Annoying Country of the Year

As 2006 draws to a close, it's time to look back and reflect.

Hands down, the dubious honor of Most Annoying Country of the Year goes to ---

IRAN

Yes, many countries were annoying, and in other years, they could have walked away with the distinction. But in 2006, Iran was so annoying with such consistency, that it has to be deemed the clear winner.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in tandem with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, helped to put Iran at the front of the pack.

Day in and day out, drivel about destroying Israel spilled from their mouths.

Iran's defiance of the United Nations and going full speed ahead with its nuclear program certainly qualifies it as a royal pain.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's bizarre letters to President Bush and the American people, while somewhat entertaining for their silliness, are obnoxious.

In short, Iran is off the meter when it comes to being annoying.

What's worse, it's off the meter when it comes to being dangerous.

It's a magnet and supporter for the enemies of Israel and the West.

TEHRAN -- The Palestinian prime minister vowed his Hamas-led government will never recognize Israel and will fight for Jerusalem, telling a crowd at an Iranian mosque Friday that he will resist U.S. pressure to moderate.

Ismail Haniyeh's sermon came on the first day of his visit to an increasingly influential ally of the Hamas movement. Iran has given $120 million to the Hamas-led government, which is starved for funds because of a financial blockade by the West.

Hamas officials in Gaza said they expect Iran to pledge more money to Haniyeh, around $30 million a month. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.

..."The world arrogance and Zionists . . . want us to recognize the usurpation of the Palestinian lands and stop jihad and resistance and accept the agreements reached with the Zionist enemies in the past," Haniyeh said, speaking in Arabic with simultaneous translation into Farsi.

"We will never recognize the usurper Zionist government and will continue our jihadlike movement until the liberation of Jerusalem," he said.

...Haniyeh, whose four-day visit was his first tour abroad since the Hamas-led government took office in March, was expected to meet Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map."

Keep in mind that Jimmy Carter is out shilling for his Hamas buddies.

Keep in mind that the libs and others are calling for us to talk to Iran, as if sending in Dr. Phil will get Ahmadinejad and Khamenei to suddenly have a change of heart and play nice.

I question Carter's mental stability.

I'm stunned by the naivete of the appeasers.