British soldiers say they were put through a mock execution

The other day I posted about Iran releasing British soldiers and that the soldiers had not been harmed (Link). Well yesterday, seven of the fifteen soldiers who had been captured and released held a press conference and told their story to the press. Some of the soldiers believed they would be executed at some point during the thirteen days. The soldiers told of being blindfolded and hearing gun cocks while one of the soldiers exclaimed "Lads, lads, we're going to be executed - do something." Lieutenant Felix Carman told about their ordeal:

"The following morning we were flown to Tehran and transported to a prison where the atmosphere changed completely. We were blindfolded, our hands were bound and we were forced up against a wall. Throughout our ordeal we faced constant psychological pressure.

"Later we were stripped and then dressed in pyjamas. The next few nights were spent in stone cells, approximately 8ft by 6ft, sleeping on piles of blankets. All of us were kept in isolation.

"We were interrogated most nights, and presented with two options. If we admitted we had strayed, we would be on a plane back to the UK soon. If we didn't we faced up to seven years in prison. We all at one time or another made a conscious decision to make a controlled release of non-operational information.

"We were kept in isolation until the last few nights when we were allowed to gather for a few hours together, in the full glare of Iranian media.

"On day 12 we were taken to a Governmental complex, blindfolded and then given three piece suits to wear. We watched the President's statement live on TV, and it was only then that we realised we were to be sent home."

It is a good thing that the soldiers were not killed but this is an awful thing for Iran to do. The soldiers even talked about how they were just doing a routine boarding patrol which was 1.7 nautical miles away from Iranian waters. 66 other patrols had taken place in the same waters where the British soldiers were captured. So, what was the Iranian Navy doing in Iraqi waters? Once again, Iran shows their defiance to any kind of rules governing warfare. How far will Iran have to go, defying rules of engagement, before anyone tries to stop them?

-Jamie

Iran lets British soldiers free

British soldiers who had been captured in Iranian waters 13 days ago were let go earlier today. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the release of the prisoners a gift to the UK. Many of the soldiers apologized for their actions and thanked the Iranian government for letting them go. They also said they had been treated well and no harm was inflicted on them.

This is very good news because it was taken care of politically and there was no need to use any military force. However, President Ahamdinejad's comment that the release was a gift was a little bit odd. I don't see it as a gift, I see it as good publicity for him so he doesn't look like the bad guy he has been portrayed as lately. In the end, it is a good thing that the soldiers were released so we can be thankful for that. Here's some more commentary on this situation: (Yankee Commentary)

-Jamie