Iran Releases British Sailors

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (aka Ringo Starr) has released the 15 British sailors captured by Iranian military two weeks ago. But what if the Iranians had seized 15 American sailors rather than British sailors? Would our government wait two weeks to use diplomacy in an attempt to secure the release of American prisoners. I doubt it. Not with two US Navy aircraft carrier battle groups in the area and another on its way.

UPDATE: The National Review is wondering what the British gave the Iranians in return for the release of the British sailors.

What we haven't seen yet—but it probably won't be long—are the details of the promises Iran extracted concerning its territorial integrity. Iran knows that as it races towards nuclear breakout, it is getting very close to a military confrontation with the United States. Getting the British to agree to back down from the nuclear standoff—and getting them to promise not to allow the U.S. to use the airbase at Diego Garcia—would be an enormous victory for the Mullahs. And it shouldn't be long before they start bragging about it.

They think there is no way diplomacy could have had anything to do with the release of the prisoners. Only bluster, bombs and blood could have achieved the release of those sailors. But, maybe it was like trading arms for hostages.