Iranians spit on EU. Europeans find hopeful signs in spittle.

This from AP News:

A confidential summary of talks between key European powers and Iran made available to The Associated Press on Tuesday shows there has been no progress in getting Iran to scrap nuclear enrichment — even though Tehran acknowledged it does not need nuclear energy.

Sounds like bad news...right? Wrong. Sounds like PROGRESS!

Diplomats familiar with the talks said on condition of anonymity that the atmosphere between the two sides had improved during the second round held in Geneva on Jan. 17.

Improved? Because the Iranians don't feel the need to hide their intentions anymore? I dunno if I'd call that an improvement.

A separate confidential memorandum summarizing talks focusing on political and security themes said the atmosphere was "more conducive and productive" than the initial round held Dec. 21.

Conducive and productive in what manner...?

"Well...yeah, they spit in our face by admitting they have no economic need for nuclear power...but we were thirsty anyway." Or is that too harsh an assessment?

Europeans: "You don't REALLY need nuclear energy for economic reasons do you...?"

Iranians: "Nope."

Europeans: "Oh, smashing! So you're going to stop then, right?"

Iranians: "Nope."

Europeans: "I see. Well could you tell us WHY you need nuclear capability?"

Iranians: "Nope."

Europeans: "I see. Can we talk again next week?"

Iranians: "Yep."

Europeans: "Ah-HAH! Agreement! I'm so glad we had this chance to talk...."

Update:

On a more serious note, the Counterterrorism Blog discusses recent Iranian saber rattling aimed at the U.S. and Israel:

Iran chimed in today with some saber-rattling. Brigadier-General Mohammad-Ali Jafari, commander of the Revolutionary Guards' ground forces, was quoted today as saying, "We will counter any stupid action by Israel and its master [the United States] with firmness and in an astonishing way." Referring to the 1980-88 war with Iraq, Jafari stated, "We pushed the Baathist enemy from our country within one and a half years. With the experience and skills from that war and in the case of any invasion, the invaders will be defeated in less than one and a half months."

Iran
Nukes