Did the Islamic Republic really send experts to observe the North Korean nuke test last fall? Writing in the Telegraph, Con Coughlin mentions unconfirmed reports to that effect, and, citing an unnamed "European defence official," claims that the North Koreans invited Iranian scientists "to study the results of last October's underground test to assist Teheran's preparations to conduct its own--possibly by the end of this year."

According to John Pike, director of globalsecurity.org, Iran could be ready to test a nuclear weapon as early as May of this year. Pike was skeptical that they would, saying such a test would likely be "more trouble than it's worth," but, assuming Russia delivers fuel for the newly built reactor at Bushehr some time this spring, and assuming the Iranians divert that fuel and start enriching it as soon as it is received, the worst case scenario is a nuclear Iran by this summer.

Pike said he had no reason to doubt reports of collaboration, but confirming such reports would be nearly impossible. Still, Pike says that between Pakistan, North Korean, and Iran, what we are seeing is "one [nuclear weapons] program doing business in 3 places." So does anyone still believe that Iran's nuclear program might not be a weapons program? Last night on MSNBC, Hillary Clinton had this to say about Iran:

Right now we are flying blind when it comes to Iran. We don't have good intelligence about Iran, about, you know, what their real motivations are, who is calling the shots. The same with Syria. And I would immediately open a diplomatic track.

And I don't think we would lose. In fact, I think we would gain insight. I mean, if we have to take a firm stand against Iran to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons, let's get more information before we do that.

We do have to take a firm stand against Iran to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons, and the only information we need before doing that is how far along the program is and where the critical facilities are. It's highly unlikely a diplomatic track would provide answers to either of those questions.