For more years than I can remember I've read about the run-up to the Second World War and found it astounding how gullible Chamberlain and his cabinet (with the exception of Churchill) were.

But, at least you could mount a (weak) defense that there had never been such a situation that confronted the West in the form of Chancellor Hitler.

Our president, however, can not claim that there is no precedent for what confronts him and the West. This would be funny, except that the consequences of Mr. Obama's hubris and ignorance could be the death of millions.

The mullahs are not like the members of the Politburo. The Soviets didn't believe that a death in the service of jihad would bring a heavenly and privileged afterlife.

The Iranians really do believe that the "12th Imam" will arise just before the end of the world. And, when the mullahs have a way to hasten the end of the world, they will certainly use it. 

Peace in our time, redux. Laurence Norman and Jay Solomon write at MarketWatch:

he U.S. and Iran held their highest-level talks in 36 years on Thursday, in what some officials present described as a substantial meeting over Tehran's disputed nuclear program that could begin to counter decades of enmity.