Render: Thank God for our military folks

Details surrounding the capture of two U.S. Navy Riverine Command Boats near Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf remain uncertain at best.

Vice President Joe Biden’s statement to “CBS This Morning” that no apology to Iran was made rang hollow in the face of a televised comment made by Navy Lt. David Nartker. While on camera, Nartker said, “It was a mistake. That was our fault. We apologize for our mistake. It was a misunderstanding. We did not mean to go into Iranian territorial water. The Iranian behavior was fantastic while we were here. We thank you very much for your hospitality and your assistance.”

Rube Render

Nartker’s statement may not constitute an official apology, but most Americans would be hard pressed to think of it as anything other than that.

Iran’s propaganda video showing U.S. sailors kneeling with their hands locked behind their heads and under control of Iranian forces was a tremendous blow to American prestige in the Middle East as well as the rest of the world.

The New York Times reported that the Pentagon rushed to compound the issue by releasing statements from an anonymous Navy officer who said, “Look, these are kids riding around in cool cammy boats,” and an equally anonymous Defense Department official who said, “We still do not know all of the facts, but these guys and gal apparently were just poor mariners.”

In point of fact, Nartker is a 27-year-old graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and it has been my experience that the Navy is not in the habit of handing command of any vessel to some “kid who is a guy or gal that is apparently a poor mariner.”

Both the unidentified Navy officer and the Defense Department official referenced above should be keel-hauled and summarily dismissed from the Naval Service.

The “Code of Conduct for Members of the United States Armed Forces” contains six articles. Article VI reads, “I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.”

After reviewing the massive show of support provided to the captured sailors by their service and by the Pentagon, one can’t help but wonder if a nagging thought ran through their minds: “If they didn’t come for an ambassador at Benghazi, will they come for me?”

Google “Code of Conduct for Members of the United States Armed Forces.” Read it, then thank God for our military folk in harm’s way.

Rube Render is the Curry County Republican chairman. Contact him at:

[email protected]