U.S. RESPONSIBLE FOR ASCENDENCY OF IRAN

"Four years after the United States invaded Iraq, in part to transform the Middle East, Iran is ascendant, many in the region view the Americans in retreat, and Arab countries... are awash in sharpening sectarian currents that many blame the United States for exacerbating...

"There is one thing important about the ascendance of Iran here. It does not reflect a real change in Iranian capabilities, economic or political. It's more a reflection of the failures on the part of the U.S. and its Arab allies in the region..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/29/AR2007012902090.html