Not Buying "Wild Speculation" Line

The White House tried to dodge questions about taking military action against Iran yesterday, referring to such inquiries as "wild speculation." Thankfully, the media isn't buying it.

To put it lightly, Bush has lost his credibility on such assurances. But even more importantly, he didn't deny that military action was a consideration--he just called the accusations of it speculative.

Mark Thompson at Time Magazine doesn't think it'll be long before "wild speculation" becomes "informed speculation" and ultimately "a real live war plan for Bush's approval."

Dan Froomkin of the Washington Post has a rundown of the media response to the Bush Administration's line.

Howard Kurtz thinks there are two possibilities here. One, the White House wanted to get info about nuking Iran out in the media to scare it into negotiations. Two, those in the administration who fear Bush might actually go through with it want to tank the plans early by leaking them to the public.

I doubt these leaks are intended. After all, how exactly is it a show of strength to leak information that draws a hostile outcry from both the media and the public? (Not that the White House has cared what the media and the public think in the past.)

Needless to say, this is a developing story that's worth following closely.