An American in Paris.

Who woulda thunk it? The year after Lance Armstrong wraps up his total domination of the Tour De France with SEVEN straight wins another American is atop the podium in Paris. This time it is former Armstrong teammate and current Phonak team leader Floyd Landis (pictured above). His victory includes a huge collapse on Stage 16 and historic comeback the following day when he took the race "a la pedal" (with the pedal) with pure guts, fire and anger...so good on ya Landis...although most no one over here will notice:)

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Ted Koppel is 'reporting' in a NY Times op-ed piece that the 'United States is already at war with Iran'. He is basing this analysis on a conversation he had with a 'senior Jordanian intelligence official'. (Thanks to HuffPo's Eat The Press for this...check it out HERE)

Koppel goes on to note that "over the past couple of months alone, he told me, Hamas has received more than $300 million in cash, provided by Iran and funneled through Syria" and "the more than 12,000 missiles and rockets...in Hezbollah's arsenal were largely provided by Iran."

Really?Hamas and Hezbollah? I can't understand how he could say such a thing? I wonder what Hamas is going to do with $300 million in cash? Perhaps buy some Blackhawk helicopters from Saudi Arabia? Interestingly, this Jordanian intellience officer echoes many of the same sentiments as George Bush...read on dear...umm...reader.

According to the Jordanian intelligence officer, Iran is reminding America's traditional allies in the region that the United States has a track record of leaving its friends in the lurch -- in Vietnam in the 70's, in Lebanon in the 80's, in Somalia in the 90's.

In his analysis, the implication that this decade may witness a precipitous American withdrawal from Iraq has begun to produce an inclination in the region toward appeasing Iran.

It is in Iraq, he told me, "where the United States and the coalition forces must confront the Iranians.'' He added, "You must build up your forces in Iraq and you must announce your intention to stay."

So he cautions against 'cutting and running'. What say you Zoohead? Are all of the events we're witnessing in the Middle East right now merely a proxy war with Iran? Are we really engaged in the early stages of World War III (as Newt Gingrich asserts)? Do you think more troops need to be deployed in Baghdad (Gen. Abizaid does:) Maybe Bush and the neoncons are right? Frightening thought isn't it?

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