Playing Constitutional Chicken

"Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell cited multiple linkages between Saddam and al Qaida in a watershed February 2003 speech to the United Nations Security Council to build international support for the invasion. Almost every one of the examples Powell cited turned out to be based on bogus or misinterpreted intelligence."

This Just In, II

Alistair Lyon writes for Reuters: "Five years on, Iran can thank the United States for unwittingly aiding its drive for regional power by ousting Saddam Hussein, one of Tehran's deadliest foes.

"The U.S. military had already defeated Afghanistan's Taliban after the September 11 attacks on U.S. cities in 2001 -- with the unintended consequence of wiping out another of Iran's enemies and tilting the local balance of forces in Tehran's favor.

"'The removal of these two regimes without powerful successor states benefited Iran greatly . . . and opened elbow room for Iran to spread its influence,' said Vali Nasr, senior fellow at the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations.

"Iran cannot entirely rule out U.S. military action to destroy its nuclear sites, and its oil-reliant economy may prove vulnerable a few years hence, but for now it is riding high. . . .

"Windfall oil revenues have further fuelled the Islamic Republic's heady sense of power under its combative president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has defied Western-led efforts to contain Tehran's nuclear aspirations through U.N. sanctions.

"'Every 24 hours we are earning $270 million . . . in hard currency -- a magic amount,' said Iranian economist Saeed Leylaz. 'Iran can transfer its petrodollars to buy loyalty internally and strategic partnerships externally.'"

Iraq Watch

Eugene Robinson writes in his Washington Post opinion column: "Has anyone noticed that Iraq, supposedly transformed into an oasis of peace and tranquility by George W. Bush's troop surge, is growing less peaceful and tranquil by the day? . . .

"When the Bush administration celebrates a 60 percent reduction in overall violence in Iraq, it's easy to forget that this is compared with June 2007, when the sectarian civil war was raging and bombings with scores of victims were a regular occurrence. The surge managed only to reduce the level of violence from apocalyptic to agonizing -- and now even those gains seem to be slipping."

Cheney to the Mideast

As I noted yesterday, Cheney leaves on Sunday for a trip to the Middle East.

Bush said yesterday that Cheney would "reassure people that the United States is committed to a vision of peace in the Middle East."

But Cheney doesn't usually do reassurance. So what's he really up to?

John D. McKinnon writes in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required): "Administration officials suggested that Mr. Cheney, with his no-nonsense style, will be pressing for speedier progress on peace talks. He also will be seeking to advance the broader U.S. vision of security in the region, anchored in a peaceful and democratic Iraq."

Or could it be all about the oil? Brian Knowlton writes in the International Herald Tribune: "Cheney, who leaves Sunday, will meet with King Abdullah in Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil producer and the de facto leader of OPEC."

And yet, as Knowlton notes: "At a time when some OPEC producers are skeptical of the U.S. role in Iraq and the region and others, like Venezuela, are frankly hostile, it was unclear what enticements Cheney might have to offer."

Me, I'd try real hard to find out what Cheney tells the Israelis about Iran.

Cheney and McCain

Cheney spoke last night at a Georgia State Republican Party fundraiser. And yes, it was almost entirely a rehash of his standard chicken-dinner speech, including that hoariest of opening shticks: "A welcome like that is almost enough to make me want to run for office again. (Laughter.) Almost, I said."

In 21 minutes and 3,000 words, he mentioned presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain only once. And then only in passing.

Is Cheney entirely on board the McCain bandwagon? Sure doesn't sound like it.

Live Online

I'll be Live Online tomorrow at a special time: Noon ET. Come join the conversation.

And advanced notice: I'll be off on Thursday and Friday.

Late Night Humor

Jay Leno, via U.S. News: "God bless him, President Bush says we are not in a recession. By we, he means himself and the board of Halliburton."

And Leno again: "Here is a . . . wonderful story. Last week, Frank Buckles, the oldest living American World War I veteran, 107 years old," visited "the White House and met with President Bush. Yeah. The sad part: After the meeting, Bush sent him to Iraq."

Cartoon Watch

Tony Auth on Bush's torture legacy; Tom Toles on economic torture; Tom Tomorrow on the cost of the war; David Horsey on oil profits; Ann Telnaes and Ben Sargent on Bush and McCain; and Jim Morin on Bush stalling for time.