Iranian Decision to free prisoners will slow American war efforts

As the Bush administration continually ratchets up the propaganda campaign against Iran, the recent surprise move by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to free the British captives has slowed the momentum of neoconservative war aspirations. The initial dim-witted action by the Iranians is now seeming to pay dividends from an international perception standpoint.

If the prisoners were held indefinitely, the US could have framed a potential conflict under the pretext of “coming to the aid of allies in the face of evil”. Now with the hostages on their way home, the US has to counter the positive image that Iran has crafted for itself by returning them without a hint of torture or wrongdoing. The same cannot be said of the US, and the thousands of prisoners it holds in Guantanamo Bay and CIA black sites around the world.

The release of the navy personnel may not elicit instant feelings of sympathy for Iran, but it concludes the initial purpose without penalty and improves Iran's image, albeit to a limited degree. The initial purpose being the message sent to the US: Iran is no slouch militarily, will not tolerate incursions into its territory, and an attack on its soil will increase oil prices of which the effects will be felt all over the world.

Of course the US can still attack Iran based on ideological rhetoric, but it will only be digging its grave even deeper and without help from the international community.

Iran is only playing the US at its own game as they know half the battle is fought through the media airwaves.