Even though this is going completely unnoticed by MSM, I am sure Cheney and neocons are scared shitless and calling for a quicker attack on Iran. While most of us liberals are thinking NIE halts drumbeat for attacking Iran, I am sure Cheney and AIPAC are saying “hey attacking our currency like this is a provocation so that we do not need nuclear weapons any more in order to justify attack”.

I think Iran’s move, while shrewd because neocons are presently down because of NIE, is the kind of action imperialists like Cheney will consider deserve an immediate military response even if it is illegal.

We need to start WALKING. Living more simply so others can simply live!

Why do I remember Nancy Sinatra moving more when she sang this song.
This song so applies to the Bush administration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ECyTGZjOJc

(I’d remind that, prior to Junior’s Iraq) invasion, Putin placed Russian destroyers/battleships in Persian gulf as response to BushCo/Neocon rumblings against Iran up to that time. This was mostly backpaged in MSM, but most significant.

But then, the enemy of their enemies was not their friend (calling them part of the Axis of Evil & such). So, Iran gets friendlier with Russia, as a counter-balance to the US. Russia has also been a problematic neighbor, but now the -stans serve as a buffer.

“Counter balance” preceeded timeline you describe.

I’d remind that, prior to Junior’s Iraq

Now that I’ve read this NYRB article, this water-dragon triple-water water-carrier sports fan might have trouble watching next year’s Olympics.

Currently the rest of the world is dealing in a currency that isn’t their own. So what if oil is priced in Yen? Yes there may be exchange premiums but that is the case now for other countries, and they aren’t dying on the vine. Sure it will be a bit of an inconvenience but others have managed in the same situation.

On Israel you should realize that if Israel goes after Iran, and then someone else goes after Israel, the US by treaty and because of the big Political Donors to both the Democrats and Republicans will be quickly in the fray.

You can say it is wrong, that it is crazy, that it is too fast, just like you did with Iraq, but just like Iraq, the US will be in there slogging away.