A Message especially for Conservatives

I think it was in the heady days of early 2005 when George Bush's popularity ratings were in the low 40s, when National Review Online started regularly posting the latest line of Iranian Daily News trying to justify bombing until the rubble bounces.

Sadly, for once, despite the efforts of Michael Ledeen, George Bush managed not to do "the stupid thing". Which underlines the irony of the last five years or so of the Bush Administration -- his base ALWAYS took the few opportunities to point out he could do EVEN worse.

And here's the latest example.

Iranians aren't suicidal. In an interview last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Iranian regime as "a messianic, apocalyptic cult." In fact, Iran has tended to behave in a shrewd, calculating manner, advancing its ihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnterests when possible, retreating when necessary. The Iranians allied with the United States and against the Taliban in 2001, assisting in the creation of the Karzai government. They worked against the United States in Iraq, where they feared the creation of a pro-U.S. puppet on their border.

But ultimately, they Iranians stepped back and calmly reaped the rewards of Operation Clusterfuck. Even when they lose, they win bigger.

And therein lies the real thing that pisses Likud Republicans off. The Iranians are not so much a demonstrative threat, as they are strategically infinitely more powerful in realpolitik because of our own stupidity -- and Israel's. Every move Bush has made, and every military effort of the Israelis has had the effect of benefitting Iran's strategic position -- and the worse the Washington-Tel Aviv connection has done, the angrier they get -- and the more impotent they appear.

Congratulations Neo-Cons, they won -- and you're dumber than ever.