The answer from the mullahs... not so soon!

Now, we have it. The Iranian mullahs have confirmed today (Reuters, July 10, 2006) that they won't be forthcoming with an answer for the EU and the United States vis-a-vis the nuclear inducement package which was offered to them last June. The EU, via their ever brave Mr. Solana, had expected a "substantial response" from the Iranians, but instead he has heard that "... we will not give a definite answer. We will only discuss questions and ambiguities regarding the offer,". Now, that's mullahs' speak for stonewalling. The ever optimistic Mr. Solana is not deterred, even though the regime foreign minister, Mottaki has said that the G8 members "should not take decisions that could harm the current positive atmosphere in efforts to resolve the issue." (Reuters)

Your guess is as good as this author, that the new-found boldness and courage by the Iranian mullahs, in the face of the international onslaught, is reflective of the mullahs' strategy in Iraq. Suffice to say, that according to a retired US four-star general , despite the eight thousand British troops in the region, “the Iranians could take Basra with ten mullahs and one sound truck.” (The Iran Plans, New Yorker, April 17, 2006).