Is it just me, or does anyone else want to read for themselves this 18-page letter that Mahmoud "The Passionate Persian" Ahmadinejad sent Mr. Bush?

I find it somewhat unlikely that someone who was in fact elected president would declare that "democracy has failed worldwide," as the AP led with. There's a quote a bit later on that says "Those with insight can already hear the sounds of the shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of the Liberal democratic systems," but it's quite unclear whether the subject is "democracy worldwide" or specifically our style of democracy in Iraq.

It seems to me that the press is playing along with the administration here, giving them cover for not engaging Iran in bilateral talks and, let us not forget, throwing former president Mohammad Khatami (who was a real reformer) under the bus with all that "Axis of Evil" crap, a huge softball for hardliners and clerics. One thing to remember as the war-talk with Iran ratchets up is that as an institution the media probably wants war. It makes for great television and helps them feel very important.