Freed UK sailors back in the Persian Gulf
posted at 8:30 am on May 2, 2007 by Bryan
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Because, you know, it worked out so well the last time.
Seven of the 15 British Royal Navy personnel held captive by Iran are back in the Persian Gulf searching for smugglers, Britain’s military said Tuesday.
The seven returned to duty on the frigate HMS Cornwall, the Defense Ministry said. Another seven of the Royal Marines have returned to duty at a naval base in Scotland. No decision has been made on whether to send those marines back to the Persian Gulf, the Defense Ministry said.
The seven sailors back in the Gulf include the group’s only woman, Leading Seaman Faye Turney. They are again working in small boats boarding ships in Iraqi waters to check for contraband goods, the ministry said. It was during one such operation that the sailors and marines were captured by naval forces of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on March 23.
The Littlest Sailor isn’t among his mates in the Gulf.
The only sailor still at home is Operator Mechanic Arthur Batchelor, who lost his passport and is waiting for a new one to be issued. British military personnel are required to carry passports overseas in case they need to use civilian airports.
Batchelor’s failure to return to Iraq with his crewmates is his latest embarrassment.
British media ridiculed him for an interview in which he complained his captors took his MP3 player, flicked his neck and called him names. Media later ran pictures appearing to show him at a nightclub joking about his captivity by wearing a blindfold and pretending to hold a gun to his head.
One has to wonder whether Batchelor lost his passport or whether his fellow sailors “lost” it for him.
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Well, they ought to just remove the Union Jack from their halyard and replace it with a white flag everytime they go out in their little dinghy’s. There’s no sence in inciting the Iranians.
This British navy, the one which produced the likes of Admiral Horatio Nelson, has been reduce to this pathetic group of pantywaists.
csdeven on May 2, 2007 at 8:52 AM
Wonder what would happen if they got kidnapped again.
Kahuna on May 2, 2007 at 9:01 AM
what if they just decide to take a leave and go have some tea with ahmawhackjob
pmoshields on May 2, 2007 at 9:24 AM
The Iranians should capture and take them hostage again for some great propaganda, leverage, and a good laugh at the Brit’s expense. After all, they won’t do anything about it and Iran will get a lot in return.
januarius on May 2, 2007 at 9:30 AM
Is the gal back at sea?
I certainly hope not.
She lacked ’spine’ and was out of shape.
annoyinglittletwerp on May 2, 2007 at 9:33 AM
I bet they’d hold them hostage until they hand over the Littlest Sailor in exchange.
James on May 2, 2007 at 9:39 AM
Having spent part of my Rugby playing days with British sailors, we are separated by a common language.
That’s about all.
They visit the E. Coast ports on patrol and shore leave usually means a Rugby match.
I don’t disparage them and you shouldn’t either.
tormod on May 2, 2007 at 10:25 AM
If they get rowdy, I’ll just flick their necks, call them names and threaten to take their iPods away.
Misha I on May 2, 2007 at 12:31 PM
Now, now, get back on your little pony.
Maybe the British Navy put a little starch in their britches before they were sent back to the Gulf.
Speakup on May 2, 2007 at 12:39 PM
Sleep well tonight,your British Navy is.
I feel better knowing Mr.Bean and the Snifflers are out there,,sharp-eyed and stiff-spined,ready to fight at a moment’s notice.
lizzee on May 2, 2007 at 12:53 PM
Tormod,
The British marines deserve to be disparaged: 1) letting themselves be captured without a shot; 2) partying with the enemy with lots of smiles; 3) letting themselves be used as propaganda; 4) accepting goody bags and dressing up in suits with no ties; 5) going back to England crying about the experience; 6) sending these best and brightest back to the Persian Gulf again.
This is like the movie Stripes except the characters in Stripes were actually brave and fought the enemy.
What is there not to disparage? It would be funny if Iran decided to capture them again.
januarius on May 2, 2007 at 1:10 PM
Don’t worry! The littlest Marine will be back with his mates soon enough. I mean, that kid will perish without the nutrition of some “Topsy Mommy hugs.”
If the Brit Marines had any sense, they’d pop that little ass pimple.
Disgusting. They may as well send that lot out on a RHIB that has been decorated as a bullseye.
Make that a pink and yellow bullseye.
Perfect.
JunkCoast on May 2, 2007 at 1:22 PM
Pardon my lack of reading about this, otherwise entangled, I hadn’t heard about 2-5.
Eeewwwwwwwwww!
tormod on May 2, 2007 at 5:54 PM
HaHaHA OK Lets see if I got this right. The last time this British version of John Kerry swift boaters got caught they ‘PROMISED’ Never to do it again. Ha Ha the Iranians are gonna put an APB/BOLO on these guys and girl, and if they recapture them what are they gonna say this time “Oh I had my fingers crossed or the Iranians say liar liar pants on fire. I have a feeling heads are gonna roll! Is this chick ‘Leading Seaman Faye Turney’ the ‘commander’ here and the last assignment? I gotta check this out. This could be a BLEMISH on Women in the military. So far not having fired a shot we have Turney and also Little Jessica Lynch,although a true hero in my eyes but nevertheless didn’t fire a shot! So, you still think Hillary The Iron Lady (proctor silex) is gonna be tough on terror ?
sonnyspats1 on May 2, 2007 at 9:29 PM
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