Exercises in Hostility

Ominous signs that the U.S. is nearing an open conflict with Iran: naval exercises in the Persian Gulf have begun, only 4 days after 15 British naval personnel were seized by Iranian military. The exercises will involve simulating attacks on aircraft and shipping, and are certain to provoke a response from Iran. Surprised? Ultimate conflict with Iran has been the Bush Assministration's gameplan for some time ("Axis of Evil", cutoff of cooperation with Iran in fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan circa 2002, etc.). It's an article of faith among neocons that another preempetive war needs to be fought, this time against a far stronger opponent. This shows signs of being even more disastrous that the misadventure in Iraq, and yet the neocon nutjobs continue to roll.

Then, there's this.