Since 1588, the English Royal Navy has been one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, naval forces on the face of the planet.  It helped support an empire upon which the sun never set; it fought off agressors, pirates, and the occasional upstart colonists (though it was less successful at that occasionally than it might like to admit ;) ); it helped defend the Isle of Britain from two World Wars; it kept the constant threat of Cold-War-era Soviet submarines at bay; and it has supported American actions in just about every major sea-related military venture since those two, globe-encompassing conflicts.  Furthermore, the traditions, verbology, methodology, insignia, terminology, and many other aspects of the Royal Navy has influenced just about every other navy since its inception, including the world's current most powerful navy - our own. 

Much though it distresses me, I now pronounce one of the finest examples of military might in the history of mankind - the British Royal Navy - dead, and well on its way to being buried. 

Since the 1960s, the Royal Navy has slashed its ship numbers by over half, from over 200 individual units, to 83 registered combat vessels last year - and 22 of those are hardly even deserving of the moniker of "ship", instead being patrol boats and craft.  For being an island nation, one has to wonder what would drive this considerable drawback of their naval military might, especially considering a similar reduction of forces preceeded World War II, and very nearly cost the Britons their island.  However, all of the battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers, frigates, and submarines in the world amount to naught if the people driving and controlling them lack the will to actually employ them. 

You have no idea how much it disappoints me to find out that the British, indeed, have lost that will. 

Now, I am not entirely sure about the credibility of the New York Post, and I cannot seem to find any other sources that would support this information, but bear with me.  I have been keeping track of the British hostage situation since it started, though I have not been posting on it very much.  At this point, every ounce of evidence that is out there indicates that Iran is horribly in the wrong, and has committed what amounts to an act of war by kidnapping uniformed soldiers and sailors who were operating in another country's national waters.  Fair enough, and inordinately unfortunate for the sailors and marines involved.  However, one thing always bugged me - the sailors were operating in small, rigid-hull, inflatable boats - things that are launched from bigger, better-armed ships, and rarely operate very far from those motherships.  In this particular instance, where the unholy hell was that mothership, the HMS Cornwall, and why did she not intervene and prevent her sailors from being kidnapped and now being used as leverage against Britain? 

It turns out she was ordered not to. 

Excuse me?  For reference, the HMS Cornwall is a Type 22 Frigate, sporting a 4.5 inch gun, 2 20mm cannons, and whatever crew-served (.50 caliber or 7.62mm, in all likelihood) and personal (5.56mm, probably) weapons she has in her armory.  While the 4.5 inch is of dubious use against the types of "boats" the Iranians employ, those 20mms would have annihilated any of the small craft sent out to kidnap the British sailors, and the armed Lynx helicopter already in the air would have simply added aerial insult to copious injuries.  But the British were ordered to do nothing. 

The British military knowingly allowed 15 of their soldiers and sailors to be abducted by a hostile military force, now to face God alone knows what kind of fate. 

Do not misunderstand me... I know as well as anyone that entering into a shooting war with the Iranians is a decision that has immeasurably far-reaching consequences, and is a course of action not to be taken lightly.  But, now, what concessions with the British military and government have to make to the Iranians, at the point of the sword of public opinion, now that the Iranians have one hell of a lever arm to apply to the British?  What will be sacrificed to keep those 15 individuals alive?  What further discrediting letters and "confessions" will they be forced to make, further injuring the "oppressive, militaristic, imperialistic West" in the world's eyes? 

All because what was once the world's greatest military force has lost its nerve to act.  Words fail me in trying to describe just how saddened I am that those 15 people are in oppressive captivity as we speak, simply because a military force chose not to adequately defend their own people.  It is one thing if you are physically incapable of doing so... but lacking the will to defend your own people?  Is that not a basic tenet of military service, if not the core value?  If I were a Royal Navy sailor, I think I would be very, very afraid at this point. 

Mr. Arthur Herman goes on to describe the emasculation of the Royal Navy, and Britain in general, far better than I could ever hope to, so I strongly suggest you read his article.  At this point, it is patently obvious that anything except diplomatic attempts at securing the lives of the hostages are failures even before they are launched, and so, for the sake of those soldiers and sailors, I can only hope that the Iranians realize just how badly this situation could turn, and decide to relenquish them to the British.  Unfortunately, I know better, and know that the Iranians plan to milk this for all it is worth.  My prayers goes out to those 15 people and their families - paltry help they may be, it is obviously more than the Royal Navy thought necessary. 

(Hat tip to Wizbang.)

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, The Virtuous Republic, Shadowscope, Stuck On Stupid, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Pursuing Holiness, Rightlinx, third world county, Right Celebrity, Woman Honor Thyself, , stikNstein... has no mercy, Pirate's Cove, The Right Nation, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily News, Right Voices, Right Pundits, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Random Yak, A Blog For All, 123beta, Adam's Blog, basil's blog, Cao's Blog, Phastidio.net, The Bullwinkle Blog, , Conservative Cat, LaTogaStrappata®, sissunchi, Allie Is Wired, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe, as well as Stop the ACLU, because this kind of news deserves to be spread as far and as wide as possible.