No, I'm Not Prescient...I Just Pay Attention

Izzy Stone was famous for saying that a newspaper should report the news so that no one is surprised when they read a story. I hope this one doesn't surprise you...

U.S. curtailed on reforming Iran

BY TIMOTHY M. PHELPS AND CRAIG GORDON
WASHINGTON BUREAU

January 14, 2006, 9:08 PM EST

WASHINGTON -- One year ago, the United States was actively identifying targets inside Iran for a possible bombing campaign, according to intelligence sources.

The official rhetoric of the United States toward Iran had for some time been nearly as bellicose as it had been toward Iraq two years before, with the most hard-line U.S. officials making it clear they were interested in fomenting regime change in Tehran as well as in Baghdad.

But now, despite all the tough talk in Washington and Europe last week about Iran's nuclear program, the reality is that the diplomatic options are limited and, in part because of Iraq, the military option is almost nonexistent.

If it does, you missed my post the other day.

Phelps and Gordon, of course, have far more access to source material than I do, and so their article is a must-read if you are interested in Iran.