Chins are wagging over the what is being called a slip-up by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. According to the New York Times, during an interview with a German cable news channel, Olmert reportedly said–
“Iran openly, explicitly and publicly threatens to wipe Israel off the map. Can you say that this is the same level, when they are aspiring to have nuclear weapons as America, France, Israel, Russia?” [Italics by Th’ Gaussling]
Oops! How do you say “Faux pas” in Hebrew?
It’s kind of silly that this is even an issue. For quite some time the only real questions have been- 1) How many coats of Turtle Wax are on the bomb casings? And, 2) Did they buy the extended warranty?
It’s an open question as to whether or not speaking publicly about its nukes enhances their deterrent effect for Israel. Look at that fetid Stalinist shrimp, Kim Jung Il. He waves his nuclear capability around like a brain damaged test monkey with a turd on a stick. And, of course, we afford him the courtesies alloted to a brain damaged test monkey. A’hem.
Lamentations on Chemistry 
Being all mystical about his WMDs didn’t work that well for Saddam. I mean Hussein. Why does everybody call him by his first name? We don’t say George, Tony and Vladimir.
Saddam made a huge error in bluffing while holding 8-high – and we’re talking hangman’s poker here.
“Hussein” as a moniker would lead to immediate confusion with King Hussein of Jordan, (and with perfect foresight, the political idol – Barak Hussein Obama). Besides, anybody called by just a first name is kinda wierd, aren’t they? Madonna and Prince immediately come to mind.
The Dictator Formerly Known as Saddam managed to pull off quite the circus act in keeping Iraq together. I reminds me of a Kurdish emigre I knew in grad school. She recalled the time as a young girl in Iraq of hearing the jets flying overhead and the sense of dread the sound gave her. She never elaborated on why and I didn’t press the question.
Had no idea that was Obama’s middle name. Hmmmm.
According to Wikipedia, Barak Hussein Obama was named after his father, who also had the middle name Hussein. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Personal_life
It is an interesting name and it will no doubt be noted by the conservative smear machine as Obama turns his boat towards the beacon of the White House.