I’m crossing my fingers that these claims of Israel’s preparing for a pre-emptive attack on Iran aren’t right, because if they are you can bet we’re all in for a whole mess of trouble.

Citing what it said were several Israeli military sources, [Britain's Sunday Times] said two Israeli air force squadrons had been training to blow up an enrichment plant in Natanz using low-yield nuclear “bunker busters.”

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The newspaper said the Israeli plan envisaged conventional laser-guided bombs opening “tunnels” into the targets. Nuclear warheads would then be used fired into the plant at Natanz, exploding deep underground to reduce radioactive fallout.

Israeli pilots have flown to Gibraltar in recent weeks to train for the 2,000 mile round-trip to the Iranian targets, the Sunday Times said, and three possible routes to Iran have been mapped out including one over Turkey.

Greeeeeeat. Now Israel’s got nukes, they’re trying to keep nukes out of Iran’s hands. Let’s do a little roleplaying here. You’re any other nation in the Middle East. You already don’t like Israel. Now Israel’s going to attack your friend, using the very weapon that they demand no one else in the area is allowed to have. Basically they’re going to shoot Iran to prevent Iran from getting a gun.

Also remember that Israel likely can’t do this all by themselves. So you know the neocons are going to flock to their aid should this actually come to pass. USA and Israel against Iran, who will no doubt get help from other countries (possibly even Iraq, who has previously supported Iran’s nuclear ambitions provide they be peaceful).

The Middle East needs a democracy like Israel out there, but it occasionally seems like their presence creates a hefty amount of conflict. Oh, and a quick note: I am in no way saying that Israel should be removed from the region. Bah.

Hey, good news finally! The Dems in the House have decided that the days of tax cuts with no way of getting the money back are over, as the “pay as you go” principles have been adopted.

Under the new provisions, the House will for the first time in years be required to pay for any proposal to cut taxes or increase spending on the most expensive federal programs by raising taxes or cutting spending elsewhere. And lawmakers will be required to disclose the sponsors of earmarks, which are attached in virtual secrecy to legislation to direct money to favored interests or home-district projects.

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“It’s important that they passed a pay-go rule because they’re setting a standard for themselves. This is a way of saying ‘There’s a new sheriff in town’ and ‘We’re going to be fiscally responsible,’ ” said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, an advocacy group dedicated to deficit reduction. “But, now, they’re going to have to figure out how to live up to that standard. And that’s going to be pretty tough.”

Easy? Maybe not. Important? Hell yes. I feel a little vindicated now.

A rather astute reader alerted me to the fact that the site, until now, has not shown up at all right in IE7. I’m working on fixing that now with a slightly redesigned theme. Give it a day or so and things should be in optimal form. I did my best to keep it from looking much different, but there are some tweaks going on. Let me know if something doesn’t function like it used to or there’s something missing.