MORE FOREIGN POLICY ILLUSIONS – AT 8:41 P.M. ET:  Just when we thought President Obama might have had some sense knocked into him by the recent elections, we're discouraged again.  From Andrew Malcolm at the L.A. Times's Top of the Ticket blog:

Iran today did not exactly welcome President Obama's emphatic expression of sympathy for and denunciation of a deadly terrorist bombing in the southern city of Chabahar.

Initial news reports were confused, but apparently two suicide bombers ignited themselves in a downtown religious procession, killing a reported 39 and wounding scores more.

Obama (full text below) called the bombings "disgraceful and cowardly" and added: "The United States condemns all acts of terrorism wherever they occur."

Not so fast, Barack.

Iran's Interior Ministry, however, immediately blamed foreign governments, mainly the United States. Its statement said: "The equipment and logistical support of the terrorists indicate that these elements were backed by advanced intelligence services of the region and the United States."

Fulfilling a controversial campaign promise, Obama has made numerous unrequited gestures toward the Islamic Republic, promising mutual respect for the Persian culture and traditions and an open dialogue.

The Democrat's gestures have been rejected or mocked and Iran has continued its independent program to develop nuclear weapons and missiles as well as aiding insurgent forces fighting American troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

COMMENT:  Oh, but we must look at the other side of this.  Don't we feel good about ourselves?  Don't we feel peaceful and intellectual, with an understanding of other cultures? 

Why, I'm so inspired, I'm ready to go back to school just so I can spend my junior year abroad.  In San Francisco.

December 15, 2010