And take them where? Bear in mind the seal team came in on a sub that didn't even have air. They probably don't have restraints of any kind or a way to keep them from shouting...

Which is not to say what they did do was right, but "just kidnap some people" is not really a practical reality.

drive the fishing boat back to the submarine. harold holt swam to one it can be done

I like conspiracy theories as much as the next guy (especially when it would only technically require a few people here), but it seems more likely Holt just got eaten by a shark or drowned. People die in open-water situations all the time.

The laws of war don't allow that either.

It's forbidden to attack civilians. You're not allowed even to wrestle them.

Having been discovered by civilians is not sufficient to justify attacking them.

I didn't say it would've been legal, just nicer.

Ah, I see.