Rescued British Military Caving Team Faces Arrest

[hang a left]

Rescued British Military Caving Team Faces Arrest As Mexico Begins Visa Investigation

03-26-2004 12:04 AM
By MORGAN LEE, Associated Press Writer

CUETZALAN DEL PROGRESO, Mexico -- Divers rescued a British military team of cave explorers Thursday trapped in a flooded cavern for more than a week. Mexico ordered the men detained as a diplomatic dispute over the purpose of the expedition raged.

The cavers appeared tired, but looked far from haggard after eight days under ground. They asked journalists and rescue workers if anybody had brought beer and said they were looking forward to seeking their loved ones.

"We're feeling quite cheerful," said Toby Hamnett, one of those rescued. The extraction effort took divers about six hours, including a break to resupply compressed air tanks.

The team _ four members of the British military and two British civilians _ surfaced safely to a raging diplomatic spat between Mexico and Britain.

http://sandiego.cox.net/cci/portal/_pagr/127/_pa.127/669?view=article&id=D81HRJIO0

[burrowowl]

1. They should get arrested

and Blair should apologize.
Do they think that those caves are equivalent to Afghan caves? Military training in a sovereign nation without asking permission, who do they think they are, disciples of Herr Hilter Bu$h!
Oh I forgot, the Mexicans don't want to privatize their oil ... bad on me.

[absyntheNsugar]

2. Something smells fishy

There are caves in the UK, Ireland, Europe.

Why go all the way to Mexico for caves?

[chascarrillo]

5. Compare the caves of Ireland to those of Mexico

No comparison.

[yltlatl]

3. Doesn't this sound supiciously like...

"weapons of mass destruction-related programs"?

'Britain's Ministry of Defense said the men were on an "official military adventurous training expedition" of a military caving club, though not a formal military exercise.'

[daleo]

4. This story is kind of strange

Even if nothing else comes of it, it shows how distrusted the U.K. is in much of the world, after Blair threw his lot in with Bush.

[truthisfreedom]

6. hmm. sound like spelunkers to me... the first thing they ask for is beer

heh

8^)