Next stop Russia?

The cover story in the Economist is "Next stop Iran?" The world is watching as the Bush administration keeps up it drumbeat against Iran now. The Economist speculates about a "Wagnerian exit" for the Bush presidency.

Yesterday's L.A. Times reported on Russian president Vladimir Putin smackdown of the Bush administration, accusing it of (LAT paraphrase) "attempting to create a world in which it was free to ignore international law and impose its economic, political and military will."

(Wonder what Putin saw when he looked into Bush's soul?)

"We are witnessing an almost uncontained hyper-use of military force in international relations," Putin said. "One country, the United States, has overstepped its national borders in every way."

[snip]

Participants said that, coming after a conciliatory opening speech by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin's comments were widely resented by the hosts. One German questioner jokingly told Putin that he hoped the president had not set off "another world war."

Well at least we wouldn't have started it.

Today the Associated Press has more on the drumbeat:

BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. military officials on Sunday accused the highest levels of the Iranian leadership of arming Shiite militants in Iraq with sophisticated armor-piercing roadside bombs that have killed more than 170 troops from the American-led coalition.

Gosh! Hope President Bush doesn't find out who manufactures all those Russian-made AK-47s, RPGs and grenades.

Oops.