[Dr. Frank fan]

It's very easy to tell others they should jeopardize their lives when one hasn't bothered to put himself in a position to do so.

You keep saying that. You're right. It's just not an argument against Derb's actual point. So why do you keep saying it?

But if they've told them to surrender rather than fight, it is highly unlikely they would then tell them to behave in captivity in such a way as to endanger the lives they were previously ordered to try to save.

Now who's jumping the gun? There's no evidence their lives were threatened if they did not say these things.

It's pointing out the hypocrisy of demanding that others put their lives at risk while sitting comfortably and safely behind a keyboard.

Yes, that's what you're doing, and I'm pointing out that "hypocrite!" is a weak argument. It really doesn't matter if Derb is a hypocrite (and he acknowledges the possibility!), if he's right. I think he's right.

[MEGoody]

There's no evidence their lives were threatened if they did not say these things.

So you think the Iranian government put them up in a nice room and treated them kindly, and that they just asked the hostages nicely to do these videos and the hostages said yes? Is that what you REALLY think?

and I'm pointing out that "hypocrite!" is a weak argument.

It's not an argument - it is a statement of fact.