British Sailor "Sacrificed"

[Porsche-O-Phile]

What exactly does that word mean in this context - let's hope this is a translation issue or something. . .

If not, this could turn real ugly real quick.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/30/iran.uk.sailors/index.html



Iran releases letter, video of captured Britons

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran on Friday released a third letter purportedly written by detained British sailor Faye Turney, in which she claims to have been "sacrificed" by British and U.S. policies and urges both countries to withdraw their troops from Iraq.

"We were arrested after entering Iranian waters by the Iranian forces. For this I am deeply sorry," the letter states.

"I am writing to you as a British service person who has been sent to Iraq, sacrificed due to the intervening policies of the Bush and Blair governments.

"I believe that for our countries to move forward, we need to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq, and leave the people of Iraq to start rebuilding their lives."

The letter, the authenticity of which cannot be independently determine by CNN, follows two previous letters said to be written by Turney and released separately this week.

Friday's letter was released just hours after Turney appeared with two other Britons in new video aired by Arabic language network Al Alam.

In the video, one the 15 detained service personnel held in Iran for the past week confessed to "entering your waters without permission."

"On the 23rd of March 2007 in Iranian waters we trespassed without permission," said Nathan Thomas Summers. The third detainee in the video has not been identified.

Summers said the Britons were being treated well, as did the Turney letter.

There has been no official reaction by the British government to the letter.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, speaking to reporters after the video was aired said: "All this does is enhance people's sense of disgust. Captured personnel being paraded and manipulated in this way doesn't fool anyone.

"What the Iranians have to realize is that if they continue in this way they will face continuing isolation."

Blair called for "patience" in dealing with the crisis, adding: "The most important thing is to ensure people are returned safe."

Earlier Friday, Britain's Foreign Office responded to the video, telling CNN that "using our servicemen in this way for propaganda reasons is outrageous."

Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers on Friday demanded Iran release 15 Britons, though some warned against escalating the dispute and said their diplomatic ties with Tehran would not be immediately affected, AP reported.

Friday's video was the second so-called confession by a British detainee to be aired by Al Alam this week.

On Wednesday, it showed a video of Turney wearing a black scarf covering her hair, "admitting" that she and her crew had gone into Iranian waters. "Obviously we trespassed into their waters," she said.

Footage in the video also showed the other 14 British detainees eating.

The video caused outrage in London and Britain's ambassador to Iran visited the foreign ministry Thursday to protest its broadcast, Britain's Foreign Office confirmed.

Blair called it "completely wrong -- a disgrace, actually -- when people are used in that way. It's contrary to all international law and convention."

British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett announced Wednesday that Britain was freezing all bilateral diplomatic business with Iran until the 15 Britons were freed.

On Thursday, the UN Security Council expressed concern for the marines and sailors and appealed for their early release. (Watch the war of words build Video)

The U.N. statement fell short of a full condemnation sought by the British government.

On Friday, Turkey's government said it had spoken with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, who suggested Tehran was willing to reconsider an offer to release Turney, The Associated Press reported.

In footage aired Thursday, said to be of the capture operation, gunshots could be heard on the tape and a helicopter was shown above inflatable boats in choppy seas.

Iranian guard boats were seen cruising around while a couple of Iranian guardsmen shot into the air.

Then the video showed some of the British troops -- including Turney -- seated in a boat with an Iranian flag, presumably after their capture.

An Iranian military official also appeared on state television giving a briefing about the incident, indicating on a map where he said it happened.

The demonstration looked similar to a Wednesday briefing on the incident by British Vice Admiral Charles Style, who released a map of the Shatt al-Arab purporting to show the coordinates of the British boat when it was captured, along with pictures of handheld GPS devices showing the location.

Earlier Thursday, Iran said the British personnel entered its waters six times before they were arrested.

Officials also announced that the promised release of Turney was suspended because of Britain's "behavior" in the matter.

"The wrong behavior of those who live in London caused the suspension," Iranian military commander Alireza Afshar said, according to the Mehr news agency.

Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Council, warned that Britain's tough stance in the matter was causing a delay in the release of Turney.

On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had said Turney would be released "very soon."

Larijani said Tehran would like to resolve the issue through bilateral discussions and an investigation of legal and technical issues, and again asserted that the British patrol boats entered Iranian waters illegally.

In London on Thursday, the British Foreign Ministry said the Iranian government had sent a formal note to the British Embassy in Tehran.

"Such exchanges are always confidential, so we cannot divulge any details," a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said. "But we're giving the message serious consideration and will soon respond formally to the Iranian government."

[Rearden]

It means nothing. Typical Iran hostage tactic: force somebody to write a letter while they have a gun in your comrade's mouth. Nobody (well, I thought nobody) falls for that crap.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

No doubt all the crap about "we trespassed into Iranian waters" is bunk. I have no doubt about it. I just wonder about the use of that word, "sacrificed" in reference to this woman. I don't think the Iranians would be so stupid as to execute any of them, but one never knows. . .

The more I read it though it sounds like it's being used of "she was sacrificed by her country" like sacrificing a pawn or bishop in chess. Not "sacrificed" as in, "we're going to sacrifice her to appease our blood lust".

[Rearden]

It's a word chosen by her captors, directed toward coalition audiences, about how Bush and Blair are sacrificing young Americans and Brits by sending them to Iraq.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Rearden
It's a word chosen by her captors, directed toward coalition audiences, about how Bush and Blair are sacrificing young Americans and Brits by sending them to Iraq.

Sounds correct to me. Was she blinking her eyes in morse code the word torture?

[tobster1911]

They are trying to lead people to believe that they were under orders to enter Iran's waters knowing full well what would happen. "Sacrificed" as in sent into a situation where the outcome is known and a know means of avoidance exists.

Trying to create some vast conspiracy.....

[Joeaksa]

Iran is playing with fire here...

[Rearden]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Iran is playing with fire here...

Sadly, I fear Iran knows that the West will no longer do squat about anything.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Unfortunately, I think you're right. You can thank this enlightened administration for "blowing their load" in I-Wreck that we're now left with no REAL resources or public will to go after REAL terrorists - not the made-up ones cited back in 2002.

[kach22i]

Maybe the USA should resort to terrorism.

[tabs]

America has proven itself to be a loser country. More interested in tonights Basketball game than the state of the country. We deserve everything we get. I tell U if Iran were running the place it would shape up quick.

[mikester]

From what I've read the British have asked us (the USA) to keep quiet as they handle it.

That's fine; but the Iranians have done this before if you recall. They probably believe they can get away with it as they did in the past. Make no mistake, this is an act of war against one of our closest allies and if they ask us we should be prepared to assist them with their needs.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Maybe we can send some helicopters to crash in the desert in the dead of night again.

[URY914]

Whatever happened to Name, rank and serial number?

Do these Brits just like to talk?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I imagine having an AK-47 pointed at one's face from off-camera can be a pretty good motivator to look all jolly and conversational.

[nostatic]

Originally posted by Rearden
Sadly, I fear Iran knows that the West will no longer do squat about anything.

what part of the billions we're spending in Iraq is "squat"?

[mikester]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Maybe we can send some helicopters to crash in the desert in the dead of night again.

That's a pretty cavalier attitude; I can tell you for a fact that the men who committed themselves to it gave it their best and a few even gave their lives.

Prior to the mission I lived on Evergreen Street.

After I lived on McMillian Street. My sister was born early because my mom went into labor when the news of events got back to us.

It was a bold attempt by determined men to do the impossible. Mocking their failure dishonors their deaths.

Crawl back into the hole you crawled out of.

[Steve PH]

Originally posted by URY914
Whatever happened to Name, rank and serial number?

Do these Brits just like to talk?

I must admit I was wondering that but apparently there has been a change of policy, especially when dealing with fanatics. I found this article which explains the thinking behind the change...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=445562&in_page_id=1770

{The sight of Faye Turney reading a statement on Iranian television starkly illustrates the shift in military doctrine over how British prisoners should behave.

Until the last few years UK personnel were ordered to reveal only their name, rank and number if captured — the minimum required under the Geneva Convention.

But in the post-Cold War world a more subtle approach to 'Conduct After Capture' has been adopted, designed to fit the kind of operations UK armed forces now carry out.

Today's servicemen and women are more likely to be captured by fanatical insurgents or a rogue state faction with no interest in obeying international law, rather than the professional armed forces of a foreign state.

A British prisoner must still avoid betraying secrets, but is now trained to co-operate with their captors if they think it will help. The extent to which captured personnel choose to co-operate is a matter for their own judgment, according to defence insiders, depending on the circumstances they face.

Whatever the advantages, the new doctrine makes it easier for captors to exploit prisoners for propaganda purposes.

Mrs Turney was paraded on television on Wednesday and made to read a Wednesday and made to read a statement 'apologising' for supposedly trespassing into Iranian territorial waters — a false confession according to British officials.

She praised her Iranian captors as 'friendly and hospitable', although body language analysts believe she was acting under duress.

With the latest statement said to be issued on her behalf — calling on Britain to withdraw from Iraq — the Iranians may believe they have scored a propaganda victory.

But UK defence sources claimed yesterday that such blatant exploitation of prisoners may backfire and provoke anger and distaste among neutral observers.

In 1991, there was international disgust as two RAF officers John Nichol and John Peters were captured after their Tornado bomber was shot down over Iraq. They were paraded on Iraqi television clearly showing injuries from being beaten by their captors and forced to read out prepared statements.

Yesterday, Mr Nichol said he felt 'a sense of depression' when watching Mrs Turney on television, and recalled his sense of shame at 'letting the side down' when he was forced to make a similar broadcast.

He said: 'You can see she doesn't want to be saying those things. It's a very difficult position. She has to try to placate the people who have captured her and try to keep the whole group safe. It's fallen on her shoulders at this time.'

During the Second World War and the Cold War personnel were most likely to be captured on the battlefield and held by a foreign power which — broadly speaking - observed the Geneva Conventions.

However, Iraqi insurgents or the Taliban in Afghanistan, can be expected to torture and kill any captives. Unpredictably hostile countries such as Iran may not go so far, but they will break international laws by parading prisoners in public.

During a full-scale war the traditional aim is to keep silent for at least 48 hours, after which any information on current operations is out of date and harmless.

But in this situation there is no secret about HMS Cornwall's mission — the details are published on the Ministry of Defence website — and little to be gained from confrontation with the Iranian captors.

The real priority is the safety of the prisoners themselves. Admiral Sir Alan West, former head of the Navy, said this week: 'Our guidance to anyone in that position would be to say what they want you to say.

'Don't tell them secrets, clearly, but if they tell you "Say this", well if that's going to get you out, then do it. It means absolutely nothing, what they say, to be honest.' In fact, Mrs Turney and the other sailors have had virtually no training in Conduct After Capture — probably only a lecture or video. The Marines will have had at least two days' training including a mock interrogation.. }

[widgeon13]

Originally posted by mikester
That's a pretty cavalier attitude; I can tell you for a fact that the men who committed themselves to it gave it their best and a few even gave their lives.

Prior to the mission I lived on Evergreen Street.

After I lived on McMillian Street. My sister was born early because my mom went into labor when the news of events got back to us.

It was a bold attempt by determined men to do the impossible. Mocking their failure dishonors their deaths.

Crawl back into the hole you crawled out of.

Well said!

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Maybe we can send some helicopters to crash in the desert in the dead of night again.

Real nice comment as$hole....