■"Iran looking to build usuable nuclear weapons, Powell says," by "wire services," USA Today, 18 November 2004, p. 14A.

"Russia claims advances in nuclear arms," by Smita P. Nordwall," USA Today, 18 November 2004, p. 14A.

Can't resist misspelling nuclear. After all, itís the goal of the blogger to write as he speaks, and as viewers and listeners the world over remind me, I constantly mispronounce that word!

First off, on the way out the door, Colin Powell admits that he believes Iran is well on their way to weaponizing nuclear bombs via missiles. As many have suspected, the warhead design probably came to Tehran via Pakistan. What Powell seemed to be saying was that Tehran apparently is making that design work with its existing missiles, which would suggest that Iran basically has all the pieces in place to unveil their counter to Israel long-held nuclear monopoly in the region.

Some see great danger in this. I see a strategic opportunity.

As for Putin's claim that Russia has developed some fab new nuclear weapon technology. Don't be surprised if it's not that fab but simply Russia reminding the world that it still matters in terms of defense technology. Having a technology is one thing, weaponizing it and manufacturing it and testing it and fielding it and maintaining it and working in into your defense doctrine and training your troops to employ it and . . . are all other things.