OPINION: "The Emerging Axis of Iran and Venezuela," by Robert M. Morgenthau, Wall Street Journal, 9 September 2009.

A nice, long prosecutorial presentation from Morgenthau, who argues we need "to ensure this partnership produces no poisonous fruit."

Basic description here makes sense: two countries bent on becoming regional powers, seek in each other an ally for nefarious activities. Why? Neither succeeds at un-nefarious activities, and both are in the process of running down their real economies, so like-minded autocrats attract.

Do they target their nefarious, usually criminal activities? Yes.

Do you expose them like crazy? Absolutely. Especially when we're talking an "Islamic Republic" getting in bed with a narcotics trafficking power.

But realize this: we've gone from serious powers like China and the Sovs linking up (all those years ago) to a world in which our biggest package right now is Iran and Venezuela.

Yes, as Morgenthau argues, these are arguably two of the most dangerous regimes in the world. That just shows you, though, how danger has shrunk over the past several decades.

But absolutely, we should f--k these two up every chance we get.