AND NOW, AS FRANK SANG IT, THE END IS NEAR - AT 4:38 P.M. ET:  In our relations with Iran, that is.  And Mr. Obama may finally be learning that he's not heading up a student government:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Frustrated by Iran's continued defiance of demands to come clean on its nuclear program, the Obama administration is leaning toward imposing new sanctions, even if it must act alone.

Administration officials acknowledged growing concern that there may not be international consensus to expand the existing U.N. sanctions, despite Tehran's apparent rejection of a confidence-building measure proposed by the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog in hopes of making progress on the nuclear issue.

Wait.  Now wait.  Weren't we told that we were resetting our relations with Russia?  I guess that reset button was a factory reject.  And didn't we give up missile defense in Eastern Europe for better cooperation with Moscow?  I guess they didn't get the e-mail.  And isn't the world helping us because The One is in the White House?  I guess the world didn't get its instructions.

To that end, the administration is quietly supporting legislation in Congress that would give President Barack Obama a broad new array of authority to target Iran's energy sector by penalizing foreign firms that sell and ship refined petroleum products to Iran. The regime is heavily dependent on gasoline, kerosene and propane imports.

It is probably too late.  Iran is known to be laying plans to make up any shortfall.

The legislation would also allow the administration to go after insurance and reinsurance concerns that cover oil tankers and their cargo. And the U.S. could also target companies that provide Iran with covert technology used to crack down on protesters and democracy advocates as it did during demonstrations this summer after a disputed national election.

We saw the good that did.  As Johnny Carson used to ask, "Notice the difference?"

COMMENT:  The administration's policy with Iran is a shambles, made so by flashing weakness rather than strength.

And the question that really bothers the appeasement set:  How long will the Israelis wait before taking action, and ruining our day?

October 30, 2009