Shorter Robert Kaplan:

Yeah, I know we got it all wrong in Iraq, but Iran-Iran-Hitler-Israel-Iran-nuclear- military-Israel-Hitler-wipe-off-map-appeasement-Hitler-Iran-military-force-Israel-Iran- Hitler-appeasement-Iran, etc.

Sigh.

If I didn't keep reading this stuff with my own eyes, I'd swear it was a figment of someone's imagination. Then again, anyone thinking the U.S. is going to wage war on Iran while America's troops, not to mention it's reputation and legitimacy, is biting the dust in Iraq, probably is suffering from a fevered imagination.

Of course, it would be foolish not to take White House leaks and threats against Iran seriously. Although U.S. troops are in Iraq, we still have planes that can probably drop a bomb or two. But that's about it.

But what really dumbfounds me is the continued hankering for war by those apparently not satisfied or dissuaded by our Iraq misadventure. What sort of war do these writers think the U.S. can initiate, much less succeed at, in Iran or anywhere else now?

At the same time, it must be recognized that the Iraq war is a failure for the administration's partisans and other neo-con converts not because lives are being lost, IED's are still going off, or that Iraq is in chaos. The Iraq war is a failure because after the first three weeks of shock and awe, combined with the statute toppling in Baghdad square, this war has been remarkably devoid of mass destruction and glorious heroics, which the writers and think-tank hangers on need to experience, albeit vicariously, the rush of militarism.

We are governed and reported to by fools.

(thanks to Kevin Drum for the link).