press. He said the Iranian captors were humane, but said there were a "few incidents when our safety was at risk."

It's not possible to know everything the sailors and marines said to their captors but at least some statements avoided saying definitely they were in Iran's waters.

For example, in one of the letters made public from Turney, she said she had "apparently gone into Iranian waters." In a video clip from Iranian TV, Air said "we were seized apparently at this point here on their maps and on the GPS they've shown us, which is inside Iranian territorial waters."

Carman had been pictured on Iranian television saying he "understood" why Iran was angry the crew had strayed into their waters. At Friday's news conference, he said the crew was nearly two nautical miles from Iran's territory — and that they had never apologized.

"Let me make this clear — irrespective of what was said in the past — when we were detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard we were inside internationally recognized Iraqi territorial waters," he said. "At no time did we actually say were sorry for straying into Iranian waters."

In its news report on the sailors, Iranian state TV accusing Britain of dictating statements to the crew, saying "the British sailors only read from pages dictated to them."

Air and Carmen were among six of the crew members who chose to speak publicly Friday.

Band told British Broadcasting Corp. radio that the crew had "acted with considerable dignity and a lot of courage."

"They appear to have played it by the rules, they don't appear to have put themselves into danger, others into danger, they don't appear to have given anything away," he said. "I think, in the end, they were a credit to us."

Britain insisted the crew was on a routine operation when seized, but Sky News reported Thursday that Air said in an interview days before his capture that his crew was gathering intelligence on Iran during their patrols. Sky said it held the interview because it thought it could hamper the crew's release.

Defense ministry officials denied the sailors and marines had an intelligence role, but said they routinely spoke to commanders of vessels using the Persian Gulf and Shatt Al-Arab waterway to determine who was using shipping routes.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Wednesday that the Britons would be released — a breakthrough in a crisis that had raised oil prices and escalated fears of military conflict in the volatile region. The move suggested Iran's hard-line leadership had decided it had shown its strength but did not want to push the standoff too far.

But Iran did not get the main thing it sought — a public apology for entering Iranian waters. Britain insists it never offered a deal, instead relying on quiet and sometimes silent diplomacy.

[klingon69]

They are home, now wipe IRAN off the face of the Earth

[rmsdm4]

When Iran blindfolds, stips, isolates, and interrogates its called intense pressure. When the US does the same thing, its called torture. Way to go CBS your bias continues.

[gkc99]

Any evidence of drowning torture (waterboarding) by the Iranians? Any use of ordeal drugs? Stress positions, hanging upside down, beatings, etc.?

Those are torture. Too bad the righties have to find an excuse for every atrocity Bushit authorizes.

[matter77]

The entire line of command should be court-martialed. This is the most sickening display of cowardice imaginable. Brave and courageous men and women who fought for Britain during WWII are turning in their graves now. Wipe IRAN off the face of the map, now!

[theusa1st]

(CBS/AP) Some of the British sailors held in Iran for 13 days said they were blindfolded, stripped, interrogated and pressured psychologically and emotionally during their captivity.

Where is the world outrage ? Where was the human rights groups demanding to speak with them when they where prisoners ?
Nowhere...2 faced cowards and hypocrites.
Where were the lefties in this country demanding
human rights according to the Genva Convention?
Nowhere...2 faced cowards and hypocrites.

The lefties show their true colors...anything but red, white and blue.

[matter77]

billysmith6 advocates the overthrow of the United States AND Britain. He just doesn't want you to know. Member nations were shown satellite proof that the forces WERE NOT in Iranian waters. No one in the World doubted that after being shown physical proof. That's not enough for billysmith6 because he hates the West and everyone in it.

[BlueInWI]

Good thing these folks weren't held in Abu Ghraib. No dogs, no hoods, no electrodes attached to fingers awhile standing on a box, no sexual abuse, no butt pyramids...

Anyway, I'm not saying Iran should not be criticized for these practices - I'm just saying before the neotards say we should attack them for these abuses - they might want to consider what doing so might lead others to believe they should do to the US and Britain for what happened at Abu Ghraib?...

[j4401]

It cetainly appears the British soldiers were in the wrong place at the wrong time. What would we do if there were the Iranians in a patrol boat spying in our waters? Probabaly the same thing as they did. Some of you need to get a grasp of reality unless you prefer to continue to stir the pot.

[stickbowman]

Interesting. Leftist hate-mongers continue to debauch themselves in their own poisonous moral equivalence rants. My only hope is that their women are the first to taste sharia law if and when it replaces the freedom they are now inflecting damage upon.

Hate Bush? Why? Not my first choice for CEO of USA, but at least he understands what's at stake should socialist leaning liberals including CBS, Katie Couric and clan get their way e.g. an American Caliphate. Better start scarf shopping girlfren.

[maxh1]

CBS, like NBC, should be forced off the air. Like most Liberals, they only report on what THEY want you to hear.

Let's see: we put underwear on the head of terrorists
Iranians capture, interrogate and force some English to wear clothing that looks worse than underwear, but the US has 'tortured' and the Iranians have 'interrogated'.

What the hell country do you live in? I thought Dan Rather was fired?

[jebby_one]

Forget Iran ..... when US citizens were abused, beaten and murdered at the Cook County jail neo-commie Liberals sat on their hands.

Neo-commies aren't opposed to the torture and abuse of prisoners, what they stand up for is the overthrow of the US government and the advancement of Communism.

[bigsk8fan]

"The lefties show their true colors...anything but red, white and blue." Posted by theUSA1st

No one is happy with what happened to the Brits. But you can't help but feel these guys were lucky they weren't captured by USA and held at Abu Ghraib. They still would have been stripped and made to feel they were being executed at any moment. But with America, they would have had barking dogs and forced into immoral naked games. All while being photographed with laughing female guards.

[gkc99]

The tighty whitey righties just don't seem to understand that when the president of the USA says that waterboarding and other torture is OK, and his pet AG agrees, he has removed all moral authority from the US condemning torture. He has lowered the USA to the level of Iran. So all you superpatriots can shove that in your pipe.

[bizzzz-2009]

What does Bush have to do with the Iranians kidnapping Britons on a UN mandated mission? About a year from now, Bush will be out of office, terrorism will still be going strong, as it did for many years prior to his presidency. Liberals will frantically search for someone else to blame for the problems of the world and, in doing so, will realize that it wasn't really Bush they hated, it was their country.

[navychief8]

Air said she was singled out for propaganda purposes, held in solitary confinement and told the others had gone home.

Well duhhhhh..... of course they lied to them. The U.S. Military has a strict code of conduct. We are to resist to our upmost and provide no statements or sign anything. We have a phrase, "Return with Honor". I am not sure that happened here.

[notblue]

All the America hating, terrorist enabling fools here at leftwing central are scrambling to rationalize this article away. It's great entertainment to here the Bush haters villify America without condemning radical Iran. It Speaks volumes!

[jebby_one]

Neo-commies fail to realize that the US is not at war with Iran. The capture of the British soldiers by Iranians would be like the US capture of Cuban soldiers in the gulf.

[bigsk8fan]

"Liberals will frantically search for someone else to blame for the problems of the world and, in doing so, will realize that it wasn't really Bush they hated, it was their country." Posted by bizzzz

Liberals don't hate their country. Conservatives just don't understand that everyone is entitled to an opinion. Conservatives would rather limit all personal freedom and imprison all who disagree with them. I think they really hate their country. They need to find a rightist dictatorship where they will feel at home. What really troubles Conservatives is that W has really made America fodder for such legitimate criticism in the first place. And that Iraq really has nothing to do with the war on terrorism. At least, not until we invaded a country that did not attack the USA, nor did it help Al Qaeda.

[theusa1st]

He has lowered the USA to the level of Iran. So all you superpatriots can shove that in your pipe.
Posted by gkc99 at 11:38 AM : Apr 06, 2007
+ report abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The lefties show their true colors...anything but red, white and blue." Posted by theUSA1st

No one is happy with what happened to the Brits. But you can't help but feel these guys were lucky they weren't captured by USA and held at Abu Ghraib. They still would have been stripped and made to feel they were being executed at any moment. But with America, they would have had barking dogs and forced into immoral naked games. All while being photographed with laughing female guards.
Posted by bigsk8fan at 11:36 AM : Apr 06, 2007

Thanks for proving my point lefties...take the side of the people that have been killing our troops. Any excuse to bash Bush. The president has
NEVER said torture is o.k. When was the last time you complained about some innocent person getting their head cut off while being filmed ? You probably never did or never will speak out against the enemies of the civilized world.

[gkc99]

It's the neo- and not-so-neo-fascists that are destroying America with their goosestepping love of authority at all costs. Too bad the American people have finally seen through their lies, and can't wait to get their Fuhrer out of office. Yes, there will be others, the neofascists are well-financed by their corporate masters and fed by their hate groups. The bottom line: this administration has legitimized torture, so they can hardly complain if the Iranians now do it. When the president pronounces, on his own say so, that the US can kidnap, hold incommunicado, torture, and execute, anyone, anywhere in the world that El Supremo has decided is a "terrorist" (guess George Washington would have fit that definition), then don't come crying to me when other countries do the same. Don't like torture--impeach Bushit and send a message to the world! We don't support Nazi scum!

[notblue]

Bibsk8fan, if you liberals have your way that dictatorship will be just around the corner only it won't be controlled by the right. It will require scarves and turbans and be dedicated to Islamic law.

[radiob-2009]

Was there a declaration of war against Iran or the British over this?

Who now in the middle east has benefited the most from this?


Has anyone here read the Chathman House report?

[jpesot]

"without condemning radical Iran" ....

Bull. The left condems ALL forms of radical Islam.

Saudi Arabia is one of the main contributors to radical islam. So is Syra, and Iran.

But Iraq was not. Important detail.

Radical Islam is not simply tied to specific countries, it cross national borders.

So if you wanth the left to condem Iran's radical islam (which is Shia, not Al-Qaeda), then YOU (and your President) must also condem extreme islam in Saudi Arabia (which IS Sunni, as is Al Queda).

And then you must also recognize that the war against radical islam is NOT the war in Iraq.

The fight is against an ideology, not just a country. But GW and the right don't get this. You think all muslims are the same (just like all Christians are the same, right), and so it doesn't really matter which islamic countries we attack.

[i_think_this]

Sky has a spy.

[bigsk8fan]

"When was the last time you complained about some innocent person getting their head cut off while being filmed ?" Posted by theUSA1st

I have written several letters to several countries around the world that what they are doing vis-a-vis a specific prisoner is wrong. Just because something wrong happens somewhere else, does not mean I leave my conscious home when our own govt tortures a prisoner it holds.


"Bibsk8fan, if you liberals have your way that dictatorship will be just around the corner only it won't be controlled by the right." Posted by notblue

With the "Patriot Act" many rightists even think dictatorship is already here. Tim McVeigh was certainly right of mainstream. Much like you.

[rafterman1]

"Bibsk8fan, if you liberals have your way that dictatorship will be just around the corner only it won't be controlled by the right. It will require scarves and turbans and be dedicated to Islamic law."

Yeah, right. A few hundred thousand raghead terrorists in the world are going to defeat the US of A. It's good to see that you would give up so easily and just surrender your rights over to the Muslims.

What a stupid thing to say. Right up there with "you'd be speaking German/Japanese now if..."

[radiob-2009]

The fight is against an ideology, not just a country. But GW and the right don't get this. You think all muslims are the same (just like all Christians are the same, right), and so it doesn't really matter which islamic countries we attack.


And herein lies the problem, who better to know who is supporting radical Islam than the governments of the nations in which it grows.

Should they not be taking action against radical Islam?


Should not all of the Muslims that desire a peaceful coexistence amongst Muslims and all others speak out?

[rohink-2009]

BTW: I'm quite prepared for the Mexican Muslim war over what used to be America.
Posted by stickbowman

I hear you.

[j4401]

I love these comments that include the words "liberal" as a demonizing term to describe somebody. Why so much polarization and hate? It shows the world how absolutely stupid some of us really are. As an independent I support wise thinking and compassion. The real evil is hate.

[rohink-2009]

Conservatives just don't understand that everyone is entitled to an opinion. Conservatives would rather limit all personal freedom and imprison all who disagree with them. I think they really hate their country.

If only Conservatives could be as understanding of others opinions as the liberals are.

[tuckerndfw]

I wonder how long it took for Blair to torture these latest confessions out of them?

Isn't it odd how Bush & Blair claim confessions obtained by US & UK forces through torture are valid while dismissing these pawns' original confessions as being invalid due to their being "tortured"?

They don't appear to have been tortured to me.

And, guess what, suspects in the US are routinely "stripped naked, blindfolded, kept in isolation, and offered plea bargains for confessions," so that is not torture. That is routine treatment of prisoners.

Ahmadinejab play Bush & Blair for fools and they readily complied.

[bigsk8fan]

"BTW: I'm quite prepared for the Mexican Muslim war over what used to be America." Posted by stickbowman
"I hear you." Posted by rohink

Which local state militia group do you guys belong to? In case you haven't heard, Mexico lost the War a few years ago. And the Muslims don't have sufficient airplanes or ships to transfer an army to attack us. Sure, local acts of terrorism are possible every two or three years. But a sustained military action would be difficult. Just how do you say this can possibly happen? Will they all come over in canoes? Do they have all of Sadam's WMD's that we couldn't find?

[drtminer]

It is easy to recant your (lying Brits) story, after the fact...
First it is stated that they were kept in isolation and interrogated at night (sleep deprivation?)... Later in the story it is stated "By staying together as a team we kept our spirits up, drawing great comfort from the knowledge that our loved ones would be waiting for us on our return,"
Marine Capt. Chris Air stated that they had been on an intelligence mission (fact)... Bowel movement (British ministry) denies that (lies)...
These Brits are lying their Arse off to keep from being courtmartialed, thus feeding the gullible people a spoon full of BS...

[perception5]

Where's all the corrupt liberal "human rights" groups????? Why aren't they condeming the Iranians for the harsh treatment?? and for taking the 15 British in the first place?? I guess their working hard at the UN on some new human rights report condemming America....... really sad.....

[oleander8]

Will wonders never cease?? I am in agreement with RandalIDS post on France...minus the cursing.

[gkc99]

The Mexican Muslim war? I think you goosesteppers are getting your bogeymen mixed up.

Prepared are you? Prepared to commit terrorist acts of violence you mean? Time for the waterboard!

WOW! All the anger and hatred. I'd think this was a fray between Shiites and Sunnis. Regarding that, I'd just like to make a comment about the "War on Terror", as it is currently practiced. If you read any of Osama bin Laden's writings, you'd know that a hateful, mindless retaliation is exactly what he desired from 9/11. His logic is that a hateful response, such as torture, invasions, etc, recruits more Muslims to his cause. Keep up the good work!!!

[bigsk8fan]

"Where's all the corrupt liberal "human rights" groups????? Why aren't they condeming the Iranians for the harsh treatment?? " Posted by perception5

You aren't listening to everything that is being said. Everyone condemns Iran's treatment of UK Sailors. But in comparison to what USA did at Abu Ghraib, it is not quite as bad. Look, the UK Sailors are home now. Many prisoners held by the USA have been held for years. Are we learning yet?

[kretos-2009]

poor british soldiers poor and liar

[allgood34]

How much do you want to be oil prices don't go back down although this situation (which drove prices up) has been resolved?

[radiob-2009]

Again I ask who benefitted the most out of this ?

Who looks like the champion in the eyes of the Middle Eastern nations?

[notblue]

Liberals just don't understand that everyone is entitled to an opinion. The worste thing about all the polarization and division in this country is that it let's the true BAD GUYS off the hook, remember the radical militants that have been attacking for thirty years? It's sad that it will probably take another attack on a massive scale to unite this country once again. Since the Democrats have taken over the majority in congress there agenda has been to hamper the efforts in the war on terror primarily because of the politics and ideology. The only thing that the dems have really accomplished is being anti-republican, Why? Because if they keep the white hot spotlight on the republicans as in libbygate, gonzalesgate, plamegate, which will over time turn out to be nothing worthy of prosecution as no laws were broken ,then the spotlight will never shine on the fact that they have done NOTHING for America. Clear thinking Americans not blinded by ideology will see the truth for what it is and the dems will once again lose the next presidential election. It's too bad for America!

[bigsk8fan]

"WOW! All the anger and hatred. I'd think this was a fray between Shiites and Sunnis. . . If you read any of Osama bin Laden's writings, you'd know that a hateful, mindless retaliation is exactly what he desired from 9/11. His logic is that a hateful response, such as torture, invasions, etc, recruits more Muslims to his cause." Posted by iowonder

Yes, this is the problem W has gotten us into. I find it incredulous that good Americans are fighting over the likes of W and his policies. I mean would we fight over McCarthy. Perhaps, history will judge W just as badly as McCarthy or worse. W got us into a war with a country that did not attack us. We were all on board with Afghanistan. But Iraq is totally unjustified.

[tuckerndfw]

What they describe as "torture" is routine procedure in US jails and prisons.

If it is torture, county sheriffs, local DA's and prison wardens need to be indicted for torturing people.

Odd how confessions obtained by US & UK forces using torture are considered valid, but these British pawns' previous confessions are dismissed as being invalid, alleging they were given under duress or "torture."

[rafterman1]

"Clear thinking Americans not blinded by ideology will see the truth for what it is"

You are right, they will. In fact, they already have seen through the bullsh1t. How do you think Dems won big in 2006? Because they stopped buying the Bush ideology of fear and oppression.

[showup_1]

British paid the cost of spying%u2026. Probably Iranian troops would have been treated similar way if they would have spied Bretish or Bretish would have made much bigger story if that would have happened (who knows!)%u2026.Spying a country, and then trying the criticize their behavior when get caught%u2026.do not really look gentle though%u2026

[clestes-2009]

These poor sailors. They are going to be harrassed endlessly. Not matter what they say, someone is going to jump on them. Say what I want or something terrible is going to happen to you.

I think the only thing that matters here is that they are home safe and sound.

[radiob-2009]

While everyone is bickering over the abuse of sailors and prisoners held at Guantonomo, the Iranians have effectively insulated themselves against any possible attack on their nuclear reactors.


What do you think that the Arab world now thinks of the sanctions imposed on Iran for their nuclear development?

The art of deception through politics.

[titocordero]

Come one people wake up. It seems to me that the only people that really got the truth were the intimate family members of these british soldiers. Do you think that if they would have gotten in front of the cameras in Iran and said that Iran had plucked them out of Iraqi waters that they would be free today. Furthermore do you think that it would even of been aired. Now they're free and in Great Britain do you think GB will let their soldiers get on camera and say that they were actually in Iranian waters when they were detained. That would be un patriotic and a slap in the face for GB.We don't know the truth 'cause the press sure as hell does not know the truth; Great Britain is scared of the truth and Iran well no one would believe them even if they did tell the truth. So these comments that I see on this blog talking about "you see I told you they were tortured" or "Now we should wipe Iran off the map" are from people that are so easily led astray if they think that what they read here is the real deal.

[sam101200]

Utterly unacceptable. By their own admissions they were never tortured by any standard of the word. Surrendering when totally outgunned was smart, making propaganda films for your captors because they wanted to go home is ludicrous. The British military has become a day care center for toddlers, poor poor babies.