NUANCE. How quickly things change. Not so long ago, we were talking about Hizbollah and Hamas--how when terrorists become part of the government, they gain a level of legitimacy and respectability.

But what happens when part of a government is suddenly labeled 'terrorists'? The Washington Post reports that Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been designated a "specially designated global terrorist," which now makes it possible for Washington to target that group's business operations and finances. Allahpundit writes:

Formally designating the entire Guard a terrorist group will, I’m guessing, let the feds reach far beyond the commanders and squeeze even harder. Revisit this WaPo piece from April, also written by Wright, and marvel at the massive power they now enjoy within Iran under Ahmadinejad, himself a veteran of the group. Given their influence, declaring them a “specially designated global terrorist” is tantamount to applying that label to the Iranian government as a whole.

At least in the case of Hamas, the US is offering to recognize them if they recognize Israel, stop the terrorism, and honor past agreements.

Technorati Tag: Iran and Revolutionary Guard.