The apparent meaning of all of
this pointless provocation and bullying is that the axis of
radicals--Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah--is feeling its oats. In
part its aim is to intimidate the rest of us, in part it is merely
enjoying flexing its muscles. It believes that its side has defeated
America in Iraq, and Israel in Gaza and Lebanon. Mr. Ahmadinejad
recently claimed that the West has already begun to "surrender," and he
gloated that " final victory . . . is near." It is this bravado that
bodes war.