I crawled, I walked...

In an effort to make it look like they aren't sticking pins into maps of Iran, making explosion noises and cackling gleefully, the White House is allocating money to aiding "democracy" in Iran:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- President Bush wants $75 million to try to spur democracy in its adversary Iran, expanding a program that skeptics say can have little effect in the Islamic republic.

"The United States will actively confront the aggressive policies of the Iranian regime. At the same time, we will work to support the aspirations of the Iranian people for freedom and democracy in their country," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a congressional budget hearing.

Oh, I'm sure they'll be plenty glad to hear that, considering the last time they had democratic elections the U.S. overthrew their government and installed the Shah 'cause they were, well, acting a little TOO free and sovereign with all that oil.

And they want to make it clear we don't have a problem with the Iranian people:

But the Bush administration has emphasized in recent weeks that it is not at odds with the people of Iran and said it wants to help them win freedoms from their government.

Of course, we, and they, might remember what happened last time he professed undying support for people in the Middle East...

Many Iraqis can hear me tonight in a translated radio broadcast, and I have a message for them. If we must begin a military campaign, it will be directed against the lawless men who rule your country and not against you. As our coalition takes away their power, we will deliver the food and medicine you need. We will tear down the apparatus of terror and we will help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free. In a free Iraq, there will be no more wars of aggression against your neighbors, no more poison factories, no more executions of dissidents, no more torture chambers and rape rooms. The tyrant will soon be gone. The day of your liberation is near.