ANOTHER IRANIAN POKE IN THE EYE - AT 8:48 A.M. ET:  Part of President Obama's education in office has been the behavior of Iran, which has responded to every act of presidential "outreach" with a poke in the American eye.  Now, the latest poke, as the Washington Post reports:

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran said Monday it would try three Americans jailed since crossing the border from Iraq in July, a step certain to aggravate the U.S. at a time when Tehran is locked in a standoff with the West over its nuclear program.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki did not say when proceedings would begin or specify the charge other than to say the Americans had "suspicious aims." In November, however, authorities accused the Americans of spying.

It's trumped up.  The three may be witless and immature, drifting across a dangerous border, but I really don't think they're "spies." Americans, as anyone with intelligence experience knows, don't normally become spies in foreign countries.  We recruit "native assets" for that.  An American stands out like a sore thumb. 

There are concerns in the U.S. that Iran could use them as bargaining chips in talks over its nuclear program or in seeking the return of Iranians they say are missing.

Yes, of course.  The Iranians love to hold hostages.  They could even house them at Iran's main nuclear facility at Natanz, and publicize the fact, making an American strike on Natanz that much more complicated.

December 14, 2009