today

As an interpreter for the British general who commands some 30,000 Nato troops in Afghanistan, the soldier would be privy to highly sensitive military and political information. Common in such circumstances but unless he is a double agent, quite a blow to the West. Officially Iran long supported the opposition Mujahideen against the Taliban until the radical Sunni government was overthrown by US-led forces in late 2001.

But some analysts have suggested that Tehran may now be partially backing the Taliban to embarrass Western forces and ensure they are bogged down in Afghanistan.

In Dubai. Blair had said: "There is a monumental struggle going on worldwide between those who believe in democracy and moderation, and forces of reaction and extremism," "there were elements of the government of Iran, openly supporting terrorism in Iraq to stop a fledgling democratic process; trying to turn out a democratic government in Lebanon; flouting the international community's desire for peace in Palestine at the same time as denying the Holocaust and trying to acquire nuclear weapons capability; and yet a large part of world opinion is frankly almost indifferent. It would be bizarre if it weren't deadly serious."

On Tuesday, the Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, predicted that Britain, Israel and the US would eventually disappear, like the Egyptian pharaohs. "Any power that is close to Allah will survive while the powers who are far from God will disappear like the pharaohs."

IMO: Both of these dodgy guys, Blair and Ahmadinejad, are stating their rather one-sided views. Fortunately for the West, Blair has science more on his side and the Iranians, whilst moderately correct in their own way, must know by now that the right course is sensible moderate secularism for a Govt (especially after the 'marxist' USSR). Sure we should all want our favorite, Allah or Jesus or whoever, to be top dog but no way will that happen soon. OTOH, AFAIK Iran has 30,000 troops on the Afghan border to stop drug trafficking whilst poor Bliar has Pak at his border, a leaky drug sieve though to Turkey, and he may well have interests in leaving open the border if he does (as some say) get 'bungs' from the drug traffickers, whether known to him or not. Iran on the other hand is trying to build up actual civilisation (after a fashion) in Iran/Afghanistan. Doubtless Bliar would like to as well, at least in theory. If only both of these would see sense, not likely simultaneously and useful actions on Bliar's side are so far unlikely. Bliar really should close the Paki border now. Bombing Iran, another option, could leave a clear way open for the drug peddlers which might or might not suit Bliar.