Frightened of Rape? Everything that Faye Turney has said since being released proves that women should not be in the front line.

i think your wrong its like saying if a man is afraid of being raaped he shouldnt be on the front line!!!
are you saying that no1 should be afraid once captured they should just sit there and accept whats coming without being afraid?
i think your asking too much and that picture is disgusting!!! you should have a warning on you post title about the picture!!!

This is one of the most despicable posts I have seen on here. You do not appear to have any understanding whatsoever of the human psyche and what can be done to it under certain conditions. Although I have some sympathy with the basic premise the total disregard for these people is not acceptable. I cannot work out why you have put that picture on here it does nothing for your theory (I use the word lightly). As a result of this post I have removed you from my friends list. I don't suppose that will break you heart but I do not want this type of drivel landing in my home page.

I don’t think you can say that unless you yourself have faced similar action from as aggressive foe. And if you have, you had a duty to note it in at least some detail. The picture is in no way helpful. Its of a broken arm? Yours? Don’t get the significance?

I agree in principle that all British Armed forces must look at some form of training for this issue. Having British Service Personnel smiling on a Foreign TV Network is a disgrace, but the blame still lies firmly with the Iranians, not our troops.

What is your definition of a “proper soldier”? Surely its horses for courses… After all, the catering core wouldn’t be expected have the same drive, determination, courageous ambition or fortitude as say.. The British Commando’s?

I have a cousin in the ‘Grave Diggers’. I never took much notice until he saw action. There role involved policing duties as they were not considered “front Line”. (NB: Don’t shoot the messenger – This is likely to be a learning experience.) So surely, policing the waters (disputed or not) you don’t need or want overtly aggressive, massively courageous experienced troops for policing duties?

You cant justify saying women shouldn’t be in the armed forces? Elizabeth 1st, Boadicea, God only knows how many British service women gave their lives for King & Country during the Second World War? How many of the French resistance were Female? Didn’t they participate and risk all? The Female population of Stalingrad? Did the Communist fighters make any gentle distinction between the sexes or was it one Gun to one and the Ammunition to the Other, men and women alike?

In these enlightened times gender bares no reflection on an individuals courage. This is as true on the Shop-Floor, The Boardroom or the Battlefield. I know of three Female Business Owner / Mangers that would make superb leaders of men. All of these women have shown courage in the face of adversity, posses the ability to quickly analyse difficult situation and make good strategic decisions. I don’t think just because they are female you can say that these skills should be denied from the armed forces.

The troops involved should have been assessed for their unique skill set. There is little point putting a communications geniuses on the front line if they don’t have the stomach for it. But surely in the same breath, you cant say that there is no place in the armed forces for Communications Expert – I believe this position will only grow in its importance in the future with more sophisticated and secure systems.

In Chess, your Bishop is venerable to short range attacks but devastating at long range. Surely the issue your describing is more closely related to Strategic Personnel Placement and Strategy Planning than the banning of Gender from the Armed Forces?

http://www.melaniephillips.com/diary/

Ms. Phillips is pretty mild about this disgraceful affair, while other blogs are vastly more savage than this Hotchkiss posting, which looks mild by comparison!

I predict that the 14 ratings will leave the Navy within 3 months.

Ok, May be they will leave (As mentioned, they were far from SAS Troops) but surely this is more to do with recruitment and personnel planning than with the deficiencies of the people involved?

Surely these people should never have been placed on Dinghy in that location in the first place?

"this is more to do with recruitment and personnel planning than with the deficiencies of the people involved?"

Eh? That reads like some governers inner city school report!

Gimme a break. This is a middle east war, you chump.

No, no..don't tell me, you ARE a teacher...