Quickies: Iran, Israel, and America

There are reports this morning that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the so-called president of Iran, might announce a "softening of position on nuclear talks" when he appears at the United Nations later this week. On the Left, the reaction is celebratory: "The sanctions worked! No need for a strike!" On the Right, the usual wary watchfulness prevails, as it should when the subject is anything freighted with so much significance.

And then there's Israel:

Israel's defense minister says his country continues to have differences with the U.S. over Iran's disputed nuclear program....

Barak spoke Thursday hours after meeting the U.S. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. James A. Winnefeld. Earlier this week, Israeli officials said the sides were working closely in hopes of getting their positions in sync.

Israel believes time is running out to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The U.S. opposes any Israeli military action right now.

The only public official in Israel with nearly as much clout as the prime minister is the defense minister.

My take is that Iran is about to play another round of its version of "the Islamic Two-Step:" it will use suggestions of willingness to talk, and perhaps formally scheduled and structured talks about its nuclear program, to gain time in which to complete its acquisition of nuclear weapons. Islamic mouthpiece groups use variations of this tactic to gain legal and social concessions from Western nations, by implying that such concessions are the only way to placate the seething "Muslim street" and forestall further acts of Islamic violence.

It's all lies and diversions. Muslims are encouraged by Islam to lie to "infidels" when it's to the advantage of Islam. Israel, whose very survival depends on never trusting a promise from an Islamic state, is fully aware of this; America is not.

Stay tuned.