It's Those Little Touches

I laughed today when I read this story about the return home of the 14 British sailors and marines. So because there isn't much to laugh at out there, from where I sit (I mean, I'm sure there is -- hope springs eternal in the human breast etc, (which should get me a few more hits from the boob-googlers) but there is so much more to be angry about), that I felt compelled to share.

The lingering standoff, which saw Britain go to the UN security council for support, ended suddenly yesterday when the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, announced he was freeing the captives as a "gift" to Britain.

The news came in a sudden PR flourish by Mr Ahmadinejad following a 90-minute monologue on regional history and global politics at a news conference.

This morning, before taking their business class seats on the scheduled BA flight, the crew were handed gift bags from Mr Ahmadinejad, with which they posed for a final round of photographs, the 14 male captives again wearing the grey suits provided by their captors.

It's those little touches, as they say in the bed-and-breakfast business, that really set Ahmedinejad apart. I expect he's a complete loony but this is just brilliant. Maybe we could settle this whole business by getting some big PR firm over here to hire him for boatloads of money. Gift bags!