Code of Conduct

As I watched the British sailors and Marines schmooze with Iran's Mahmoud Ahmanutjob, their behavior just stuck in my craw. I'm fairly certain the Brits, like the Americans, have a military code of conduct. I'm also fairly certain that those people were not observing it. CODE OF CONDUCT Article I: I am an American, fighting in the armed forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense. Article II: I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist. Article III: If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy. Article IV: If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way. Article V: When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service, number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause. Article VI: I will never forget that I am an American, 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. I spent many an hour in basic training, standing at parade rest on guard duty and staring at the Code of Conduct hanging on the opposite wall. I memorized it. And had I been among those Brits, I would have been stone-faced, uncooperative and unspeaking every inch of the way. Unlike our Democratic leadership, I would not give propaganda material to the enemy.