Playing the game

I breathed a sigh of relief this evening upon reading the news that the 15 navy personnel captured by Iran are to be released to their families ahead of this weekend.

But my relief was not only for an end to an ordeal for the captives, but also that the stand-off has thankfully not escalated into a situation where the bloody-thirsty George Bush deemed there to be "just" cause to sharpen the knives of war, and direct his oft-wilful slashing towards Tehran.

It is no secret that the man who effectively invented the notion of WMD's in Iraq would be just as happy to whimsically invent another case for war, this time against Iran, if the opportunity presents itself; indeed, Bush has gone on the record in blaming Iran for many of the woes currently being experienced by its neighbour, and is clamouring for an excuse to foster anti-Iranian sentiment in the western world.

What Bush fails to point out that, in the tumult of mass-insurgency in Iraq, exactly how many Iranian suicide bombers have in fact launched attacks in the country? When, say, compared to the thousands of deaths caused by the terrorists acts of the Sunni-Arab insurgents? Reportedly, none, is the answer.

Whilst not wishing to turn this post into a debate about a conflict that is threatening to split Islam from within, it should be pointed out that Saudi Arabia (a country seemingly beyond criticism from the USA, despite its shocking human rights record, not to mention the homeland of Osama bin Laden) is a predominantly Sunni country, whereas Iran hosts a mainly Shia population, the very people that are bearing the brunt of insurgents' attacks in Iraq.

Discuss.

Again, I sympathise with the plight of the sailors since their capture, I also feel the need to question quite why the Islamic Republic of Iran should be demonised as it is?

Why should a country not have the right to use nuclear technology to provide itself with power? Are the US, or anyone else, right to self-appoint themselves as judge and jury in deciding who "is nuclear" and who is not? And if the US should be given such jurisdiction, then when will it start to throw its weight around in the environs of arguably more pressing scenarios such as Korea and China, to name but two?

Let us not forget that Iran's nuclear programme was started in the first place in conjunction with the US. Years later, the world observed, without condemnation, the battering that Iran took during their war with Iraq, as Saddam unleashed chemical weapons upon the innocent Iranian people, but it collectively chose silence. Could you blame Iran if it was indeed trying to arm itself against belligerent neighbours?

The issue around the maritime boundary between Iran and Iraq is, for me, hilarious. The facts are that no such demarcation has ever been officially determined, and such woolliness (especially when you're talking about margins of a half of a nautical mile here and a cats whisker there) quite obviously suggests that neither side can categorically state that they are correct in their assertions with regard to the "trespass" - the shifting mouth of the Shatt al Arab river notwithstanding (interested? Click here if so...)

I have enjoyed the theatre of the last few days when I've donned my PR hat, but not the dread that this situation might well have sparked a conflict that could, potentially, precipitate a world war, such is the delicate balance between Western/Middle Eastern relations just now.

Iran has juiced every last drop of political capital from the hostage situation over which it has smugly presided, yet more power to them for it. The hypocrisy of Blair and Bush's insistence that "unconditional release" was the only outcome is scarily arrogant in a world in which the disgrace that is the Guantanamo Bay detention facility exists.

The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, was quick to pounce on every PR opportunity available to him as he announced the crew's release today, heralding it as "a gift to the British people".

Tony Blair was swift in his retort, claiming "no ill will" against the people of Iran.

So there we have it. A diplomatic stand-off resolved? I really, really hope so.

I also pray that Blair, or whoever succeds him, can retain a balanced view when the warmongers of the US, who he has regrettably kow-towed to during his term in office, next come knocking for this country's support for a futile, yet immeasurably damaging conflict.

I remember some politician saying recently that the UK's involvement in the war in Iraq had once again earned them the "fear and respect of the world". I see little evidence of that where Iran are concerned, and I cannot help but secretly admire them for their reticence.