Iran, Hostages (again), and De-Nutted Nations

What is wrong with the nations of the world these days?

Iran captures 15 British sailors and the British Navy, which was right there at the time, does...... nothing.

Now granted, the sailors were released more-or-less unharmed (if you can call being locked up in solitary and forced to make disparaging statements about your nation "unharmed")

But what the hell were the Brits thinking when the capture took place?

I could never command a Naval Warship. Had I been in command, irrespective of orders, when the Iranians showed up to harass my boarding party I would have sunk their vessel - instantly.

No waiting for clearance to fire, no protocol, no warnings.

Just a shell below the waterline of the assaulting vessel(s), repeated until the waterline was above the bridge deck.

I've about had it with the wussies in our world. Make no mistake - these sailors were captured because the British Navy now has the fighting spirit of the French Army.

You know, the guys who sell used rifles with the following caption on the cartons:
Never fired, dropped only once.