They’ve been released. They’ll be on the plane today or tomorrow.

Diplomacy behind the scenes, not the Blair huffing-and-puffing or the Bush sabre-rattling, is what did it.

Bit of a sticky wicket for Mr Blair. Of course he would like to get his people back without seeing them on trial in Iran.

Russia has pulled its nuclear workers out of Iran in anticipation of an attack by the US and/or Israel. Wild speculation abounds about the possible attack and April seems the date most heard in recent gossip.

Would 15 British military people held hostage by Iran give pause to an attack on Iran by the US and Israel? What would the Iranians do with the hostages after an attack on Iran?

If Iran is attacked they could counter by public execution of the Brit hostages possibly toppling the Blair government and leading to a pullout of all Brit troops in Southern Iraq. That scenario would leave Mr Bush with a bit of a sticky wicket. No one would be minding the supply lines leading into Iraq from Kuwait and Bush would have to get troops from somewhere to do what is now being done by the Brits.

World events have turned on seemingly small incidents in the past. WW1 is a good example.

Once again the Iranians are playing chess while Bush is playing checkers.

When the poodle tries to bark !