In the Volcano's Core

"Israel must have the ability always to defend itself by itself against any threat. When it comes to Israel's security, Israel has the right, the sovereign right, to make its own decisions." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Iran has tripled its monthly production of high-grade enriched uranium, confirmed by Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic energy Agency. This man is not tippy-toeing around the situation as his predecessor did. He speaks outright of what intelligence his agency has garnered; an alert to the world.

And this is not only what he has described to the world, informing them of the situation as he and the IAEA see it respecting the Islamic Republic of Iran's obvious intentions. "We have heard about possible sanitation of the Parchin site", which he characterized as "very concerning", with the implication that Iran has removed evidence of suspect activities.

And now, sure enough, Iran has proffered yet another offer, for the IAEA inspectors to return, and this time, unlike several weeks earlier when they were refused entry, they may briefly make their inspection of the Parchin site. For, presumably, the clean-up operation has been successfully completed.

"...Parchin is a military site and accessing it is a time-consuming process, therefore visits cannot be allowed frequently ... We will allow the IAEA to visit it one more time."

Those who trust the intelligence they have gathered understand quite well why Iran continues to deny it is interested in achieving nuclear success for any reason other than peaceful ones; for the production of domestic energy and medical isotopes. When it is clear enough it is processing uranium to a higher degree than required for those purposes.

And is testing high-explosives, and engaged in re-engineering ballistic missile cones to fit nuclear warheads.

"We have some indication that activities are ongoing at the Parchin site. It makes us believe that going there sooner is better than later" Yukiya Amano informed a news conference. But as it happens, although Iran has offered to permit the IAEA inspectors brief entry to the site, no date has as yet been given for that to occur.

Iran is a past master at stalling; this is merely one more little detail. The devil rejoices in those little details.

The meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and American President Barack Obama was not the most congenial affair in the world. But then, it was not quite anticipated that it would be. They are talking past one another, rather than toward each other. Each hears the underlying message, and neither very much appreciates its interpretation.

President Obama urges caution, patience, that sanctions must be given time to ripen and work their wonders on an obdurate, determined religious state complacent in its direction, and most obviously disinterested in outside interference. Prime Minister Netanyahu thinks of the friability of his country's position in a geography which never welcomed the Jewish nation and still does not.

One is a distant country, geographically removed from the immediacy of threats, the other sits directly within the steaming cone of a volcano prepared to erupt, long past its rumbling due.