Iran's provocations have puzzled me for a long time. It's appeared to me that Iran definitely wants us to attack them, and if they do and the Bush administration knows they do, some credit should go to Bush for holding back thus far and trying other avenues.
Ahmayouknowwhat most likely sees his best chance of luring us in is while Bush is in office, thus the uptick in provocations. The big question is: why? I mull things around in my head and imagine there are several possibilities. Having said that, we must deal with them strongly, but very intelligently.
But isn't 27 years long enough?
Iran and our enemies know that they can get away with things. Britain and the United States are run by people who don't want to be bothered to do anything unless really provoked. Bush is trying to make it until he is out of office, why would he care.
How do you deal intelligently with a "Twelver"? They believe that the apocalypse will bring the 12th Imam out of a well about 45 miles outside of Tehran and he will bring peace, and the triumph of Islam, to the world.
Deal with that intelligently...? Very difficult when your opponents frame of reference is off the planet.
The answer is: Amadinnerjacket believes he can bring forth the Mahdi. As a matter of fact, I'm not too sure he doesn't have someone all set to pose as the Mahdi so he can rally all the Shiia people to his cause. That's why we have to be very sure of what we are doing when we retaliate. We have to go in with surgical precision so the people see they are not being attacked.