"The US is considering declaring Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation."
"Where did you get that from?"
"The New York Times - a reputable newspaper."
"Have they considered the repercussions of that?"
"Yes, they will be able to start going after their funds if there are any in the US, then they will ask their allies to stop doing business with them..."
"With them meaning the Iranian Revolutionary Guards!"
"Well, we are talking of the rather bright Bush administration, and with Karl Rove gone Dick Cheney has a bigger say than ever."
"You know what the Iranians will do?"
"What?"
"Declare the marines as a terrorist organisation."
"Yes, and they and the rest of the Arab world will almost certainly declare the Israeli Defence Forces as a terrorist organisation."
"Yep, that is all doable."
"Don't feel smug - there are many who would declare our army as a terrorist organisation?"
"Who?"
"The Taliban for one, the Indians for another, and the..."
"We will declare the Indian army as a terrorist organisation then."
"So tit for tat..."
"Isn't that diplomacy a la Bush style?"
"Indeed it is, but one thing good will come out of this."
"What?"
"Just because you are wearing a uniform would not automatically mean exemption from being prosecuted, I mean you won't have to wait for the Geneva Convention..."
"True but then if you can control world opinion..."
"That's not possible."
"Let me be more specific: if you can control the opinion of world leaders..."
"Doable - Bush has done that for ever so long."