"It's one thing to defy the US and the UK, and even the UN Security Council. Making a fool out of a reliably pacifist world leader of Annan's significance is quite another. Either Iran no longer sees the need to appear cooperative, or they see Annan's usefulness as a shill at an end. Given Annan's still-considerable influence among the Third World, I'd have to conclude that Ahmadinejad has something up his sleeve that allows him enough confidence to be openly defiant of all. [ Like I said before, August 22nd may have suffered schedule slip -- or in the case of the British plane bombing plot been partially intercepted -- but virtual August 22nd is on its way... -ed. ] "