Britishers I.

This is coolbert:
From a comment to the blog:

"May I ask you what you think of this?: http://tinyurl.com/2tgbga"

"Audie Murphy w/o pain receptors is not the model by which I judge the ex-hostage Brits. I just wish they had put up an un-cringeworthy performance. Was that too much to expect?"

[We are talking about the British Marines/sailors just recently released from captivity in Iran.]

Before I made this blog entry, I had to compose my thoughts carefully.

And also re-read some chapters from the book, "George Blake - - Double Agent".

"George Blake" deals in part with the travails of a group of British being held prisoner/hostage by first the North Koreans and then the communist Chinese and Soviets during the Korean War. A group that was subjected to "brain washing".

Let me also say from the get-go that I WOULD NEVER BE PRESUMPTUOUS TO SAY I KNOW HOW I WOULD REACT IF I FOUND MYSELF IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE AS THE BRITISH CAPTIVES/HOSTAGES!! I can say I know HOW I would like to act if I found myself in a similar situation, but do - - I know - - for sure - - exactly - - what I would do!!?? NO!!

I must say that I was concerned with the behavior of the British Marines/sailors as seen on TV . Was both a surprise and a puzzle to me.

The British Royal Marines are noted for their very difficult and arduous training regimen. JUST TO BECOME A BRITISH MARINE IS A TASK UNTO ITSELF. THESE ARE NOT THE SORT OF PERSONS YOU WOULD EXPECT TO FOLD APPARENTLY EASILY AND COMPLY WITH THEIR CAPTORS/ABDUCTORS. NOT THE SORT OF PERSONS WHO WOULD EVEN GIVE UP WITHOUT A FIGHT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. DURING THE INITIAL ENGAGEMENTS OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS WAR THE BRITISH MARINES ON DUTY [A SMALL NUMBER] DID PUT UP A FIGHT AND GAVE A GOOD ACCOUNT OF THEMSELVES!!

Have the British Marines and sailors become MILQUETOASTS!!

"milque·toast - - n. One who has a meek, timid, unassertive nature."

I don't think the British or the Americans for that matter WANT to start a war with Iran. Rules of Engagement are drawn up in such a manner to preclude "incidents" that would lead to full-scale hostilities!!?? But, THE SPECTACLE AS SEEN ON TELEVISION WAS ABSURD!! Does ANYONE disagree with that??!!

In addition, the Iranians seem to be very skilled at this sort of thing. KNOW HOW to use the CNN Effect to the max. Obtaining the best results possible by exploiting the prisoners/hostages and having the whole world see. For BOTH internal consumption and external, in the Islamic and Western world as well.

[and we can expect that the viewing public in the Iranian/Islamic/Western worlds will all see this "incident" in a different light.]

SERE [Survival Evasion Resistance Escape] training I would have to think is part and parcel of the Royal Marine training. Especially how to comport yourself as a prisoner and return home with dignity and honor. Here it seems that the prisoner/hostages fell flat on their faces?! From what persons critical of the Britishers observed, these folks JUST SEEMED TO BE JUST A BIT TOO WILLING TO COMPLY WITH THEIR CAPTORS!!

Critics of course would include Jack Jacobs. With regard to Jack Jacobs, well, this man is in a class by himself. Won the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, retiring as a Colonel. A man who minces no words. Is so highly regarded within the U.S. military, that in case of a general mobilization, will be brought back to active duty AS A GENERAL OFFICER!! That is unheard of.

[see what someone says about the comments of Jack Jacobs.]

With regard to SERE training, we find the similar equation present as we do with all other combat training. THE ABSENCE OF FEAR!! WHEN ENGAGED IN SERE TRAINING,YOU ARE NOT IN THE HANDS OF A BRUTAL, FANATICAL ENEMY WHO WOULD NOT THINK TWICE ABOUT CUTTING OFF A PIECE OF YOUR BODY AND WILL DO SO WITH RELISH!!!

[during the war between Iraq and Iran, Iranian Revolutionary Guards were filmed TRAINING for missions by executing at point blank range Iraqi prisoners. Iraqis shot and thrown into pits without any qualms on the part of the Iranian. Bloodthirsty stuff you see in "Holocaust" movies. THESE IRANIANS CAN BE FANATICAL, ROUGH, MEAN CUSTOMERS!!]

"Tests and exercises are not truly realistic portrayals of combat, because they lack the element of fear in a lethal environment, present only in real combat." - - Dupuy.

coolbert.