Hardball, Anyone?
Jules Crittenden

That’s what Stratfor suggests the US is playing in the abduction of that Iranian diplomat … who, Stratfor suggests, is an Iranian intelligence operative:

It is important to note that Sharafi’s position at the embassy is the kind of diplomatic posting that frequently would be a cover for intelligence operatives … kidnapping him would disrupt Iranian operations as the U.S. security offensive in Baghdad gets under way. Second, the United States has been very public in saying it intends to become more aggressive toward Iranian covert operations as part of its effort to bring pressure against Tehran … The snatch of a second secretary would fit into this effort.

Hey, I just remembered. Teheran doesn’t respect our diplomatic immunity or sovereignty of our embassy. So what obligation do we have to respect theirs?  ...

Fascinating.  Maybe someone’s trying to play us, which I think is more likely. Could be useful enough, for the reasons stated above. Sunnis as described above, or even the Iranians, as I suggested in an earlier post, trying to make us look bad and playing a double game.

Or, as Strafor suggests, the Americans are playing hard and dirty.  It’s got a Vietnam-era dirty tricks feel about it.  And you know something?  I’m OK with that. I like it. Fight fire with fire. The Iranian regime is not a sovereign government. It is a dictatorial terrorist organization that got itself voted in on a fixed election, but unlike most terrorist organizations, it is stupid enough to have a return address. It’s been able to get away with that for 28 years. But it is playing above its league.

Bitchslap it a few times, see what happens.