Behind diplomacy, Iran sees a fight coming
By Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor

TEHRAN, IRAN - From Washington, the rhetoric calls for diplomatic
solutions to the nuclear standoff with Iran. But Tehran also hears 
a growing drumbeat for war that echoes the build-up to U.S. invasions 
of Afghanistan and Iraq.

In preparation for any strike on its budding nuclear facilities, Iran
is making clear that the price will be high u burnishing its military
forces, boosting its missile program, and warning of a painful
response against U.S. and Israeli targets in the region.

"They see a fight coming, regardless of what they do, so they are
getting ready for it," says a European diplomat in Tehran, referring
to ideologues who think a U.S. invasion is a "very real prospect."
Even moderate conservatives fear the "Iraqization of the Iran
dossier," says the diplomat. The result is that Iran is "constantly
trying to project strength" and is developing a new doctrine of
asymmetric warfare.

(snip / snip)

Copyright (c) 2005 The Christian Science Monitor.

                             -==-

Full article at USA Today ....
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-03-30-iran-nukes_x.htm

Cheers, Steve..

---