AND NOW FOR THE REAL WORLD - AT 6:32 P.M. ET:  There are presidential speeches, and then there's reality:

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has significantly expanded uranium enrichment with almost 5,000 centrifuges now operating and this has made it harder for U.N. inspectors to keep track of the disputed nuclear activity, an IAEA report said on Friday.

Obtained by Reuters, the restricted International Atomic Energy Agency report said Iran had increased its rate of production of low-enriched uranium (LEU), boosting its stockpile by 500 kg to 1,339 kg in the past six months.

Iran's improved efficiency in turning out potential nuclear fuel is sure to fan Western fears of the Islamic Republic nearing the ability to make atomic bombs, if it chose to do so.

COMMENT:  How can anyone be concerned after the president "reached out" to Iran in Cairo yesterday?  Why, the sound you hear is all those centrifuges being shut down, and spears being beaten into ploughshares.

Not.

The Iranian program, which is surely aimed at having a weapons capability, and the North Korean program, which is already there, are enormous threats.  Notice how severely the two countries are being punished.  Our secretary of state has mightily frowned.

But, you know, if only Israel would curtail its settlements, everything would be all right.  Surely the North Koreans would respond.

June 5, 2009