CommenTerry, April 9th, 2007
I don't understand all the criticism by ring-wing bloggers and others of the British sailors and marines who were recently detained by Iran. The bottom line to me is that those 15 people are now back home safe and sound. They lived to fight another day and I believe that end justifies whatever means they felt necessary to secure their release. Some have expressed concern that they may have not followed standard operating procedure or protocol or did not act in accordance with the way they were trained for the situation they found themselves in. But what should it matter, as long as all ended well?
Furthermore, we need to get over this blame-the-victim mentality. When someone perpetrates a crime like murder, rape, robbery, assault and battery, theft, fraud, or, in this case, the taking of hostages, they assume all the blame. Not even one percent of the blame should be laid at the feet of the victim(s), no matter how they react to the situation.
If I ever found myself in circumstances similar to those of the former detainees, I would be willing to say anything to gain my release. Heck, I would even confess to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, if that's what I thought my captors wanted to hear. No matter what I said, what difference would it make anyway? I could always take it back after I was released and say I didn't mean it.
I'm not the least bit impressed with the bravado of critics who say they would have stood firm and would have done this or would have done that. I don't believe they can be completely sure about what they would have done in a similar situation. Besides, many of them have never worn a military uniform. Instead of criticizing, they should join me in thanking God that this incident did not end in disaster or result in further escalation of tensions between Iran and the West.
