Here’s what I’m unclear about. I heard about this story a couple days ago and I kind of ignored it, figuring it either had to be old news to the government and others or it wasn’t true. Now the White House seems to be saying it’s shocked that the former mayor of the Iranian capital city — and just-elected president — was a 1979 hostage-taker. How could that be possible? How could the CIA not have a file on this guy? How could someone at the NSC not say “Okay, what do we know about him?”

If the administration is pulling a fast one for the purposes of clever diplomatic pressure on Iran, great. If they really didn’t know, shame on them.

Unless, of course, I’m missing something. In which case I’m sure I’ll hear about it anon.