Upping the ante

Dick Cheney on the loose:

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney will be meeting with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili next week, the White House said on Monday. The visit comes as the international community pressures Russia to honor a ceasefire agreement with Georgia, and after the Russian parliament issued a statement recognizing Georgia's breakaway regions as independent.

Cheney will be traveling to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Italy beginning Sept. 2 to hold talks with officials "on issues of mutual interest." He will be the most senior U.S. politician to visit Georgia since the conflict with Russia erupted on Aug. 8.

Why does the term "mutual interest" scare me?

And Iran:

Tehran, Iran (AHN) - Iran's Defense Minister Gen. Mostafa Mohammad Majjar on Monday unveiled the production line of the Islamic state's all-domestically built, mid-sized submarine capable of firing missiles and torpedoes.

State television said the submarine, named "Ghaem," was the realization of the government's huge investments in the country's defense capabilities. Iran wants to achieve self-sufficiency in the defense area and equip its armed forces with modern weapons.

The report adds that the Iranian Navy earlier received two submarines named "Ghdair."