WASHINGTON - President Bush dismissed as "wild speculation" reports that the administration was planning for a military strike against Iran.

Bush did not rule out the use of force, but he said he would continue to use diplomatic pressure to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon or the know-how and technology to make one.

"I know here in Washington prevention means force," Bush said at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. "It doesn't mean force, necessarily. In this case, it means diplomacy."

Several weekend news reports said the administration was studying options for military strikes. The New Yorker magazine raised the possibility of using nuclear bombs against Iran's underground nuclear sites.

For once I agree. Bush's hands are tied with Iraq. I doubt he would seriously risk another war. There might still be some Neo-Cons in the wings muttering bravado to themselves because some simply are incapable of learning their lesson.