Iran has declared that it will resume nuclear conversion at Esfahan within one or two days. Europe has requested an emergency meeting of the IAEA to pressure Iran not to resume nuclear fuel cycle work. Israel is pressuring Ukraine to demand from Iran the 12 nuclear-capable X-55 cruise missiles that were smuggled there four years ago.

All of this is happening as the talks with North Korea are drawing to a crucial, and so far unpredictable, end.

So is World War III imminent? Hardly.

Over reaction is exactly what these unlikely allies are fishing for. The coincidence of declared threats by both countries is a bit too convenient. By cranking the nuclear threat pressure simultaneously, both North Korea and Iran are hoping to walk away with the most handouts.

This kind of poll, while fun, is largely worthless as any sort of gauge of general public opinion, but it's a great gauge of who's reading this blog.

About a half are solidly for Dems, a third are here as spoilers from the GOP.

I think that's great.  There's a good body of loyalists here, and a solid contingent from the other side to keep us from getting out of line. 

If only the good guys were here, we'd get no talking points to rebut and absolutely no drama.  It'd be like the original Terminator without Arnold.  If he's not there to menace you for 90 minutes there's no relief when you crush him in the 50ton hydraulic press.

Not that I want Kilgore personally crushed in some horrible way... just his political career.