This Is Your Brain On Saltwater...

Britain's former First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West, has from the evidence of this interview with the BBC fallen on his head and damaged some very important brain doodads that might be of use to an Admiral.
Discussing the kidnapping of 15 British sailors by the Iranians....

BBC: What are the rules of engagement in this type of situation?

Admiral West: The rules are very much de-escalatory, because we don't want wars starting. The reason we are there is to be a force for good, to make the whole area safe, to look after the Iraqi big oil platforms and also to stop smuggling and terrorism there.

"A force for good." Does Admiral West have a secret identity? Is it Clark Kent?

So we try to downplay things. Rather then roaring into action and sinking everything in sight we try to step back and that, of course, is why our chaps were effectively able to be captured and taken away.

Rather than just "sinking everything in sight", how about just sinking those vessels attacking you ?
And doesn't it seem that he's almost bragging about how good British policy is at getting its men captured ?

If we find this is going to be a standard practice we need to think very carefully about what rules of engagement we want and how we operate. One can't allow as a standard practice nations to capture a nation's servicemen. That is clearly wrong.

"One can't allow as a standard practice nations to capture a nation's servicemen."
Yes you would think they would have stressed that point at Admiral school.

Gonzales is a genius next to this one.