A few weeks ago, I noted that Tehran would likely demand that in exchange for its “cooperation” in Iraq the U.S. must stop pushing for punitive action against them on the Security Council. Guess what? On Sunday, the AP reports, Ahmadinejad said that “he would help the United States bring calm to Iraq if Washington changes what he described as its ‘bullying’ policy toward Iran."

Of course, the Security Council has been anything but “bullying” on Iran. Its done practically nothing since Iran ignored the UN-imposed August 31 deadline to stop its enrichment activities. The international community has been so passive with Iran that Ahmadinejad now jubilantly declares that the world has lost its will to counter Iran's nuclear program. So far, Iran’s bullying – in weapons and words -- across the Middle East has paid dividends for Tehran and, given the attitude of Moscow and Beijing and other capitals, there’s no sign Tehran's investment will go south anytime soon.