Whether it means war or not is a red herring. What it means is dangerous decisions being made within a very narrow circle of people with dissenters not welcome to speak. It was U.S. and British covert ops in Iran in 1953 that created nearly all of our present difficulties with that nation today.

Dan said - "Has anyone brought up the subject matter of "Charlie Wilson's War?" Seems the U.S. covertly sent billions to help the Afghans bring down the Russian Hind helicopters with Stinger missiles. I find it very interesting that the Charlie Wilson story presents like a triumph of U.S. ingenuity, but Iran sending weapons into Iraq is criminal and warrants attack."

WOW - just WOW! What an obtuse response from a seriously sad individual who fancies himself as a critical thinker. I wish intellectually dishonest donkeys like Dan would just foff and die.

This is crazy Talk, covert ops are undeclared war. Just like Iraq! We need new energy not New Wars in the Middle east over the now past-peak crude oil.but, Why all for money or president is and oil man after all!

Has anyone brought up the subject matter of "Charlie Wilson's War?" Seems the U.S. covertly sent billions to help the Afghans bring down the Russian Hind helicopters with Stinger missiles. I find it very interesting that the Charlie Wilson story presents like a triumph of U.S. ingenuity, but Iran sending weapons into Iraq is criminal and warrants attack.

Thank God we live on a separate continent or perhaps we'd have had Russian covert ops going on in NY or Washington DC. Consistency doesn't appear to have much value -- hypocritical moral outrage is certainly in vogue. Fareed Zakaria's got it right about Iran. Any attack on Iran would be like trying to put out the "War on Terror" fire with gasoline.

Iran hasn't said that Israel should be wiped out in any physical sense. President Ahmadinejad has said repeatedly that he wants Israel to disappear like the Soviet Union - the people are still there, alive, but the state is ended. Of course that could be seen as a "threat" in a way - it's a wish for regime change.

Perhaps it's those who always see regime change as violent who are worried.

"ColinLaney:
> A Holocaust survivor said you should take seriously when a man says he will kill you.

"Even the tendentious translation bring promulgated as part of war party propaganda doesn't support this claim. Iran has not threatened to attack Israel."

OK, I stand corrected.
Iran attacks Israel through its proxies.

All Iran (and other Arab/Muslim countries) has said is that Israel should be wiped off the map of the earth; that the Jews are a pestiulance, a virus, and must be destroyed; compares the Jews/Zionists to monkeys, dogs, and pigs; don't show Israel on their maps; publish the Protocols as current fact; and question the extent of and/or the existance of the Holocaust; even while making their own countries Juden Frie.

Had the Arabs/Muslims accepted the 1947 partition plan for one (more) Arab state and one Jewish state, maybe we would be having a dual 60 year celebration instead of a continued hatefest against the Jews and against Israel.

"Covert Ops? So if they Iranians did that in the US what we would call them? Terrorists? No doubt. "

haters like you conveniently excuse the fact that Iran is in Iraq doing covert ops targeting Americans and Iraqis. Iran nees an ass kicking in a major way.

I agree completely. The same sort of PR campaign was directed at Libya during the Reagan administration and the goal was to convince them that the US would attack at any moment, when in fact it was all a CIA ruse meant to convince the Libyan leadership that an attack was coming soon.

I am grateful for your optimism and wish I could share it. The factor you overlook is that this administration would dearly love to hang another unwinnable war around the neck of the next (Democratic) president, just for fun.

I agree with Daoud Kuttab. Bush-Cheney may not like the path of Iran's politicians, but truth be told the mistakes of Iraq and the low trust in the president don't predict any military action. Also, the consequences of an air strike would further disrupt oil shipments in the Gulf of Hormuz. You need not be a brilliant military strategist to know the entire world economy would suffer repercussions.

Diplomacy with Iran is the best choice. Demonizing Iran is hypocritical. Isolating Iran is counter-productive. Threatening Iran is childish. Iran must be engaged diplomatically, just like China or Israel.

Bush-Cheney "war on terror" has upset the balance of power in the Middle East. More war in the region is not likely to produce long-lasting reforms. Give peace a chance!

Covert Ops? So if they Iranians did that in the US what we would call them? Terrorists? No doubt.

i take issue with your assertion that no country ready to go to attack makes a big PR deal about its plans. Maybe you weren't involved in journalism before the U.S. invasion of iraq, and so can be forgiven for the error: it was a subtle campaign, probably known only to media insiders. There were no road shows, there was no loud pooh-poohing of dissent, there was no presentation to the american people or the international legal communities of evidence ginned up just for the sake of substantiating a cassus beli, and there were no patriots shouting down those who dared to suggest that those who attacked the country in 2001 were not from, trained in, sponsored by, or in any other way facilitated by Iraq.

besides, we've always been at war with Eurasia.
FREEDOM IS STRENGTH!

There are far too many signs pointing toward an attack to ignore. Just yesterday, the Washington Post published a story about an ex-CIA agent taking the extraordinary measure of filing a motion to declassify information supporting reports that Iran does not have an active nuclear program. The agent had apparently submitted reports to that effect and had been not only removed from the assignment, but charged with offenses that might justify dismissal and discredit of his work for the Agency. This is very consistent with Bush administration actions time and again.

Another report this morning has Iran stating that, if attacked, it will block the Straits of Hormuz. Coincidence?

Admiral Fallon dismissed after having strongly supported recent Iraq strategy while opposing sabre-rattling and provocative action against Iran. Coincidence?

Since the "Leadership" of both parties seems only to be interested in apparent public opinion (similar to apparent versus true wind direction in sailing terms), I advocate a grass roots demand for sanity in which no member of the Senate or House can deny complicity if an attack is launched.

The problem is that George W. Bushis the "decider". When he makes a decision he neither asks anybody else and he certainly doesn't listen to anybody who suggest he might be wrong.

Mr. Kittab:

Finally someone who makes sense! Jeepers! Iran is conducting a covert war against us because an open war would be a really really stupid idea.

And we're conducting a covert war against them because an open war would be a really really stupid idea.

There! Can we all calm down now? It's just another cold war, this time a regional one rather than a world-wide one like we had with Russia.

Thanks you. I don't feel so alone anymore, lol.

Challenge, what an oddity. Please WP........your face is begining to show from behind the veneer; Tony Judt says the ticks may be getting closer for the instigators - can you hear???

knowing the republican's tendency to do dirty tricks just before elections I suspect either Bush's group or the Israelis will bomb Iran nuclear facilities about oct 20th or so just to play the fear card and sway the election their way!!!

So it is OK for the US to spend $400 million to destabilise Iran but it is not OK for Iran to spend $400 million to destabilise the US. Have I got that right?

If Iran does what the US does would that make it a terrorist nation?

Why is the US not classified as a terrorist nation? Is it because might is right or is it because Americans are so very stupid, dangerous and selfish that they cannot look past the end of their nose (which is growing longer and longer).

Raj Grewal:

Very informative post. But why hasn't the Democratic congress stopped the funding of covert activities in Iran?

It's my understanding that only Congressional leadership, not rank-and-file members, must be briefed on such covert ops. And the brave Democratic leaders must have been too terrified of being called unpatriotic and soft on terror, putting their reelections at risk. If an attack on Iran happens, they will have blood on their hands. It is tragic that the political leaders of our era, with very few exceptions, care more for their careers than for the welfare of our Nation or our fighting forces.

Your assessment would be great if the possibilities for this war rested on the shoulders of rational parties. Unfortunately this is the Bush administration we are talking about.

> A Holocaust survivor said you should take seriously when a man says he will kill you.

Even the tendentious translation bring promulgated as part of war party propaganda doesn't support this claim. Iran has not threatened to attack Israel.

Suicide By Global Police---
It is alright to be worried, because fear causes action.
Here is what is happening:
"Suicide-by-cop" is a suicide method in which a person deliberately
acts in a threatening way, with the goal of provoking a lethal response
from a law enforcement officer, such as being shot to death.
The United States is acting as the world's Police.
World War 3 is in the making, and elements in the middle east
are bent on Suicide By the Global Police.

A Holocaust survivor said you should take seriously when a man says he will kill you.

Israel will bomb the nuke facilites before the end of the year as a matter of survival.

Diplomacy, carrots and sticks aren't going to work with this bunch.

"Covert Ops Don't Mean War" really? what are you smoking?

> A country ready to attack doesn't make a huge PR campaign about its plans.

On the contrary, countries about to attack frequently do this. Remember Colin Powell's lies to the UN, etc., etc.

If we are doing covert ops in Iran then we are already at war. The CIA and Special Forces are just getting all the info they can and setting up LZ,s. Do you think Bush and Cheney is going to let tall that oil get away?

Very informative post. But why hasn't the Democratic congress stopped the funding of covert activities in Iran? Do they not fully understand what they are funding? Do they agree with covert action in Iran? Or, will they claim they've been strong-armed and misled...again?