To Jonathan Schanzer over at The National Review Online, The American Thinker says 'Welcome to the club!'  Mr. Schanzer's excellent piece, "Tehran's Hidden Hand," further confirms Iran's role as a major power in the Axis of Evil.  The article specifically details the mullahs' support of anti—coalition forces in Iraq, and even discusses details of US and Iranian engagements on the Iraq—Iran border and Iranian forces ambushing Iraqi water patrols in the Shatt al—Arab area south of Basra.

Mr. Schanzer is correct in urging Washington to confront the mullahs about Iran's 'nefarious list of activities' that stymie coalition efforts in Iraq.  However, these 'nefarious activities' are just the tip of the iceberg.  Had he read these two articles , he would understand the critical global and regional nature of Iran's strategy to dominate the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq, and by extension, the economies of the West and Japan.

Meanwhile, The Ministry of Truth (The Washington Post) still fails to acknowledge that it and Richard Clarke were, and remain wrong about the nature of the terrorist threat.  In an article entitled "For a 'New Imperialism,'" Sebastian Mallaby attempts to remake the tired argument that the mysterious 'loose network' of terrorist groups is our prime threat in the world today.  He continues to promote as fact that a 'non—state based in a failed state hit us on Sept. 11.'  In other words, the 'realist' national security viewpoint of nation—state actors held by President Bush's administration is not applicable when dealing with this threat.

It would behoove Mr. Mallaby to read not only The American Thinker articles, but to also read Laurie Mylroie's excellent piece debunking this operational concept.  Given all the synchronization of 'terrorist' operations on 9—11, in Iraq, and in and around the Arabian Peninsula, it is clear that al—Qaeda, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, while motivated by the Jihad philosophy, are nevertheless 'regiments' coordinated and supported by hostile nation—states.  Yes, Mr. Mallaby, there truly is an Axis of Evil, and it consists of nation—states, even though Osama Bin Laden makes for a good poster boy.

Posted by Doug  05 11 04