WWJAD?

Tony Blair may, eventually, get annoyed with the Iranians over their act of piracy.

In the meantime, a former First Sea Lord , Alan West, stated:

The rules are very much de-escalatory, because we don't want wars starting.

This, of course, begs the question "What if the other guy really, really wants a war?"

West went on, displaying a stunning grasp of the obvious:

So we try to downplay things. Rather then roaring into action and sinking everything in sight we try to step back and that, of course, is why our chaps were effectively able to be captured and taken away . . . If we find this is going to be a standard practice we need to think very carefully about what rules of engagement we want and how we operate. One can't allow as a standard practice nations to capture a nation's servicemen. That is clearly wrong.

The answer to West's conundrum, IMNHO, can be found by answering the following question:

What Would Jack Aubrey Do?