Nothing really unusual going on in the Islamic Republic of Iran these days. Let's see. So far, we've got a fatwa from two Iranian grand ayatollahs enjoining Muslims anywhere to murder anyone who "insults the Koran" -- whatever that means. Keep in mind that these religious leaders aren't merely leaders of their flock; they are the ones running the country.

Next up, we have yet another "dissident" woman at risk of execution for distributing copies of Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses. And just to top it off, it seems the religious theocrats don't much like pets, either.

Meanwhile, another Iranian diplomat has defected, calling for the overthrow of the repressive and dictatorial Iranian government.

Surely, none of these events is related.