Don't take this to the bank just yet, but it looks as if the Russian/Iranian nuclear enrichment deal won't happen after all. As of this moment, the U.S., U.K., France and Germany are united in strong opposition to the Iranians enriching Uranium on their own soil. If the Washington Times article I have linked to above is correct, then the Russians are also unwilling to allow enrichment on Iranian soil. This means the ball now heads to the Security Council. I am still very skeptical that any truly biting sanctions will emerge from the council. I expect the Russians and Chinese will block anything other than the most mild, targeted (and ineffective) sanctions.

The Iranians continue to help solidify opinion against them with their undiplomatic language. Now they are threatening the U.S. with 'pain and harm'. They are already causing us plenty of pain and harm with their support of our terrorist enemies.

A new study is out that estimates there are almost 12 million illegal aliens in the U.S. today. It also estimates another 850,000 are arriving each year, mostly from Mexico. While an administration official says he can make a guest worker program work, I hope the Congress has the good sense not to pass one UNLESS they include a plan to really close the southern border. Robert Samuelson's views are exactly in line with mine as expressed in this column in today's Washington Post. We aren't going to find, arrest and deport 12 million people. So bring them into the light through some form of legalization, but ONLY in conjunction with a true border fence that stops the inflow of new illegals.

I do not like advocating a fence. It looks and feels bad. It's easily stigmatized as racist. It would antagonize Mexico. The imagery is appalling, but it beats the alternative: a growing underclass and social tensions. Moreover, a genuine fence would probably work. The construction of about 10 miles of steel and concrete barriers up to 15 feet high in San Diego has reduced illegal crossings in that sector by about 95 percent since 1992, reports Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), a supporter of a U.S.-Mexico fence. Sure, there will be tunnels and ladders. But getting in will be harder. Policing will be easier.

Read the whole thing. Call you congressman. Tell him/her to oppose any open-ended guest worker program that doesn't include closing our southern border.