i think the "all options are on the table" line is stupid. all options are always on the table. that's why they're called "options."
but people don't use the phrase to recite a tautology. they say it as a way of threatening to do something they aren't willing to say outright. when the israeli government says "all options are on the table regarding iran" they are threatening to attack iran. and that's what president bush was threatening to do when he used the same words a few years back. saying "we're going to attack iran" is seen as belligerent and provocative because, well... it is belligerent and provocative. so instead of saying what they want to say, they dress it up in that ridiculous "all options on the table" phrase. which is just as belligerent and provocative, except that for some reason it is viewed as an acceptable way of putting it.
