Consider these possible pretexts for war:

1. "Hot pursuit" by U.S. troops into Iranian territory and confrontation with Iranian troops.

2. Persian Gulf “incident” a la Tonkin Gulf 1964.

3. Israeli surprise attack on Iranian nuclear sites a la Osirak, Iraq 1981, followed by U.S. “support” by way of destruction of Iranian air and naval forces.

All require no Congressional authorization, no pre-selling to the public, and they all necessarily happen without notice (i.e., fait accompli). And, they have the added virtue of being immediately followed by a spontaneous suspension of disbelief by the media and the public and a massive wave of Democratic patriotic support -- hence, no political fallout, in fact the country will probably rally around the president in that time of crisis (and Bush needs it bad).

Seems more plausible than absurd.

(It's all quite terrifying, and depressing.)