UTTERLY INTRIGUING – AT 11:53 A.M. ET:  This is one of those James Bond stories that I just can't resist.  From the Jerusalem Post:

Without Mossad director Meir Dagan, the Iranian nuclear program would have been successfully completed years ago, Egyptian daily Al-Ahram claimed in an op-ed published Saturday.

What?  This is from an Egyptian paper?

"Over the past seven years, he has worked in silence, away from the media," the op-ed read. "He has dealt painful blows to the Iranian nuclear program … he is the Superman of the Jewish state."

Among the steps taken by Dagan against Teheran, Al-Ahram listed diplomatic action to embarrass the Islamic republic, action to fuel opposition protests, assassinations and covert attacks against nuclear facilities.

The idea that an Egyptian paper is saying this is beyond fascinating.  I doubt that it got printed without Egyptian government approval.  Is it a signal to Iran that Egypt stands with Israel on the threat Iran poses to the Mideast?  Is it a signal to the U.S. that Mideast nations can take care of Iran, without the on-again, off-again help of Washington?   

The op-ed stressed that while the Mossad under Dagan's leadership achieved many bold victories against Syria, Hizbullah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, it never took responsibility for its operations, but wisely chose to wait for the other side to declare that they had taken place.

COMMENT:  There have been a number of unexplained incidents involving the Iranian nuclear program, including the recent assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist.  There have also been reports, unconfirmed, of Israeli commando operations inside Iran. 

With American Iran policy in complete disarray, and Iran off the front pages, it may be up to Israel and even some temporary Arab allies to take care of the problem, if they can.

January 16, 2010