UK Report: Errors Made in Sailors Kidnap

Source: Associated Press

UK Report: Errors Made in Sailors Kidnap

Sunday July 22, 2007 4:46 AM

By DAVID STRINGER

Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) - British diplomats were too slow to contact
a key official who helped broker the eventual release of 15
sailors and marines held hostage in March by Iran, a report
by lawmakers said Sunday.

Officials also bungled a decision that allowed some of the
personnel to sell their stories to media organizations after
their release, despite strong reservations from some sectors
of government, Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee
concluded.

The British sailors and marines were searching a merchant
ship in the Persian Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, when they
and their two inflatable boats were intercepted by Iranian
vessels near the disputed Shatt al-Arab waterway.

Iran claimed the crew had strayed into its territorial waters,
a charge Britain denied, and held the sailors hostage for
13 days. Several of the captured sailors were paraded on
Iranian television and “admitted” trespassing in Tehran's
waters.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6796836,00.html

or hoping Iran would respond negatively so they could start a war? Also, the "bungled decision" to allow personnel to sell their stories seems more like a propaganda campaign.