@stompix. However, Thailand already put themselves in this position. But why? Only for politics? They do not need the problem.
As I said before, sent a strong message that you're willing to to do something extreme although you don't plan to continue to the end.
Think of children running after pets or scaring crows in the park, the birds get scared, run, the child is happy but if he had caught them he wouldn't have done anything. (probably).
Or think of all the bombers Russia send to the Baltic or to the coasts near Alaska, they don't plan on dropping a nuke, they are just sending a message we can do it.
Since the Us counterpart is also keeping quiet I also think they already know the outcome.
Also, if they wanted more American military presence, the Thai government would not have threatened Elwar and his girlfriend of the death penalty. They might only reprimand them and deal with the American government directly.
Because the deal is already done, this small case won't affect it at all as I suggested above probably they\ve already reassured the US that they are not really serious about it.
Now, I must add, if it would have an Albanian or a Haitian or some small poor country citizen..then yeah, the whole situation would probably be a lot different. But it wouldn't have made it in the news in this case.