>>While I also have always sympathized that the U.S. (government) cannot win for losing, this one just has an odour to it of deeper objectives at play and I have a gut feel that it involves taunting Iran into war.
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>I would agree with you that there are deeper objectives at play, but I think your suspicions are misplaced. Don't you find it just a little bit odd that this should pop the week that Iran was to be hauled in front of the Security Council? There is some really scary indications out there regarding Iran's quest for Teh Bomb, and personally I think they are a lot closer that people realize. Israel vs. Hezbollah is just the distraction they need right now.

You may be right there. In a region festering with scary, unstable forces, they are the scariest. They are zealots, and only a foolish man dismisses zealots idly. (cf: North Korea)