Just more posturing

ARTICLE: Iran threatens `illegal' nuclear steps, Associated Press, Mar 21, 2007

What would you expect him to say in response? "My bad"?

This is a negotiation and Tehran didn't care for our latest offering. Don't hang on such exchanges for understanding. It's like trying to figure out a football game by only listening to referee calls.

Thanks to Steven in Minnesota for sending this.

Comments

[CitSAR]

I would expect them to do exactly what they did. Try and change the headlines in the only way they could... invent an attack, international incident or simply an insult to the Iranian People.

Sanctions will hurt and embarass the iranian government and population (face its all face) and so did the sudden appearance of the French Aircraft Carrier in the Gulf.

In this case, blaiming Israel isnt believable, so they kidnap coalition or UN sanctioned military and bluff their hand as "This is why we have to have nukes -to ensure we get some respect around here!"

In this case respect means political survival.

[michael]

It's like trying to figure out a football game by only listening to referee calls.

That's an excellent analogy and highlights one of my beefs with the modern media. They can do a decent job of reporting events and incidents, but lack the intellegence and vision to explain how such events fit into the strategic picture.

[CitSAR]

To add to the above comment: In Iran the kidnapped sailor issue isnt getting a lot of play. It seems to be overridden by the escape from prison of a financial fellon that bribed a number of goverment members and was just recapured.Perhaps, "changing the channel" had multiple purposes.