Besides, who cares if the lefty’s are outraged? Should we really be evaluating our actions (or should the UK, in this case) based on what the lefty’s will think, or based on what is right? They will always be outraged, there’s really no point in trying to avoid it.

“At the time of the abduction, HMS Cornwall must have been aware of the approach of the Iranians, using her onboard sensors and those of the Lynx helicopter which was on the scene at the time. Yet apparently no effort was made, either by the heavily armed warship or the Lynx, usually armed at this time with light and heavy machineguns, to protect their sailors or prevent their capture. I know that the Marines would have hated to have given up, and would only have done so because they were directed to by their own commanders. This is another example of this Government’s willingness to commit our people to dangerous operations without the backbone or even the means to back them up.”