We might be watching the beginning of the end.

Afghanistan is now making cooperation agreements with Iran. Inside Afghanistan, the Taliban is reemerging.

As for Iraq, the government we helped create stood us up at a recent summit and made a pilgrimage to Iran, where it agreed to undisclosed cooperation agreements. The country looks to be in a freefall from self-inflicted violence.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah has withdrawn from the government and is making a serious effort to depose the existing government.

In all three cases, Iran is an active participant. This is the same Iran the U.S. accused of being a state sponsor of terrorism. Along with the U.N., we warned it of dire consequences if it proceeds with its nuclear weapons program. Iran ignored both of us and continues its weapons program. Our response? No response.

So Iran has learned it can sponsor groups we consider terrorists without having to worry. In fact, it’s now learning that some people at our highest levels of government are urging others to ask its help with Iraq. Iran will soon see that not only can it sponsor terrorists with impunity; we will help it to become a regional (and possibly world) powerbroker for doing so. As for its nuclear program, it already knows that nobody, with the possible exception of Israel, will not do a thing to stop its nuclear program. Even the likelihood of Israel taking action will disappear when the U.S. pressures it to be nice.

In recent weeks, President Bush has stopped using the term “cut and run” as he realizes that in the next year or so, he’d have to accuse himself of “cutting and running”. We’re currently in the process of updating the term “Vietnamization” to read “Iraquiization”. When that happens, Iran will have a free hand with the Shiite majority in Iraq and will use it to crush the Sunnis. Saudi Arabia has already said it won’t allow that to happen if we’re not there to prevent it. As things look right now, that chain of events seems almost certain.

We don’t have a lot of prestige in that part of the world right now. Pretty soon, not only will we not be liked, we won’t be feared or respected. If we’re not liked, feared or respected, it’s not clear how we succeed in deterring terrorists.

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