What's really funny is that before "Bush's Axis of Evil" speech, Iran was rapidly becoming a co-conspirator to the US, if not an actual ally, helping us fight Al-Quaeda by denying them sanctuary and providing us with intelligence. Militant Sunni Arabs were not very popular in Shiite Persia.

Their allies, the Syrians, even tortured some prisoners for us, which would never have happened without Iranian blessing.

We are now paying the price, not only for the treacherous coup against Mossadegh that installed the Shah in power, but for eliminating the only Arab state in the Middle East capable of providing a counter to
Iran, the Iraquis.

So your news is a little late, we've been fighting a covert war with Iran for years, with cyber, sabotage, diplomatic and other means. I'm not surprised they are desperate to get their own bomb, or making deals with the Russians and Chinese. Its the only way they can guarantee they don't get "freedom" handed to them (along with their ass) on a silver platter, just like the Iraquis.

However, knowing all this does NOT mean they are nice guys, or that they aren't crazier than bedbugs, or that we should just let them have their own nukes. The key to understanding geopolitics is to remember that just because they aren't saints doesn't mean we are, and vice-versa.

Damn, we will be paying for that Texan's meddling in the Middle East for another generation.