I'm beginning to think that trying to understand the current American administration's approach to foreign policy with any sort of pragmatic framework, no matter how jaded, is a complete waste of time.  George Bush has a fragile grip on reality.  Dick Cheney has lost that grip entirely.

I don't think it takes a war strategist to determine that an American attack on Iran would be devastating for all involved.  (The irony is that Iran's sudden rise of regional power is largely due to the American 'intervention'.)  The only countries that would possibly benefit, as far as I can see, would be the Sunni strongholds in the region; particularly Saudi Arabia.  So what is going on with all the posturing, and saber rattling?  Is the American administration trying to manufacture some sort of leverage?  Are they looking for some sort of distraction from the Iraq debacle?  Or should I toss aside the pragmatism and surmise that they are not just dumb, but crazy, delusional, war-mongering megalomaniac mofos, who behave like a modern-day Don Quixote, running around looking for windmills to attack?  Tony Blair would then be Sancho Panza.  Everything is making more sense already.  

We've heard claims that Iran is providing Shiite groups with weapons, and these weapons have killed American soldiers.  This is likely true, but here's a news-flash to the seemingly clueless American media; Saudi Arabia is providing Sunnis with weapons.  While I don't know the percentages, I'm certain it stands to reason that more American soldiers have been killed by Sunnis than by Shiites.  So why on earth is Iran being singled out?  On top of this, Al Queda is the product of Wahhabism.  Wahhabism is the product of Saudi Arabia.  Its obvious that in order to make it in American politics, ignorance of history and the world around you is an asset.  Your average mid-western hick should have this all figured out by now, let alone the politicians.  And the media who can't seem to identify the hypocrisy in front of their noses don't deserve the title of 'news outlet'.   

"You and I are more like a wave than a permanent thing...Think of an experience from your childhood.  Something you can remember clearly; something you can see feel, maybe even smell, as if you were really there.  After all you really were there at the time, weren't you?  How else would you remember it?  But here is the bombshell; you weren't there.  Not a single atom that is in your body today was there when that event took place.  Matter flows from place to place, and momentarily comes together to be you.  Whatever you are therefore, you are not the stuff of which you are made.  If that doesn't make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, read it again until it does, because it is important."

-Steve Grand