Is this what they teach in international relations courses?

And to what rationale do we owe the seemingly rash decision to go after Iranian operatives in Iraq?

Senior administration officials said the policy is based on the theory that Tehran will back down from its nuclear ambitions if the United States hits it hard in Iraq and elsewhere, creating a sense of vulnerability among Iranian leaders.

Brought to you by the "greet us with flowers" gang. At least the Bush White House is consistent in its misuse of the word "theory." Much like intelligent design, Bush's plan in Iraq has no basis in reality. What could possibly go wrong?

But if Iran responds with escalation, it has the means to put U.S. citizens and national interests at greater risk in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Crap. That's bad. But that's a worst-case scenario, right?

"This has little to do with Iraq. It's all about pushing Iran's buttons. It is purely political," the official said. The official expressed similar views about other new efforts aimed at Iran, suggesting that the United States is escalating toward an unnecessary conflict to shift attention away from Iraq and to blame Iran for the United States' increasing inability to stanch the violence there.

Oh boy.