U.S. preparing to go after Iran and Syria?

There is talk in the blogosphere — both left and right — that the President's speech Wednesday night indicated a new willingness to confront Syria and Iran directly, perhaps even militarily. Has this escalation already started? See below.... (Thanks to Glenn Greenwald.)

US north Iraqi raid angers Iran

US forces have stormed a building in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil and seized six people said to be Iranians, prompting a diplomatic incident.

Iranian and Iraqi officials said the building was an Iranian consulate and the detainees its employees.

The US military said it was still investigating, but that the building did not have diplomatic status.

The troops raided the building at about 0300 (0001GMT), taking away computers and papers, according to local media.

AFP news agency quoted Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman as saying he did not know the nationality of the six but said they were "suspected of being closely tied to activities targeting Iraq and coalition forces".

"I can confirm for you through our forces there that this is not a consulate or a government building," he said.

However, Tehran said the attack violated all international conventions. It has summoned ambassadors from Switzerland, representing US interests, and Iraq.

The article is here. And another:

U.S. Detains Two Iranians In Iraq

Two Others Released Who Had Diplomatic Immunity; Iraqi President 'Unhappy' About Incident

(CBS/AP) U.S. troops in Iraq detained at least two Iranians and released two others who had diplomatic immunity in an exercise the White House says may support its charge that Iran is helping fuel the insurgency there.

Two of those detained were visiting as guests of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, his spokesman said.

The White House confirmed the detentions.

"We suspect this event validates our claims about Iranian meddling, but we want to finish our investigation of the detained Iranians before characterizing their activities," White House spokesman Alex Conant said Monday. "We will be better able to explain what this means about the larger picture after we finish our investigation."

The rest is here.