Britons held by Iran can sell stories to media

[Joanne98]

Source: Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - The 15 sailors and marines held by Iran for 13 days will be allowed to sell their stories to the media, in a break with usual rules, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday.

Serving personnel were not normally allowed to sell their stories but the ministry decided to grant the 15 permission due to the huge media interest, said a ministry spokeswoman. "These are considered to be exceptional circumstances," she said.

The spokeswoman said the 15, freed last Thursday after being seized by Iranian forces in the Shatt al-Arab waterway between Iraq and Iran, would be able to keep the money they received.

Media reports have said they could earn as much as 250,000 pounds between them.



Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL0722914920070407

---

I thought it was UNETHICAL for the media to BUY stories! I must be old-fashioned..

[Redstone]

1. What "media?" If a magazine wants to buy a story from them, what the HELL is the

difference between that, and paying ANY author for any other story?

What, you think all the reporters for "the media" work for FREE?

Redstone

[CJCRANE]

2. "Serving personnel

were not normally allowed to sell their stories".

[progressivebydesign]

12. BUT the more sordid the tale the more it helps Bush to invade Iran. n/t

[Henny Penny]

3. Totally bizarre!

" The Ministry of Defence said their experiences amounted to "exceptional circumstances" that allowed its usual ban on such payments to be lifted."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6536203.stm

They could earn a quarter of a million each, presumably depending on how juicy their story is and presumably only if they their stories are "approved" - can't have them releasing operational details can we...


Is this a way of ratcheting up the propaganda a notch and pissing off Iran, or has the MOD turned into the Easter Bunny?

Only time will tell.

[Dutch]

4. Fair enough

Why should it just be the vindictive, uninformed right wing hacks attacking them who make money out of this situation?

[truthisfreedom]

5. Well good for them.

They managed to keep their wits about them and get out alive and well, and we all want to hear precisely what big bad Iran did to them.

[LeftishBrit]

6. On the one hand, I never approve much of deals with the dirty tabloids...

especially when those who have suffered in actual war won't be able to make the same deals. (Yes, I know it's easy for me to sit here and be self-righteous.)

But on the other hand, the tabloids and their warmongering could have got these people killed or at least held for a lot longer, so in a sense it seems like poetic justice that they should now be able to make money by selling their stories to the press. Those who nearly died by the tabloids, shall now live by the tabloids. In a sense, it's only fair!

[FarCenter]

7. "Captives' media fees spark fury"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6537103.stm

The Ministry of Defence's decision to allow Royal Navy personnel held captive by Iran to sell their stories has sparked anger and unease.

Opposition MPs said the move was undignified while relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq have voiced opposition.

...


Craig Murray, a former head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's maritime section, was among those to criticise the decision.

"The idea that you can make several years' pay out of being captured - as opposed to not being captured and doing your job normally - is a rather strange incentive system," he said.

Quite aside from the human interest story surrounding these individuals, there are also sensitive strategic issues in play

Ministry of Defence

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said he was concerned at the impression the episode would make on governments involved behind the scenes in helping to free the personnel, and possible inadvertent leaks of sensitive information in interviews.

Mike Aston, whose son Corporal Russell Aston was one of six military policemen killed by a mob in Iraq in 2003, said he was "absolutely amazed" by the decision.

...

[CJCRANE]

8. This is grossly unfair to the families

of casualties. Any monies paid should go to charity.

[rainbow4321]

9. Already they are turning against each other

If this is their attitude now I wouldn't put much stock in their sold stories..they are each going to have their own "version" with each of them saying that he/she was the hero/strongest/best of the 15.

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1626726.ece

One of the hostages, Dean Harris, 30, an acting sergeant in the Royal Marines, told a Sunday Times reporter yesterday: “I want £70,000. That is based on what the others have told me they have been offered. I know Faye has been offered a heck more than that. I am worth it because I was one of only two who didn’t crack.”
<snip>

John Tindell, the father of Joe Tindell, another of the hostages, said his son had turned down an offer of £10,000. “The MoD said if you want to earn money you are free to go out and do it. I was a bit surprised. The MoD said to the marines, ‘Go out there, tell the truth and make the money’.”

He claimed the marines were planning to sell on eBay the vases given to them in their “goody bags” by the Iranians.

[progressivebydesign]

11. "goody bags and vases"? Oh my.. sounds like sheer torture.

I think you're right, the stories will get more and more intense as they try up the ante. I've already noticed that their treatment seems to have gotten worse the more money they've been trying to get.

[progressivebydesign]

10. I noticed when they met the Iranian Prez, they were all smiles..

and heartily shaking his hand. They were well dressed, and appeared well cared for. Now, that the stories are up for sale.. their treatment in Iran is getting worse by the minute. I think the British Govt is happy to have them sell the stories.. it will advance the plans to attack Iran. I frankly think that is why they are letting them do this. It totally works into the run-up to the attack on Iraq model. Get their stories to the tabloids, have some defectors speaking to Congress and Parliment, etc...

Frankly, nothing that they said happened even comes close to what we do to prisoners in Iraq. They were not waterboarded, shot, beaten, raped, or tortured. But if the media pays enough, i'm sure they'll come up with something...

[CJCRANE]

13. Exactly.

It serves the Blairites/Neocons propaganda purposes.

But troops who are being attacked and injured in Iraq and Afghanistan would never be allowed to sell their stories.