Suppose they gave a war and nobody came

Is World War III on Hold?

Is a Bush preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear enrichment plant at Natanz, or on the al-Quds force of the Revolutionary Guard, a more remote possibility today than it was several weeks ago?
So it would seem.
The latest indication is a candid interview in the Financial Times with Adm. William "Fox" Fallon, head of Central Command, who would be the Tommy Franks of any naval or air war on Iran.
"The Pentagon is not preparing a preemptive attack on Iran in spite of an increase in bellicose rhetoric from Washington, according to senior officers," concluded the FT in the lead of its story.

Why on hold?

First, Pakistan. With a nation of 170 million with nuclear weapons in a political crisis that could lead to civil war, igniting a war with Iran would seem suicidal – especially with the war in Iraq about to enter its sixth year this spring and the war in Afghanistan about to enter its seventh year next month.
Second, there is no guarantee U.S. air strikes could denuclearize Iran, except temporarily....
Third, no one can predict where an attack on Iran will lead....
Fourth, Congress seems to have found its voice, and 30 senators have written to inform President Bush that he does not have the authority, absent an Iranian attack on U.S. forces, to launch a war on Iran....
Fifth, there has been a downturn in roadside attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, suggesting Iran may no longer be supplying the enhanced IEDs. And U.S. forces have released several Iranians held captive in Iraq. There may be progress behind the scenes, as both countries could suffer horribly in a war.

Or maybe just maybe it is all smoke and mirrors. Hell, we can be at war right now. We all know black ops are in Iran. Or maybe we are just waiting for the shoe to drop - an Israeli bomb followed by Iranian retribution - a terrorist attack that can be blamed on Iran...

Or a military revolt and coup in our nation? The Pentagon not taking orders from W and Uncle Dick? Pinch me, I must be dreaming. Maybe we will see the expression "suppose they gave a war and nobody came" become a reality.