Iran Promises 'Blow' On Feb. 11

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vowed that his country "will deliver [a] telling blow to global powers on Feb. 11" to coincide with the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. During a cabinet meeting today, Ahmadinejad stated:

"The Islamic Revolution opened a window to liberty for the human race, which was trapped in the dead ends of materialism...If the Islamic Revolution had not occurred, liberalism and Marxism would have crushed all human dignity in their power-seeking and money-grubbing claws. Nothing would have remained of human and spiritual principles."

So what could this surprise possibly entail? A new fast-food chain to outperform Pizza Hut on a global scale? A star-studded women's soccer team to take on the world? Or maybe a line of Iranian luxury automobiles that will crush the likes of Mercedes, Rolls Royce, or Lexus?

Obviously, the foremost concern that comes to mind is nukes. If true, Iran will either flex its muscle with nuclear weapons on said date, or reveal to the world a functioning nuclear power plant. Regardless, the US has beefed up its presence in the region via naval ships and Patriot missile batteries. Israel, too, has vowed to prohibit Iran from going nuclear (as it did in the 1981 aerial strike against Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor).

But how did we get to this point? Wasn't this administration's savvy diplomacy supposed to convince our enemies to stand down; to lay down their arms? In the eyes of evil men, diplomacy is seen as weakness, and an opportunity to advance whatever nefarious plans they concoct (and that their own diplomats deny existing in the first place).

Commenting on the recent US build-up in the middle east, Chris McGreal of the UK Guardian said:

"The deployment comes after Obama's attempts to emphasise diplomacy over confrontation in dealing with Iran – a contrast to the Bush administration's approach – have failed to persuade Tehran to open its nuclear installations to international controls."

So diplomacy failed, huh? No surprise. Again, perceived weakness (such as Obama's recent world apology tour) only provokes our enemies. On the contrary, it has been American power that has kept free nations safe around the world for decades.

Reagan's famous motto was never "Peace Through Diplomacy" or "Peace Through Apology." It was "Peace Through Strength."

As we ride down that road to February 11th, how about another swill of that Hopium?