Iran in the news

[Deckard]

Two stories that caught my eye today on the BBC ticker, within hours of each other...

Iran 'sending weapons to Taleban'
and
Iran enriching uranium despite UN Security Council resolution

I hold my hands up and admit my first reaction upon seeing headlines like this is to suspect a campaign of propaganda in anticipation of an impending military strike. That's not to say that Iran isn't playing up right now, or that I'd want to see them acquire a nuclear bomb. And my knee-jerk suspicion may well be totally misplaced. But that niggling feeling that Iran has always been on "the list" is not going away.

And while it's not the most crucial factor to consider, there's no ignoring the likelihood that a strike between now and the elections will play well for the Republicans and their "the world is full of evildoers out to get us" mantra (though it's possible the appointents of Palin and Biden may have lessened that probability... )

Also, when I see stories like: The most senior judge in Saudi Arabia has said it is permissible to kill the owners of satellite TV channels which broadcast immoral programmes I have to wonder just how much mileage would have been made out of that had the country been Iran instead of Saudi Arabia?

Oh, and probably a good point to remember those Brit sailors seized in "international waters".

Common sense says the last thing the US needs right now is a war with Iran. But Israel may well feel slightly differently about it, particularly with Olmert stepping down this month (and the chance of a diplomacy-centered Obama presidency not going away).

What do you reckon are the chances of a strike between now and the end of the year?

[//\/\/]

considering that israel will soon have the toys http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,422443,00.html, as well as grist for the mill http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/7616744.stm then that's probably not a bad call.

wonder how much those bombs will be 'sold' for?

[BeautifulBurnout]

All of this immediately brought to mind "while all the planet's little wars start joining hands..." a lyric from song by The The from 1986. Twenty years on and we are still not listening much, are we?

Afghanistan. Iraq. Pakistan. Iran...