Gunning For ElBaradei

It's the old smear, threaten and intimidate routine again: UN nuclear chief searched at US airport. They frisked his wife too, but an American and an Australian travelling with them were untouched. Cheney must have got a hearty chuckle out of that one.

UPDATE: And no wonder - the man is talking heresy!

Enter Mr ElBaradei. He has championed a three-decade old but nonetheless elegant scheme that could get both the Iranians and the international community off the hook.

His idea is to establish a central bank of nuclear fuel from which a country like Iran could draw its supplies.

ElBaradei says he has had positive signs from Washington. Presumbaly those signs are not coming from Dick Cheney's office.