In a previous post analyzing nuclear consequences for the Indian sub-continent, I wrote:

"Even so, I beleieve the Kashmir situation to be containable. By contrast, shift your imagination to the nuclear development programs of Iraq and Iran... then ask yourself if President Bush might have a point when he talks about a pre-emptive strategy."

Well, knock me over with a feather. Lady Thatcher herself steps in to make the very same points yesterday in her Wall Street Journal article. She also notes:

"There can be no doubt that response to the use of WMD against us would be massive--probably nuclear. Yet even this awesome prospect might not deter a fanatic who cared nothing for his own country or safety. We already see such a mentality at work in the suicide bombers.

We do indeed, and both the bombers and their backers have made statements indicating that Lady Thatcher's parallel is not misplaced. Something Winds of Change's "Jihad Revelations" article noted back in April. Charles Johnson further notes that Hamas recently made chemical weapons part of its planning.

Not a reassuring prospect, given the regional consequences if Hamas follows through. The Iron Lady continues:

"At the rate at which nuclear, chemical and biological weaponry and missile technology have been proliferating we must expect that at some point these weapons will be used.

This is quite simply the greatest challenge of our times. We must rise to it."

The rest is vintage Lady Thatcher, full of clarity and a call to action and purpose. I'd forgotten how much I missed having her around on the world stage.