I would add that for the Iranian President to say things about wiping Israel off the map at this time, and then to reaffirm it repeatedly and call up public demonstrations is disturbing as well. In fact, if Iran were having thoughts of doing something soon, the obviously smart and tactical thing to do would be to assure everyone that they have no such intention.
Especially at the exact time that much of the world, even the UN and Europe, are desperately hoping that Iran will be good and appear to be benign so that they won't have to 'do anything' about the Iranian nuke sites, which would certainly stir up a hornet's nest and no one wants to do that. To blurt out threats now is almost a guarantee that Israel or someone else will 'do something' about them.
Either the Iranians have no concept of strategy and deception, or they know that someone is about to 'do something'. Or, there is the small possibility that they are just stupid and blathering and impotent, and did I mention stupid?
They may be stupid, but that's not something I really want to depend on.
Either the Iranians have no concept of strategy and deception, or they know that someone is about to 'do something'. Or, there is the small possibility that they are just stupid and blathering and impotent, and did I mention stupid?
OK, I'll go with door number two... Iranians are strategic and paranoid. They live and breath the stuff - you don't want to play any game that requires both speed and complex strategy with an Iranian. Their drawback is the overlay of Muslim thinking - something that puts an irrational patina on all other thoughts... But they're not stupid. And that leaves "they know someone is about to do something". Hmmmm, so the reaction to what they said, then the reaction to that, then the exposure of a break, then resolution - and that's what they want. Also, they know something we don't know. Something that makes this move rational within their rather irrational system.