Another Iranian Hostage Crisis?

This has the potential to go bad in a hurry:

UK sailors captured at gunpoint

Fifteen British navy personnel have been captured at gunpoint by Iranian forces, the Ministry of Defence says.

The men were seized at 1030 local time when they boarded a boat in the Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, which they suspected was smuggling cars.

The Royal Navy said the group was on a routine patrol in Iraqi waters and were understood to be unharmed.

But Iranian state television quoted the Iran foreign ministry as saying they had illegally entered Iranian waters.

The Associated Press news agency is quoting US Navy official, Commander Kevin Aandahl, as saying that Iran's Revolutionary Guard were responsible.

With the UN about to vote tougher sanctions on Iran because of their nuclear program, it's not hard to imagine that this is simply a hostage-taking to try and influence the Brits to back off. We know from history that the Iranians are not shy about taking foreign military personnel hostage and holding them for a long, long time. However, Tony Blair is not Jimmy Carter, and if the Iranians don't give those guys back quickly, they my jump start the war against Iran that's sure to come one of these days.

In related news, the nutjob president of Iran has cancelled his trip to the U.S. He's claiming that the U.S. is giving his team problems regarding their visas, but it's obvious his cancellation has to do with the hostage crisis. If they were willing to quickly release the Brits, I don't think he'd have to cancel his trip. By changing his plans, it sounds to me like they're planning to keep those guys for awhile.

One thing to remember - the Iranians have lots of oil but virtually no refining capacity. They have to import all of their refined petroleum products. A naval blockade of gasoline supplies would bring that country to a halt in a hurry, and I wouldn't be surprise if that's the route that's taken should this thing continue.