It is quite clear again that the Israeli tail is wagging the US dog. Iran is no threat to America, the only reason any war would break out is in order to maintain Israel's nuclear monopoly in the middle east. Crocker Bush's lap dog in Baghdad keeps talking about how Iran is sponsoring attacks against the US. Well it turns out that our government has an open 400 million dollar a year budget for attacks and sabotage in Iran. Talk about pot calling the kettle black when the US accuses Iran of "interfering" in Iraq and "sponsoring attacks" against Americans. Personally, I don't know how the hypocrites and liars in the Bush administration can stand to look at themselves without vomitting. The Gambino crime family is more honest and has less blood on its hands.

If the US/Israel bomb Iran then that is justified but if Iran reacts by seeking to close shipping lanes then that is an act of war. Why is it OK to bomb Iran but it is not OK for Iran to react?

As you said the war of words is little more than hysteria and that is about the level of wisdom that many of us expect from these parties. Nevertheless, I am at a loss to understand why the US would sanction the bombing of Iran because it would not tolerate Iran exploding bombs in the USA.

If there is a principle or standard involved on the part of Israel/USA, apart from a crude and violent agenda that these countries are seeking to impose on other Middle Eastern nations, please tell me what it is.

If this bombing raid takes place then Iran will turn of its oil taps. Other oil producing nations who regard the US/Israel bombing activities as illegal and unjustified may follow suit. The West will then pay a huge price in the form of a Depression. Will the US then threaten other nations with violence on the basis that it is entitled to their oil.

What rights do other nations have when confronted by the US? Why does the US seek so many confrontations with other nations, overtly and covertly?

The US blames other nations for its actions but it fails to accept responsibility for the decisions that it makes including those that cause a deterioration in relationships with nations that it does not like.

For some odd reason I'm remembering the promise made by the Bush Administration a few weeks ago that "evidence" of Iran's involvement in Iraq would be shown to the world in the form of captured military hardware that was supposedly so damning it stated 'Made In Tehran' and a 1 - 800 call the Quds Force hot-line number on all of it. But when the time for the evidence to be displayed to the world came...it turned out that none of it was displayed for the world to see...

Because none of it could be proven to have originated in Iran; yet no major media outlets (save Keith Olberman on MSNBC) reported this inconvenient truth or squelched display of weaponry "proven" to have originated in Iran.

All most Americans were left with was the impression that there was 'proof' Iranian weaponry had been used against U.S. Troops in Iraq; mission accomplished by the Bushies even though in reality that 'proof' doesn't and never has existed....

The Societal Retard

I am deeply disturbed by Liz Cheney's incindiary comments about war with Iran. First of all, why is this news Mr. Milbank? Ms. Cheney left the State Dept. in 2006, so if she is not speaking on beahlf of our Government, then why report this in your column? This is irresponsible rhetoric when our troops are already fighting 2 wars -- on fronts bordering Iran. If Israel launched attacks, it is patently obvious our troops might being targeted for retaliation. I served in the U.S. Army and I know for a fact that she hasn't. I love my country and do not want to see us blindly following these chickhawk neocons who are trying to destroy America. Another front to this supposed War on Terror would only create more instability, place our troops in harms way, undermine our efforts in Iraq & Afghanistan, be potentially devastating for our economy which is already in recession, etc. I continue to wonder why people like Ms. Cheney have such a wide platform upon which to spout these volatile remarks which are completely antithetical to America's larger interests, history and tradition.