Don't You Just Miss the Cold War?

Apparently George W. Bush does.

Putin: Iran is not developing nukes

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is convinced that Iran is not trying to develop nuclear weapons and says Russia will continue cooperating with Iran on its nuclear program, Russia's Interfax news reports.

Putin -- who met at the Kremlin with Iran's security chief Hasan Rowhani Friday -- said he would visit Iran soon, according to Interfax.

"The latest steps taken by Iran have convinced us that Iran does not intend to produce nuclear arms," Putin said.

"In this context, we will continue cooperation with Iran in all areas, including the nuclear energy field," Putin said.

On Thursday, Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency head Alexander Rumyantsev said the two countries would sign a deal this month allowing Iran to get nuclear fuel from Russia for its reactor in the southern city of Bushehr.

This certainly puts a new twist in George's plans for his next grand adventure. It's one thing for the United States to not participate when European nations work for a diplomatic resolution to tensions with Tehran. It's another thing entirely if Dubya starts dropping bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities while they are full of Russian contractors.

Iran having Syria on their side is one thing. Having the Russians for allies (and these days, by default, that almost by definition brings the Chinese and the Turks into the party) is something else entirely. If we can't expand the war on terror, I guess we can just go back to the cold war. It certainly played well for Reagan, eh?