Iran is a different proposition to Iraq. Their recent arms purchases will show that. Add in the size of Iran, the number of people, a far better military than Iraq and the serious lack of US troops and things aint looking all that hot... Unless of course the US decides to 'bomb Iran back to the stone-age' and cause civilan casualties and outrage accross the Middle East and galvanise Iranian morale and push the country firmly behind their leader.

The real danger with attacking Iran is the fact that it will alienate the more moderate Arab states and force them into acting against the US/Coalition out of fear that they would be next. Add the chance of an Isreali intervention and the whole mix is very volatile.

If I was a little more cynical, I may think that a man in Iran has carefully thought through this dangerous game of one-upmanship and knows he is on a winner whatever happens.

If the US back down, he wins and can flaunt that victory accross the Middle East... If the US attack then it will likely allow him to form some sort of Arab coalition around Iran and allow him full backing from his people and many other Arab states.

As usual, I think the US has underestimated their opponent. This chap aint stupid, I have listened to a few of his speeches/debates and he knows not just what to say, but how to say it. He may just have nothing to lose from going head to head with the US and, in Iranian tradition, is happy to scarifice his people on the altar of war.

As for North Korea... Who knows. I cant see them doing much given their locality and the response a North Korea attack would bring from its neighbours. I can see them getting stamped on hard and fast by the Chinese if they step too far out of line...

__________________
"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.