Moldy Peaches

It is so annoying when all summer television has is re-runs, however, does it have to extend to the news? President Bush, speaking on Israeli television, indicated that he would consider using force as a last resort to press Iran to give up its nuclear program.

"All options are on the table," Bush, speaking at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, said in the interview broadcast on Saturday. Pressed further to say if that included the use of force, Bush replied: "As I say, all options are on the table. The use of force is the last option for any president and you know, we've used force in the recent past to secure our country."

Iran has angered both the European Union and the United States by resuming uranium conversion at the Isfahan plant after rejecting an EU offer of political and economic incentives in return for giving up its nuclear program. Tehran says it aims only to produce electricity and denies Western accusations it is seeking a nuclear bomb.

Bush made clear he still hoped for a diplomatic solution, noting that EU powers Britain, Germany and France had taken the lead in dealing with Iran.

Now, let's hope that cooler heads prevail and that Bush isn't listening to close to the same group of morons that had him invade Iraq. Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz (now head of the World Bank) and co should be frozen out of any major decisions in his second term.

There is a great article in today's Globe and Mail (subscription required) about how the US is not only losing its place in the world, but doing it rapidly and without a clue. Apparently, (as discussed here from time to time) record deficits - with no plan to eliminate them - (the trickle down effect articulated with a possible fix is frightening) and overstretching your military are a real problem.

Bush should get his domestic house in order before he brings the global economy to its knees.