Didn't notice a thread for this so I thought I'd start one. Been reading around the UK news sites and the comments from the press are despicable. Humiliation this, humiliation that. Firstly, they were there to help the rebels. They are not enemies, as both sides want the same thing, Gaddafi hanging from a rope.
Secondly, all this talk of surrender. Well, I'm sure they were told not to engage rebel forces, as they are on the same side and headlines about SAS killing and wounding rebels, would have had far more propaganda value to the Libyan regime than a mere surrender. Gaddafi could have used that to show that the West doesn't care who it kills, as its ultimate goal is the takeover of the country.
Thirdly, they were heavily outnumbered, according to reports, so going "John Rambo" would have resulted in needless deaths on both sides. When you consider how valuable these men are to the country, they did the right thing in surrendering. There is no dishonour in that I feel, as these guys know more than any of us, particularly arm-chair generals, that suicidal resistance ends up in an early grave.
Perhaps the FCO made a cluster**** by sending them in the way they did, but I feel the regiment itself has nothing to be ashamed of, and the attacks on their reputation are uncalled for. Rant over...
And to add. If it was an American SF unit that were captured, you can be sure they would have sent in the warplanes and an extraction unit, with convenient night-vision video camera at hand, and would probably end up making a film about it. I like the fact that the British style was to clear up any the misunderstanding, through diplomatic channels, asks for our boys back and the rebels complied as they are not stupid, and are probably thankful for the assistance, just less than impressed with the way the Govt. handled it, as they obviously didn't inform the right people on the ground.
Secondly, all this talk of surrender. Well, I'm sure they were told not to engage rebel forces, as they are on the same side and headlines about SAS killing and wounding rebels, would have had far more propaganda value to the Libyan regime than a mere surrender. Gaddafi could have used that to show that the West doesn't care who it kills, as its ultimate goal is the takeover of the country.
Thirdly, they were heavily outnumbered, according to reports, so going "John Rambo" would have resulted in needless deaths on both sides. When you consider how valuable these men are to the country, they did the right thing in surrendering. There is no dishonour in that I feel, as these guys know more than any of us, particularly arm-chair generals, that suicidal resistance ends up in an early grave.
Perhaps the FCO made a cluster**** by sending them in the way they did, but I feel the regiment itself has nothing to be ashamed of, and the attacks on their reputation are uncalled for. Rant over...
And to add. If it was an American SF unit that were captured, you can be sure they would have sent in the warplanes and an extraction unit, with convenient night-vision video camera at hand, and would probably end up making a film about it. I like the fact that the British style was to clear up any the misunderstanding, through diplomatic channels, asks for our boys back and the rebels complied as they are not stupid, and are probably thankful for the assistance, just less than impressed with the way the Govt. handled it, as they obviously didn't inform the right people on the ground.