[defenderSD]

As usual, nothing that happens in the Middle East is exactly what it appears to be. This standoff could end in several ways and I don't expect any military action until after the mid-term election in November. Right now we're communicating with Iran and trying to make them fully understand our position. It's starting to look like Iran's strategy is to stall and outlast the Bush Administration, then hope the next President is weaker and allows Iran to build nuclear weapons and dominate Europe and the Middle East. Our strategy must be to bring this crisis to an acceptable conclusion during 2007.

[zarf]

Bush is going to take action if nothing is resolved. He wants to exhaust all his political capital...he could give a crap.

He does not want to pass a nuke armed Iran to the next Admin.

[SteamShovel]

Our strategy must be to bring this crisis to an acceptable conclusion during 2007.

Agreed. This is a serious issue that can't be left go until the next administration. Not only could they have a bomb by the time a new administration is in place, that new administration could be a bunch of idiots who want to look the other way like Clinton did with N. Korea.

Oh he did make that deal to say he did something, but then he allowed them to continue while the American public was enjoying the "peace" created by Clinton and Albright.

[HardStarboard]

>>>It's starting to look like Iran's strategy is to stall and outlast the Bush Administration, then hope the next President is weaker... <<<

I believe I read, or heard, that President Bush has explicitly stated he will not pass the problem of a potential nuclear Iran on to the succeeding administration.

At any rate - this problem will not wait - certainly not until Nov. 2008. Israel will act before then - way before then - in my estimation.

[Wiseghy]

Good summary. Amazing how history repeats itself. Iran is hoping for some Neville Chamberlain type to appear in the US, who will lower the pressure and allow them to dominate the ME. Worst case scenario in following that path will eventually lead to the destruction of Israel, the emergence of an axis counter weight to the west, of Iran, China, Russia and other rouge states.

[Rembrandt]

"...then hope the next President is weaker and allows Iran to build nuclear weapons and dominate Europe and the Middle East."

Oh no! Is Jimmy Carter running?