[tet68]

Interesting development. There seems to be a need for the Mullahs to ratchet this even higher, probably internal polling shows growing support. They will most likely continue to push the boundry but it might just blow up in their faces, one can only hope.

[alancarp]

Perhaps genning up their own ex post facto justification for the hostage taking: I would expect this to be used to be used to justify the bullying to their own people -- perhaps to raise some sort of patriotic spirit.

*sigh* - why is it so hard to the 'civilized world to develop and keep a backbone? One cruise missile leveling a government building in Tehran would be sufficient. Several more if they opted to kill the hostages.