SOME EATING OF CROW - AT 7:19 A.M. ET:  As reported here yesterday, Defense Secretary Bob Gates is on a magical mystery tour of the Mideast, assuring our scared-to-death allies that America isn't going soft on Iran, even though it is.  Many of the Arab countries have deep fears about Iran, and our recent groveling hasn't helped matters.  Thus Gates's reassurance tour:

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday there is ''no grand bargain'' with Iran as the United States tries to bolster relations with the Tehran government.

Asked by reporters what kind of progress the U.S. is hoping for with Iran, Gates said he didn't know what was possible.

The U.S. is still waiting to see how the Iranians respond to President Barack Obama's outreach, Gates said, but so far the rhetoric from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been ''not very encouraging.''

''We're not willing to pull the hand back yet because we think there's still some opportunity,'' the Pentagon chief said. ''But I think concerns out there of some kind of a grand bargain developed in secret are completely unrealistic.''

COMMENT:  The Mideasterners have plenty to worry about.  Judging by Obama's performance so far, Iran can spray tear gas in his eyes and he'll call it a positive gesture, since tear gas isn't lethal. 

May 5, 2009