After the somewhat dissatisfactory performance of its sailors and marines in Iran, the British Ministry of Defense yesterday allowed them to take money for talking to the press. But as Craig Murray writes:

It is worth noting that the MOD have announced that the ex-captives will be "Advised" by MOD press officers in writing their stories, which will be subject to approval by their commanding officer. Both the MOD, the ex-captives and the tabloids will have an interest in exaggerating the horror of their captivity.

That MoD decision has been widely criticized. Some of the temporary Iranian guests will receive more money for a short MoD minded media appearance than dependents of British soldiers killed in Iraq are paid. That does not pass the public’s decency test.

So a day later the MoD is stepping back. Not really, but it wants to appear to retract that decision. Military banned from selling stories titles the Labour friendly Guardian, but if you read the piece this is what the MoD’s boss Des Browne really says:

"Until that time, no further service personnel will be allowed to talk to the media about their experiences in return for payment."

The Associated Press has a similar misleading title: Britain bans paid military interviews. But unlike the Guardian it spells out the "exception":

The new ban will not affect those who already gave accounts, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.

In other words: Only those under MoD "advise" are allowed to make money. Others would rather get jail.

Since the first day of this affair every step the Bliar administration has done added to their public relation mess. Maybe he really wants to make sure that the Tories win the next elections.