David Bernstein, just back from a trip to Israel, reports that the opinion on the Jewish Street is that the IDF should take whatever actions necessary to prevent Iran from getting the bomb. I have to wonder if this isn’t exactly what the Iranian government wants. They know that if they get a bomb and use it, they will get obliterated, and their radioactive smoldering remains will be international pariahs among the west and moderate Muslims. However, if they can provoke a conflict with Israel, they know they put the US Government in a bad situation between building a new Iraq and supporting our long time ally Israel. It would also be a way to turn the not-so-theocratic but fairly nationalistic youth in Iran against the west. The one thing they might have to fear - regime change - is unlikely due to the generally perceived lack of success in Iraq.

Crappy situation all around.