Professional courtesy

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That sound you hear is my head repeatedly striking my computer. I blogged here and here earlier about Iranian diplomatic and military officials being arrested and detained by US forces in Iraq. The two who were clearly diplomats were released earlier for diplomatic immunity, but two senior military officials continued to be held. That's no longer the case.

The Iraqi government has released the two military officials after Iran's claim of diplomatic immunity for them, as well. Never mind that these agents provocateur were caught red-handed:

U.S. defense officials familiar with the raids said the captured Iranians had detailed weapons lists, documents pertaining to shipments of weapons into Iraq, organizational charts, telephone records and maps, among other sensitive intelligence information. Officials were particularly concerned by the fact that the Iranians had information about importing modern, specially shaped explosive charges into Iraq, weapons that have been used in roadside bombs to target U.S. military armored vehicles.

Shaped charges focus the energy of a blast, allowing shrapnel to burst through vehicles, sometimes even if they are heavily armored. U.S. military officials have long said they believed Iran was responsible for sending such weapons -- along with others, such as advanced sniper rifles -- into Iraq to help insurgents and militia groups.

"The evidence shows that they were exactly up to the things our suspicions indicated," said one U.S. defense official.

It's generally accepted that if a cop stops a car for speeding and finds that the driver is an off-duty cop, he'll extend a professional courtesy and let him off. Apparently that's just what the shi'ite-led government of Iraq is doing for the shi'ite-led government of Iran.

It's almost enough to make me side with the bring-the-troops-home-now crowd. Just not for the same reasons.

Hat tip: Hot Air