BBC News is reporting that U.S. forces have stormed an Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil and seized six members of the staff.

The troops raided the building at about 0001GMT, taking away computers and papers, according to Kurdish media and senior local officials.

The U.S. military would only confirm the detention of six people around Irbil.

The raid comes amidst high Iran-U.S. tensions, duly noted by President Bush in his speech last night, which included a not-so-veiled threat that Teheran had better back off — or else.

There is no doubt that Iran and Syria are harboring terrorists and that both countries are way stations for them. Is the Irbil raid making good on the president’s threat to seek out and destroy terror networks no matter where they are?

And perhaps distract attention from a speech that is being widely criticized?