Looming on the Horizon

Just a couple of quick links tonight. Seymour Hersh is back with more discussion about Iran (I last wrote about Hersh on this subject here). U.S. activities seem to be ticking up, and the implication of this is pretty clear. Crooks and Liars has video of Hersh discussing this on CNN's Late Edition.

Meanwhile, Kevin Drum brings up the subject and mentions a panel on this very issue going on this week at Mother Jones. A variety of Mid-East experts will be interacting with each other and with readers starting on Monday. The site already has their preliminary answers to the question: "How likely is a scenario in which the US or Israel strikes Iran before Bush leaves office? (Or is the Left falling for the hawks' propaganda?)"

There are certainly a lot of ins and outs on the issue, but I can't help but notice that this is an administration with a history of taking more extreme positions than the common wisdom assumes is possible. I also wonder if Dick Cheney has to somehow reassert his influence after what's been reported as his setback on the issue of North Korean nuclear policy.