Ahmadinejad’s Gift
Returning kidnapped sailors and marines is no gift.
The kidnappings gave Iran a temporary shift in media attention — away from UNSC sanctions and Tehran’s nuclear weapons program.
With the kidnappings the mullahs also tossed down a marker in the “intel war” they are waging with the US. Or at least one very hardline faction in Iran’s mullah-dom laid down a marker. The US has at least five Iranian agents in custody. The “defection or disappearance” of a former deputy defense minister has certainly embarassed the regime. The hostage taking also muted that story (though NPR’s All Things Considered covered it on Monday — good job, too.)
Ahmadinejad apparently “pardoned” the sailors and marines. Sheesh.
Roger Kimball doesn’t think this is a “gift,” either.
This article in the IHT just showed up on google.
