Pragmatism.

If you're approached by a mugger in the street brandishing a knife, who demands your money, what do you do? If you've any sense, you hand over your wallet, mobile phone and anything else he wants - survival is the name of the game. Why should things have been any different for those sailors and marines taken and held by the Iranians? Do what they want, say what they want you to say, do whatever is necessary to survive and get back home. In my view they have absolutely nothing to reproach themselves for. Those armchair generals who are now suggesting they should have resisted more would perhaps like to go and try it themselves?