MORE THAN 20 years ago, in a show of displeasure with America’s support for the deposed shah, Iranians took many Americans hostage. The effects on the United States were widespread.
President Jimmy Carter’s inability to either rescue the hostages or negotiate their release contributed to his defeat by Ronald Reagan. Americans got an early lesson in distrusting Muslim fundamentalists.
The hostage crisis also created its own television program. To keep the nation apprised of the latest developments, ABC started “Nightline,” with Ted Koppel as its host. The late-night news show had as part of its daily fare a logo that declared “America Held Hostage” and listed the number of days that had elapsed since the hostages were seized.
If Britain had gone through the same process with its hostages in Iran — 15 sailors and marines plucked out of the Persian Gulf — BBC’s version of “Nightline” would have gotten no further than “Britain Held Hostage: Day 12” before it was replaced by reruns of “Knight Rider.”
Iran released its prisoners on Wednesday, having held them just long enough to make it apparent to the rest of the world that England lacked the will to act and the United States lacked the spare military strength to do much but sail aircraft carriers threateningly close.
It may never be settled whether the 15 Brits were hostages or prisoners. The British said the sailors were legally in Iraqi waters when they were seized. The Iranians said the British boats were in Iran’s waters. Both sides made use of the most modern global positioning system technology to back up their claims, but that proved nothing. Either side could fake the numbers. Perhaps both did.
Whatever was true, Britain’s brief national nightmare is over. It got its people back in time for Easter dinner with their families. Prime Minister Tony Blair lost only a little of the very small amount of face he has left.
If there is a lesson in this latest slapping contest with Iran, it is that diplomacy remains a lost art in the region, reduced to war and threats of war, grandstanding and incursions. Quiet conversations on matters of mutual interest have been replaced by shrill threats shouted through the news media.
If there is any profit in the incident, it is that the release of the sailors gives Britain the opportunity to issue a polite thank you and the United States to direct a little (faint) praise toward the government of Iran.
From such little seeds, diplomacy may yet flower.