Today Iran's chief negotiator Ali Larijani delivered Iran's official response to the incentive package being offered by the UN Security Council's big five and Germany Read about it here. But, before delivering his response to UN headquarters, Larijani did what US Ambassador John Bolton said he should do. Larijani picked up a phone and called the EU's Javier Solana Read about it here.

Solana, as you know, was the person who drew up the incentive package. And, he was the one who on June 6, 2006, personally delivered it to Iran. That day, for the first time, Solana's face and name held the top news position in the American media. And, from that day on, when an official from any of the five plus one governments was asked what Iran should do next, the answer was the same -- call Brussels and speak with Javier Solana. So, that's what Larijani did. But, instead of calling with good news, Larijani was calling Solana's bluff.

Here's my reason for believing this. Everybody knows that Iran is behind the current Middle East crisis. And, Iran knows that everybody knows. Iran evidently ordered the border incursion that started the crisis to occur on the same day that Solana set as a deadline for Iran to respond to his package. Then Iran waited for a date important to their radical Islamic agenda to officially turn Solana's offer down. And, for a little icing on their defiant cake, Iran did as asked and called Solana first. 

It's no wonder France's Jacques Chirac is getting weak in the knees. The way it looks now, if European nations send troops into Lebanon, eight of the nations will be from the 10-nation Western European Union (WEU) Read about it here. The funny thing is, it was mostly France's idea that Europe didn't need America's might anymore. In fact, it was Solana and the French EU Presidency that implemented Recommendation 666, making the 10-nation WEU the EU's military wing. Now, it may be time for France and Solana to either bet or fold.

Iran is calling their bluff.