Rumsfeld On Iran: "They’re just a big, paper tiger"

Bush Passing, Perhaps, Only Half-Buck To 2008 Winner

May Leave Iraq, But Says “I Want Iran – Big-time! ... They’re Mine!”

Following a ceremony at the White House this morning, celebrating Greek Independence Day, President Bush, speaking briefly to reporters, reiterated his comments as to leaving the war in Iraq to “future presidents” but added a caveat that has Washington buzzing.

“That’s true,” said the President, “The future president – that means, the person elected after me, you know – will have to settle the Iraqi conflict but I’m taking Iran. I want Iran – big-time and their all mine!”

The President’s staff quickly ushered him along, before reporters could ask a follow-up question.

This follows the statement made in a press conference earlier this week. When asked if there was a date, or timetable when there would be no more American Troops in Iraq, the President responded, “That, of course, is an objective. And that will be decided by future presidents and future governments of Iraq”

Iran Invasion Coming?

The Iran reference sent an electric buzz through the nation’s capital, as many look to piece together recent actions and statements by the Administration, to see if an invasion of Iran is imminent.

Yesterday, in Baghdad, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad accused Iran of supporting the Iraqi Governments protracted political process and giving aid and training to Shiite Muslim militias.

"Our judgment is that training and supplying, direct or indirect, takes place, and that there is also provision of financial resources to people, to militias, and that there is presence of people associated with Revolutionary Guard and with MOIS," said the Ambassador, according to the Washington Post.

Earlier this week, the Bush Administration, admitting to problems in Iraq, with a significant part of the population having difficulty in finding the Road To Democracy, leveled charges that there was evidence the Iranians are naming streets and avenues in Iraq.

And last week, President Bush released his update National Security Strategy, which calls for the continuation of the policy of his doctrine of preemptive war against terrorists and hostile states with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan appeared to be caught off-guard by the President’s comments about Iran.

“Are you sure he said that?” quizzed McClellan. “He didn’t say that “people are saying I want to attack Iran”, or that “they say I want to go after Iran”, something like that?”

Rumsfeld: "Something Maureen Dowd Would Say"

Over at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said he wasn’t aware of the President’s statements, but welcomed them.

“Ohhhh, it would be no big deal to take Iran. They’re just a big, paper tiger. It sounds more like something that that writer ... that Maureen Dowd gal would say. ... But don’t ask me, I’m just an eccentric old uncle who pops off and is ignored”

“Just the same,” said Hugh P. Varicator, a consultant with the conservative think tank, 'Cry Wolf', “if I were Iran, I wouldn’t do anything in the upcoming days or weeks to provoke the President. His hourglass is running out of sand as to blaming the media for the mess he has in Iraq, he just might take the slightest jab as a reason to launch us into Iran.”

“After all, he never did answer Helen Thomas’s question the other day, on why we went into Iraq.”

President Bush never did answer Helen Thomas's question on why we went into Iraq