Sailors and Marines to possibly get cash for their stories?

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Originally Posted by raphael123

I like the guy, and respect him. He carried out the interview with Faye and I thought it was a pretty good interview. I don't watch his show every week, but whenever I do I tend to enjoy it :)

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As I said, each to their own. I think that programme is the worst form of tabloid news television, and that he is at best a lightweight, mediocre interviewer. This sort of interview with someone who is now little more than tabloid fodder is about his limit. The likes of Jon Snow, Martha Kearney and Gavin Esler are skilled, searching interviewers; Trevor McDonald isn't.

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Originally Posted by raphael123

What would other people do in Faye's situation? Accept the 100k or reject the offer from the Sun and ITV? Just curious? I'm guessing a lot would be dependent on the personal circumstances. If I was a high earner and didn't need 100k, I probably wouldn't be fussed. As things stand I wouldn't think twice about rejecting it.

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I consider it rather vulgar when done in this way. So too does at least one of the other servicemen who was held captive — he has been quoted using exactly that word.

For me, money wouldn't come into it. I might be prepared to give an interview to something serious like Channel 4 News or Newsnight, but not to those outlets that may be acceptable forums for the likes of Jade Goody but not someone involved in a major international incident. Still, I can't imagine any circumstances under which I would ever join the armed forces, so that's entirely hypothetical.

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Originally Posted by Mark

Given her position and the fact that she's very unlikely to be a high earner, I don't think there is any realistic situation where you could turn down £100,000. I don't know her wages but I'd imagine she'd take about 4-5 years to earn that much money, there is no way you can not accept that, especially when you have a family to support.

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Not everyone would want to have £100,000 under any circumstances. I wouldn't consider it in any way strange or irresponsible if she had turned it down, for example if she didn't like where the fee was coming from (though I realise that this was never likely). It's an old cliche, but money isn't everything.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

Not everyone would want to have £100,000 under any circumstances. I wouldn't consider it in any way strange or irresponsible if she had turned it down, for example if she didn't like where the fee was coming from (though I realise that this was never likely). It's an old cliche, but money isn't everything.

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You are right, but I think it would only be a problem if it was seen as a gross breach of trust, but IMO it wasn't, it may have been slightly 'not the done thing' but when you are talking about pay off the mortgage kind of money then the outcome is inevitable.

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Originally Posted by Mark

Given her position and the fact that she's very unlikely to be a high earner, I don't think there is any realistic situation where you could turn down £100,000. I don't know her wages but I'd imagine she'd take about 4-5 years to earn that much money, there is no way you can not accept that, especially when you have a family to support.

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My sentiments exactly :)

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

As I said, each to their own. I think that programme is the worst form of tabloid news television, and that he is at best a lightweight, mediocre interviewer. This sort of interview with someone who is now little more than tabloid fodder is about his limit. The likes of Jon Snow, Martha Kearney and Gavin Esler are skilled, searching interviewers; Trevor McDonald isn't.



I consider it rather vulgar when done in this way. So too does at least one of the other servicemen who was held captive — he has been quoted using exactly that word.

For me, money wouldn't come into it. I might be prepared to give an interview to something serious like Channel 4 News or Newsnight, but not to those outlets that may be acceptable forums for the likes of Jade Goody but not someone involved in a major international incident. Still, I can't imagine any circumstances under which I would ever join the armed forces, so that's entirely hypothetical.

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Vulgar is a harsh word. One of the captives may have used that word. The lead guy has come on TV and defended her though. I think it just shows at the end of the day it's a personal choice, and will vary greatly between each individual.

I think the reasons as to why she did it are completely understandable. I don't think she should be critizised for it. I'm not saying you don't understand why she did it, but there are some people who don't seem to get the gist of why she did it - which is ignorant.

Anyway, just to conclude. I don't think she deserves critizism in the way she has done for doing what she's done (which isn't something bad!) for perfectly good reasons.

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Originally Posted by Mark

You are right, but I think it would only be a problem if it was seen as a gross breach of trust, but IMO it wasn't, it may have been slightly 'not the done thing' but when you are talking about pay off the mortgage kind of money then the outcome is inevitable.

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I don't see it as a gross breach of trust, but I do consider it unadvisable. Still, if she wants to be splashed over various cheap media outlets, fine.

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Originally Posted by raphael123

Anyway, just to conclude. I don't think she deserves critizism in the way she has done for doing what she's done (which isn't something bad!) for perfectly good reasons.

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Indeed. If anyone deserves criticism, it is the Ministry of Defence for allowing this to happen in the first place, for what I believe to be ill-advised PR-driven reasons. They have obviously realised their mistake, which is good.

I'm not in tune with the discussion about this topic, but here's something... amusing. :)

I have to say he has a point.

Mr. Dunnell, you and I agree on this one. I have no problem with the people selling their story if they are civilians, but I think until they leave the service, the brass should stick to the previous policy.

AS for whether this was a setup as Hazell describes, it is truly amazing that you can be so cynical to think this way Hazell. Why? Simply that it would take the most calculating and cold structure of miltary officers to cook up a scheme and actually expect people to carry it out. No way that would happen. Contrary to what you believe, most military people don't blindly follow orders and I know the first duty of any officer is to bring home his people safely while accomplishing the task at hand. Putting 15 people including a woman in harm's way for the Iranians to do what they wish is just pure folly and would go against every fibre of any moral officers thinking. You might find one loser willing to make such an order, but it would take much more than that for this to happen as a setup.

Also take note, Iran released the pic of the GPS with the co-ordinates where they picked up the sailors, and it was determined that it was Iraqi water. Then the pic was taken off the net and replaced by one that showed the co-ordinates in Iranian waters. Now, was this too a setup? Hardly, it was a no mind fool of a officer in Iran who is no doubt busting bricks somewhere for his screw up now.

Sometimes things are what they are, and now the sailors and marines are home. While I would love to see their stories sold, not while they are in uniform. God knows they all could use the dough, and in England, some unscrupulous "journalists" would love to use these people for pay, but when you wear the uniform of your nation, the military brass has final say.

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Originally Posted by studiose

I'm not in tune with the discussion about this topic, but here's something... amusing. :)

I have to say he has a point.

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I saw an interview where Faye Turner told that when an Iranian woman came and measure her she thought she was measured for a coffin. I think the logical explanation was that she was measured for an unmatching track suit.