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"What drives Ahmadinejad to articulate this vision? The fact that he is right: a struggle to the death is the logical end result of a conflict between our two civilizations. A theocratic dictatorship based on the imposition of religious dogma by brute force and terror cannot coexist in the world with a thriving secular republic based on the principle of individual rights. They have to come into conflict."

The theory goes that Iran is in fact two countries; one a liberal, young, western obsessed generation and the other, a bunch of old time hold-outs from the days of the revolution. There is also a large "muddled middle" that is just plain tired of the revolution and wants the theocracy controlled government to lighten up.

Bombing them just unites the three groups against the west. However, the US really can't afford to let the current government to control The Bomb and dominate the region.

Thus the dilemma. Those who propose war clearly don't grasp the complexities. However, those who promote peace really don't have any type of solution to propose.

The most likely outcome at this point will be an Iranian nuke, with some type of worldwide containment policy against them. Of course, containment won't work, since the Iranians still have plenty of oil and money to leverage. It is a perfectly lousy solution, but it beats a major war, at least for now.

"But the Bush administration has steadfastly refused to confront Iran or to formulate any real policy toward the Islamic Republic."

I would be very surprised if the Bush administration DIDN'T have a lot of ideas concerning Iran. I would also be very surprised if they went around blabbing them.

Iran isn't Iraq which isin't Afghanistan which isin't Syria which isn't...etc.......

Early on in this new kind of war for the 21st century the President articulated his thoughts on the position of any nation like Iran.

I've been wondering about that given recent statements and actions by the mullah leadership & government.

I wouldn't be surprised if they come after us more openly in Iraq, via the Iranian-controlled Shiite militias in the British sector, once they have nuclear weapons, in the belief that their nukes would deter a U.S. invasion.

"What drives Ahmadinejad to articulate this vision?"

All indications are that his motivation is based on fascism rooted in the certitude of spiritual righteousness. There is no room to argue with his god's will which is inseparable from his own. As the hand of god on earth, opinions contrary to his, are wrong. To him: We are decadent sinners - not artists. We are conspiring spies - not creative entrepreneurs. We are immature and lazy - not free. But it is he and his crew who suffers from the ultimate identity crisis, not us. We are humble and ask for reform while he wishes us dead... We are patient with his hate because we are wise - not because we are weak. We provide incentives to change - while he spits in our face. He and his crew are like children disobeying a room full of adults. But unlike a child, I see no capacity for Iran's leaders to grow out of their infantile phase. Why? Because they are fascist, certain and willing to kill the patient and wise... Hmmm, there is conflict on the horizon but it has always been there, hasn’t it? It’s growing larger but at a pace that breeds complacency in the free world. It’s as if no one can hear the alarm anymore… You hear it! So there is still hope… Great post!