As Sir Alan West, former First Sea Lord of the British Navy, explained British rules of engagement that are “very much de-escalatory, because we don’t want wars starting … Rather than roaring into action and sinking everything in sight we try to step back and that, of course, is why our chaps were, in effect, able to be captured and taken away.”

One wonders — given the 2004 kidnapping of eight British seamen during West’s tenure — whether such an attitude assured the recent attack. Perhaps if Sir Alan had changed the above to something like the following, such incidents might be avoided in the future:

We are very much proactive, because we don’t want wars starting. Rather than staying inactive and being shot at by everything in sight, we try to step forward, and that, of course, is why our chaps were, in effect, able to fight back and prevent being taken away.