Senate Approves Symbolic Rebuke of Iran
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WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a measure sending another rebuke to Tehran, this one aimed at sending a message to the Islamic regime to end military tactics targeting U.S. forces in Iraq.
The vote came one day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told international leaders gathered at the U.N. General Assembly that Iran only seeks a peaceful nuclear program, and said that the conversation on the Iranian nuclear program “is now closed.”
The Senate, showing it was not convinced by Ahmadinejad’s proclamations, approved the nonbinding measure on a 76-22 vote. It was sponsored by Sens. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.
The measure — an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill under consideration in the Senate — is in response to growing concerns over Iranian support for insurgent activity in Iraq. Military officials say Iranian weapons have been discovered in insurgent hands, and U.S. officials have captured agents with alleged Iranian ties.
The amendment calls on the State Department to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as “a foreign terrorist organization.” The designation would allowed for more economic sanctions to be set against the country.
The measure’s opponents, which include Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., said the language is too open-ended, and could be construed as Senate authorization to use force against Iran.
One portion of the amendment reads: “It is the Sense of the Senate … that it should be the policy of the United States to combat, contain, and roll back the violent activities and destabilizing influence inside Iraq of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, its foreign facilitators such as Lebanese Hezbollah, and its indigenous Iraqi proxies.”
“This proposal … is Dick Cheney’s fondest pipe dream. It’s not a prescription for success. At best, it’s a deliberate attempt to divert attention from a failed diplomatic policy. At worst, it could be read as a back-door method of … gaining congressional validation for action without one hearing or without serious debate,” Webb said Tuesday.
At the urging of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, Lieberman and Kyl took steps Tuesday to remove the most controversial parts of their measure.
Lieberman said Webb was off-base on his interpretation of his proposal.
“Our colleague (Webb) has given the darkest possible interpretation … There is no intention of declaring war,” Lieberman said.
The House on Tuesday also passed a measure calling for greater economic sanctions against Iran. That bill, passed on a 397-16 vote, would block foreign investment in Iran, especially its energy sector, and would bar the president from waiving U.S. sanctions.
The motions out of Congress come on a highly anticipated week in which President Bush and international foe Ahmadinejad appeared at the same podium, only hours apart at the U.N.’s annual meeting on Tuesday. The drama also followed a contentious appearance by Ahmadinejad at Columbia University in New York.
On Tuesday, Bush announced new sanctions against the government of Myanmar and called on world leaders to fight oppression from contries like those of Iran. Ahmadinejad spoke at length about “arrogant powers” illegally imposing sanctions on his nation.
FOX News’ Trish Turner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© 2007 FOX News Network, LLC
Jim Webb saw it correctly. The Israel lobby is in full battle mode.
The similarities between Joseph Lieberman and Senator Palpatine have gone way beyond the physical resemblance.
Well, you might just as well go fishing or work in the garden until HS comes to take you away. Our alleged representatives just gave the “Unitary Executive” carte blanche to strike Iran as they did Iraq. Don’t you think Cheney/Bush will use that to start a new nuclear holocaust?
“Write letters, make phone calls, let your representatives know how concerned you are.” Yeah, right, they need a good laugh.
Congress had a chance to inject a little sanity into this government, but it blew it big time and millions are going to suffer and die because of it.
God, every day is like reading another chapter from “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” but from the inside.
As Pete Seeger sang in another war, “When will they ever learn?”
Everyday our nation and the world is led closer and closer to the abyss, by the lunatics in charge.
Believe it or not, all of this extreme foolishness will pass. What? Why? How?
http://www.Share-international.org
You’re encouraged to refrain from making the (all too common and understandable) mistake of assuming too much if/when you go there.
here’s the nays
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Dodd (D-CT)
Feingold (D-WI)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Sanders (I-VT)
Tester (D-MT)
Webb (D-VA)
Wyden (D-OR)
where’s your vote mr obama.
I’ll post this again:
Naughty Democrats who voted FOR this amendment:
Akaka (HI)
Baucus (MT)
Bayh (IN)
Cardin (MD)
Carper (DE)
Casey (PA)
Clinton (NY)
Conrad (ND)
Dorgan (ND)
Durbin (IL)
Feinstein (CA)
Harkin (IA)
Johnson (SD)
Kohl (WI)
Landrieu (LA)
Lautenberg (NJ)
Levin (MI)
Menendez (NJ)
Mikulski (MD)
Murray (WA)
Nelson (FL)
Nelson (NE)
Pryor (AR)
Reed (RI)
Reid (NV)
Rockefeller (WV)
Salazar (CO)
Schumer (NY)
Stabenow (MI)
Whitehorse (RI)
_____
_____
Note:
Sanders, the Independent from Vermont, voted NAY.
_____
Republicans who voted NAY:
Hagel (NE)
Lugar (IN)
_____
Not voting:
McCain (R- AZ)
Obama (D - IL)
_____
Please thank those on the above post: the 19 Democrats, the Independent, and the two gutsy Republicans who broke with party lines and will pay for it!
As for the Dems on this list of shame: what do we do with them?
Where was CommonDreams on this one YESTERDAY?
Where was the headline article exposing what was going on and urging people to contact their Senators demanding they vote No?
Where were all the people who will be posting here to express their “disgust” with “the Democrats” (despite the fact that nearly all the Republicans voted Yes and half of Dems voted No)? Did they express themselves before the vote?
Where were they in the last election cycle?
Some of them will probably want to declare their innocence, “I’m Green (or whatever), I have nothing to do with the corrupt corporate state.” Except that they live in it, work for it, and feed off it every day of their lives.
This is my country. This is my country on war and militarism.
This is the LEFT of my country. Whining, narcissistic, feckless, demoralized, prey to millenarian cults and demagogues with get-powerful-quick schemes.
None of us is Green, none of us is clean. We are Red, White and Blue through and through, and the shame falls on all of us.
Bush and Cheney will certainly spin this into a war somehow. Here we go again. How sick.
VOTE ALL INCUMBENTS OUT OF OFFICE. THE DISEASE HAS INFECTED THEM ALL!
Utterly relevant. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWGa9ViY7G8
Have fun. At least until the Blackwater Blackshirts come for you…
I’ve always liked the subliminals in the selection of imagery accompanying many CD articles. Clearly, the photo of Liebermann is evocative of an American foreign policy driven 101% by m.i.c. + energy + (in his case) AIPAC.
So as a rejoinder to Nader2000’s post here, this really isn’t the US at war, per se. It’s the m.i.c. and energy industry at the bank, and AIPAC at the something-or-other.
Who’s in charge of who is the question.
My state has no Republican Senators, so this comment only applies to the Democrats.
I have been emailing both Senators for years. Recent responses from them have been in a pro-forma email message that appears to have been furnished by the Democratic Party National Committee. The tone of the message leads me to believe that they are dialed into “central control” and not interested in input from constituents.
jerbo
It’s right where you should expect it to be: with the rest of the war-mongers’.
LIEberman should just move to Israel and get a job in the Kennesset. It is now very apparent that the Democrats in the Senate are only interested in saving themselves - as in making sure they get money from AIPAC and other lobbyist groups so they can keep their cushy jobs. Any notion that the people who keep voting for these inane bills have the best interests of US citizens at heart is nonsense. If we have the elections next year (which I fear may not happen due to another “terrorist” attack like 9/11), we should vote for ANYBODY who is not a part of the current political structure.
Why can I hear ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ segueing to ‘Deutchland Uber Alles’? What is that LOUD drumming in the background?
As if being lied and arm-twisted into Iraq didn’t give these dimwits any perspective on Iran at all. I’ll wager that Iran isn’t 1/100000 the threat to the safety of the world that the United States of America is.
I feel angry at us and sad for the world.
oh gee, my spineless asshole Senator from Florida voted for this, so surprising.
andersdl, you are correct, I’ve emailed many, many times and always get the standard brush off replies…
Joe Lieberman, the senator from Tel Aviv, is going to get us into war with Iran if he possibly can. What is wrong with him?
How sad. I guess Americans will have to get used to having less petroleum and natural gas. Rather than go to war with Iran for supposedly attacking U.S. soldiers and for making money by selling weapons (a minor version of what the USA does in other countries), would it be better if the USA leaves Iraq? Would leaving iraq save lives and be cheaper and have the added benefit of saving face for the American people? I am curious.
How can the USA invade Iran anyhow? What does the USA want from the Iranians? Their extermination perhaps? I mean…who do you think you are to be judge jury and executioner of the world? I do not understand the rationale for the USA invading Iran, the goals of such an invasion, how to go about an invasion of a nation with more than 70 million people, and dropping nuclear bombs on them for doing what is within the right of Iran to do. 70 million people is many people Americans - think about how many people that is! It would not be feasible to invade them. The deaths of a USA invasion of Iran with even half of the total military power of the USA would rival any time in World History - especially if the USA nukes Iran, which probably they will do. How else can the USA be victorious from such an insane adventure? I believe that most nations on Earth, excluding your nation, would rather risk the consequences of Iran having nuclear energy than these same nations supporting the nuclear destruction of Iran.
MIRF59, I am very pleased at your comment. I was beginning to think I am the only one here who recognizes what Star Wars really is. You have renewed my faith in the art of critical thinking - thank you. Now, how do we inspire others to “get it”?
“It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions” - Queen Amidala
Ken
Medford, MA
nader2000–Cut out the guilt trip, man, it’s not helping either…and certainly misplaced on those of us who have fought the war machine, the military industrial complex with all we have at our fingertips and with our minds and bodies…
Put the blame where it belongs with the willfully ignorant and the powers that be that so greedily try to brainwash us…some of us are NOT guilty…just sadly, but steadfastly, dissenting refuseniks, trying to inform and convince our fellow countrymen of the folly and disgusting reality of our nation’s addiction to war.
I’m sooo tired of this “we’re all to blame, we’re all guilty” crap. My conscience is clear on THIS matter.
Galen
Are you sure that’s drumming?
Could it be the sound of many feet running for the exit?
“What does the USA want from the Iranians? Their extermination perhaps? ”
That’s exactly what the government officials want. Or, if not the extermination, their decimation.
Sir Melvin: There will be no invasion. A massive bombing campaign, possibly with nukes, mostly against civillian targets and infrastructure. Millions of innocent Iranians -will- die.
The Srtaights of Hormuz will be closed, Saudi Arabia will explode in an orgy of anti-western violence, the Muslim world will unite against the US, oil will CEASE to flow from the Middle East, and the world economy will come to a screaming stop. Israel will likely ‘retaliate’ with it’s unaknowleged nuclear arsenal, right before they are swept aside by millions of enraged Muslims howling for blood.
Heck of a job, Bushie.
“This proposal … is Dick Cheney’s fondest pipe dream”
Shouldnt that read wet dream. This sick fuck will never rest till all ‘colored’ people are dead or wasted. As for the Senator from Tel Aviv … Leiberman … that fist salute looks amazingly similar to another similar minded brother of his from the past ( Adolf something …)
I wrote all three of my alleged representatives and phoned them in Washington asking them to please defeat this. One voted Yea and one voted Nay. Knowing my democratic Congressman, I’m sure he will vote right along with the Bushits when it comes to a vote in Congress.
————————————-
“Berlin, August 31, 1939 (morning)
“Everybody against the war. People talking openly. How can a country go into a major war with a population so dead against it? People also kicking about being kept in the dark. A German said to me last night: ‘We know nothing. Why don’t they tell us what’s up?’
(The next page is taken up with an analysis of Hitler’s demands, which Shirer had to put on the air for his newscast.)
At “0330 on September 1st” he ends his diary entry with:
“Tonight the great armies, navies and air forces are all mobilized. Each country is shut off from the other. We have not been able to get through to Paris or London, or of course to Warsaw, though I did talk with Tess in Geneva. At that, no precipitate action is expected tonight. Berlin is quite normal in appearance this evening. There has been no evacuation of the women and children, not even any sandbagging of the windows. We’ll have to wait through still another night, it appears, before we know. And so to bed, almost at dawn.
“Berlin, September 1
“At six AM. Sigrid Schultz — bless her heart — phoned. She said, ‘It’s happened.’ I was very sleepy — my body and mind numbed, paralyzed. I mumbled: ‘Thanks Sigrid,’ and tumbled out of bed.
“The war is on!”
From Walter Shirer’s Berlin Diary
—————————————-
That is how war starts, by the “Leaders” with their people either against yet another war, or not believing that their particular fuehrer would actually start one. Once started, they fall in line so as not to be “unpatriotic.”
Afghanistan?
Iraq?
Iran?
Tomorrow the world!!!
AIPAC wants extermination, Big Energy wants oil, the M.I.C. wants contracts. The US government is just there to please the power-brokers ….er… to represent the American people.
No wonder that the Fox News, the media of American criminals and mafia dons, has described Ahmedinejad as “international foe”. Whatelse can anyone expect from an US corporate media that glorifies wars, genocides, and violence in the name of “peace, freedom and democracy”. When a country boasts about its faith in “god and gun” and has a president, a House of representatives, and a corporate media that overwhelmingly perpetuate such “faith”, what else comes out of such culture and society.
I just told my lady in Michigan to pack her bags…
Of course there are Iranian weapons found in Iraq. Are they being used by insurgents? Do the insurgents even know of their existence? Or are we (the U.S. buying Iranian weapons bringing them to iran so that, oh lo and behold, we now have a reason for war with Iran.
How fucking quickly these Senators forget how they were duped into the last two wars.
Bush & Co. are seeing their time in power running out, thus the urgency to further their agenda in the middle east while they can still taxpayer subsidize it.
It is my guess that a huge majority of the weapons being used by the insurgents, have been produced and sold by the good ole USofA. Or perhaps they are some of the several billions of dollars worth of “lost” weapons, the pentagon has been asking us to reimburse them for.
This story is VERY frightening.
“Our colleague has given the darkest possible interpretation … There is no intention of declaring war,” Lieberman said.”
The USA didn’t declare war on Iraq either, or Vietnam, or Grenada, or Panama, or Chile….
People like Lyin’ Leiberman give all Jewish people a bad name.
Remeber this gem from last week’s Pretraus haring…”I want to go to Iran”Senator Leiberman
or this one ” I think we’ve got to be prepared to take aggressive military action against the Iranians to stop them from killing Americans in Iraq,” Lieberman said. “And to me, that would include a strike … over the border into Iran”
Bush is going to surpass Hilter for the number of dead on his hands before the end of 2008.
What is with chickenshit Obama?
I thought he opposed war?
what was the difference between the Dems and GOP again?
fuck Hillary Clinton, the warmongering biotch. she just precluded herself from holding the office of President.
A little poem I wrote short time ago:
Babe, it’s time to go.
Everthing we’re gonna need is packed,
The car’s out front, and we have enough gas,
almost, to get us away from here.
I know it’s hard,
Leaving our life, all that we”ve known.
But it’s over. Dreams end, and kids grow up
Babe, it’s time to go.
I can hear the boots in the street.
Coming for those who won’t bow their necks,
to the inevitable.
We can’t stay.
We have freinds who will help,
Help us start over, just as we will help them.
Babe, it’s time to go.
Take only what you need,
Leave the rest. Maybe we will come back for it.
Maybe it will be of use to someone else.
Leave the CDs. We can’t play them any more.
No, wait. Bring them.
We can use them to keep crows from our corn.
Babe, it’s time to go.
Please don’t cry.
We have each other.
We’re all we have left of the old world.
But we will give our kids their own world.
One with no Bomb. No pesticides.
No wars for oil. (It’s all gone anyway…)
Babe, it’s time to go.
Theyr’e waiting for us,
Just outside of town.
We’ll build a new home, somewhere.
I dont know, somewhere safe,
With a creek nearby,
So you’ll fall asleep to it’s rushing waters.
Babe, please… it’s time to go.
Odd how they mis-represented Lieberman in the photo above as a Democrat.
He’s now officially an “Independent”.
Oh, never mind. What difference does it make? Might just as well have labeled him a Republican/Fascist/Israeli.
Send him back to Israel where he belongs.
i overheard someone say it’s time for a revolution
We have become a nation of blind fanatics. We shout and don’t listen. The Republicans, Leiberman and his Israeli friends beat the drums for war and the press is again joining in. The Pied Piper of Hamlin is alive and well. As for the Democrats they vacillate to placate the indecisive masses. It is the Iraq fiasco all over again.
My wife deported to Germany in 1942 survived the holocaust but her father, grandparents and many relatives didn’t. She detests extremists of any stripe with their simplistic rhetoric whether they be Nazi, Zionist or Bushite.
How does the human race manage to end up with such vicious and moronic leaders? Neitzeche said we are blindly looking for the elusive man god; Melville describes a crew blindly following the utterly mad Captain Ahab in search of the mythical White Whale to their destruction, and again the same story with the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The human race never learns from its mistakes.
Mearsheimer and Walt quote Tom Dine, executive director of AIPAC,
who boasted upon Sen. Percy’s defeat: “All the Jews in America, from coast to
coast, gathered to oust Percy. And the American politicians - those who
hold public positions now, and those who aspire - got the message.”
I’m sorry, but I’ve had it with the criminal, warmongering, lying cheating immoral arrogant USA.
I fell sorry for the men and women of your military, who will bear the brunt of this fiasco, but I hope IRAN kicks your fucking asses out of the Middle East.
Like a puppy that continues to crap on the carpet, you all need your collective noses smacked with the rolled up newspaper in order to relearn your proper place in the world.
You don’t own the fucking planet.
Dear Americans… in other countries, people vote for politicians who will do what they want them to do. Even if they don’t win, it sends a message to the other parties to change their ways. Your Democratic Party supported the attack on the people of Iraq and continues to support the occupation. Why would you think that giving them more seats in congress would change things? Surely, in a nation of 300 million people, you could find someone else to vote for.
I’m with canuckchuck - we need a good whuppin’, and that is just what we’re going to get. Not that the Shame List above cares what their constituents think, but let them know anyhow. I am ashamed to be a Democrat - ashamed to be American if this is how we are going to behave. The Senate should be censured, every last Democrat in it who voted for this appalling measure voted out of office - my country revolts me.
papananook–
I’m with you. I’ve been against Bush since the beginning. I suspected govt complicity in 9/11 from the outset. Nearly all of my energy has been devoted to fighting this administration. It’s difficult to fight when they have the power of thousands of corporations behind them, and I have…about $250 and a $400/month rent with a lame job.
musicmarc–
The senators weren’t duped into war last time and they aren’t being duped this time. They want war just as much so the corporations that draft their monthly paychecks can give them a raise, after they gobble up all that black gold!
jlocke123–
I’m with you. Vote Green, vote Socialist, vote Labor, vote ANYTHING other than Democrat or Republican (except Libertarian…for the love of God, don’t vote Libertarian).
Vote with your feet… Time to go.
“vote ANYTHING other than Democrat or Republican (except Libertarian…for the love of God, don’t vote Libertarian).”
LMAO, thanks for the good laugh ARA Charleston, I’m beginning to believe the Libertarians are even more annoying than the Jehovah Witness’ at dinner time. At least if you tell a Jehovah Witness you’d sooner worship the devil they leave…Oh goodness still LMAO…
Democrats = Republicans = Bush enabler
Democrats = Republicans = the war enabler party
Democrats = Republicans = Israeli agent
Only when Americans realize this and the fact that
our troops = executioner of wars of aggression = war criminals = executioner of Israeli interests = executioner of interest of the military industrial compex
will this never-ending war and the ultimate demise of our country end
But I am not holding my breath because I do not have a favorable opinion of my countrymen’s ability to think clearly and rationally. Oh well…..
Canuckchuck: Hey from a fellow canuck! Nice to see we are on the same page. How would you feel about playing host to couple hundred fellow CD’ers come to roost for a while? Say…they rest of their lives?
jlocke123,
“Surely, in a nation of 300 million people, you could find someone else to vote for.”
In 1992, billionaire Ross Perot won 19% of the vote. The response of the Dems & Reps was to debate only each other & to exclude all third party candidates from debates.
Those of us who voted for Ralph Nader, running on the Green ticket in 2000, have been denounced ever since by Democratic Party faithful for “electing Bush” — though Bush was handed the election by an illegal Supreme Court decision & stole the election of 2004 outright.
Leftwing voters have been routinely attacked by Democrats for “wasting their votes” if we vote Green or Socialist — which, in the vast majority of precincts in the United States, is impossible.
The corporate media, down to the lowest affiliates, refuse to accept advertising from any but the duopoly, even when candidates or parties can raise the funds to put on a small ad. There is no such thing as public funding or equal time. The system has been pruchased, and sa Senator Mike Gravel put it, “Congress is onwed by the military-industrial complex lock, stock, and barrel.”
Clinton evidently wants war with Iran. Once again, the Dems are giving their base the finger, figuring progressives will back them to conduct the Iraq and Iran Wars as opposed to the Republicans.
And Obama. It’s clear now how he would have voted if he were in the Senate when the Iraq War resolution authorizing Bush to invade Iraq came up. He would have abstained. The only time he rails against anything is when it doesn’t directly impact him. He wasn’t in the Senate when he spoke out against the resolution. But now we see his record when his career is on the line. Despicable would be an improvement for Obama — AND for Hillary.
I hope when the bombs start raining down on the women and children in Iran, people will remember that their blood is on Hillary’s and Obama’s hands too…
Reprinted with permission
————————-
Hubris Uber Alles
Astride the known world,
Filled with hubris
They marched in their turn:
Darius, Xerxes, Agamemnon, Alexander,
Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler and more
All their empires rising, conquering,
Their passing marked by mounds of skulls
And vainglorious boasts.
Their places taken in turn by others
as their empires rotted from within.
Now yet another warlord stands,
His nation’s proud banner, once a beacon
Of freedom and hope to all mankind,
Now a symbol to be feared
By friend and foe alike.
This, too, shall pass away
After adding its quota of skulls to the mountain,
While the common man around the world
Holds tight the dream of Brotherhood and Peace
Close to his breaking heart.
Steve Osborn
9 August 2003
—————————-
And so it goes, — I guess.
I am so ashamed of the ‘weak-kneed, election absorbed’ Democrats and of course almost all the Republicans.
Aware of the election dynamics… I understand the ‘why’ of the vote. I just don’t understand ‘WHY’.
Fear NOT. Help. Extraordinary help, is at hand. Crisis is necessary for change. Make it happen…be the change.
Evidently, war — I mean DEFENSE — stocks soared today.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070926/defense_sector_snap.html?.v=6
It’s so interesting to hear Bush before the U. N., shaking his pitiful stick at all the evildoing terrorist states out there and at those among them who may pose nuclear threats, if not now, then some day, when the U. S. is the world’s biggest terrorist threat and Bush’s finger is never far from a button that can unleash enough nuclear missiles to destroy the world.
Indeed, he’s fanatical enough that it would surprise me not at all to discover that’s on his agenda as a fallback strategy. Nor are Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama very reassuring to consider as executive replacements for W, since both are vocal about leaving nukes on their table as well. Madness.
We have a film festival coming this weekend here in Port Townsend, Wash., and one of the features will be a retrospective showing of Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove,” introduced by our former U. S. poet laureate, Billy Collins. It was his choice, and a timely one.
I can picture our wannabee-cowboy-in-chief in the film’s closing moments, taking the place of Slim Pickens on that last wild ride on top of a nuclear bomb. Except that George is afraid of horses (Vicente Fox spilled the frijoles on that recently), and has a history of not showing up for flight duty (Dan Rather spilled those beans, and got fried for it).
No, Bush will be hunkered down in a bunker with Cheney and Condoleesa if he can’t resist punching that button. Some sucker like Gen. Betrayus will have to ride ol’ Midnight into oblivion.
Yippie-ti-yi-yay.
Of course, Congress COULD just at least TRY to do the honorable thing and put impeachment of Bush and Cheney on the table. But NOOOOO . . . that would be impractical. Let’s just risk nuclear holocaust instead, by making no attempt to remove a wooden puppet and his crazy puppet master from positions that hold the entire world at risk.
Congress COULD take a half-step by refusing to fund the war, as Rep. Dennis Kucinich has been recommending. But NOOOOOO . . . that might hurt the Democrats’ chances in the November 2008 elction.
If there IS an election.
We shall see very soon whether Congress will choose to lead us into light, or try to take us further into darkness.
There will come a time when the people of this nation will have to collectively decide whether or not to rebel against this continental drift into madness.
Daniel Ellsberg has just said we now live under a coup. Cindy Sheehan now says we live under fascism. Despite what the Right-wing mouthpieces keep shouting, these two are not extremists. We ignore them to our peril, and to the world’s peril. And we shame ourselves before the very idea of Freedom.
IMHO we require to undertake a campaign of massive nonviolent civil disobedience, and soon. A nationwide occupation of government offices could, I think, go far toward making it impossible for Congress to ignore the majority of us (and 75 percent of Democrats) who want the U. S. out of Iraq.
Should we also begin thinking about drafting a new Declaration of Independence?
We can surely do better than the present power holders in government, who have basically shredded the Constitution and its Bill of Rights.
Can’t we?
I phoned Carper’s office (Delaware) yesterday. He did it again. Why doesn’t the idiot (former governor yet) just switch parties? I wasn’t worried about Biden. He understands. Oh, how I ache for a good replacement for Carper. Come on, Delaware Democrats. Find a replacement, please.
A nice reminder that Bush-Clinton will use the connections between Latin American governments and Iran to claim that Hugo & Ortego & Morales “support tuhhrorism” — Hillary Clinton has made it abundantly clear that she’s on board with the Get-Rid-of-Hugo agenda . . .
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070925-1406-un-ortega.html
Soon your only source of petroleum will be Canada.
Joy.
Canada is presently under the control of Stephen Harper, Bush’s Mini-Me. You can bet he’s already bent over and lubed up.
And the PNAC plan continues. Continual war, unending. Thats the plan. It will keep the Defense Department well funded, the Army in the forfront, and allow us to take whatever resources we want. It was a Cheney/Rumsfeld etc plan in the 90’s , but the whole governement is buying into it now. [Read Project for A New American Century]
What on earth is wrong with you guys and gals? We need this war with Iran. Bush has to give the order to proceed before the depresion hits too, or we won’t be able to afford it. A war with Iran may help us from having a depresion right away. “What goes around comes back”, according to several of the long time bloggers here.
Stop and think about it before you condemn the Senators who know the score. For just one little thing, a war with Iran will insure Halliburton stays busy, secondly, the citizens of Iran will have an opportunity to enjoy an American style Democracy and it will satisfy the leaders of Isreal. Another good thing is, we can send some born again Christian missionaries over there and teach those heathens the truth about the Holy Bible. We also won’t have to scrap all of those older cruise missiles, carried by the B-52H bombers. We can use them up, some are small atomic weapons. Small means, they are only a few thousand times more destructive than the ones we dropped on Japan. We also have the Big-Blu DU bunker busters to test. Talk about Shock and Awe,___ man, I can hardly wait.
I do hope that this war won’t last quite as long though, ___ it probably won’t. The Iranians don’t have WMDs and nasty stuff like Saddam had. Finally, if we don’t bomb them into submission, who’s going to control the oil? You mis-directed whiners ever think about that? We’ve elected some really smart people to our Congress, ___ trust them for once. ____ Damn, I thought this was a progresive site.
My Prime Minister (Canada) has been down there in the Excited States, UNO and such. My tv showed him in a q&a at the Council on Foreign Relations. He opined that electing Hamas and such was not really democratic, giving the majority sway over the minority; he also said Canada has a greater presence on the world stage, and referred to our troops in Afghanistan. I figured that we are becoming like you Americans: foreign policy=military. Our present government really supports your present government.
Over a hundred years ago there was a debate in Canada as to whether or not Canada should send troops to ‘defend’the Brit Empire in the Boer conflict. (We were a part of the Brit Empire then, not what we are now.) One of our politicians, Henri Bourassa, argued against our participation. He argued that when we contribute to the wars of the empire, we do not increase liberty, we reduce it. We enable the centralization of power at the centre of the empire, to the detriment of the communities at the edges.
I thought Bourassa was right then, and I think that his argument still holds true today.
We in Canada have a very secretive and unjust secret service,especially since our politicians, like yours, took advantage of 9/11 to ram thru terrorist control laws.
I watch your talking heads shows; the same warmongers pre Afghanistan and pre Iraq are doing the circuit with the same racist and false accusations. It looks like your gvt will use yr military to attack the Iranian people. If it goes well for yr military, things will be bad for you.
But if things go badly for your military, it will be worse for you. your government is likely to take it out on all of you in USA. Sometimes it is hard to imagine the power that your government has until you feel it used on your community or on you. They have way more levers and weapons than even a majority of dissenters might have,some you haven’t even thought of. And they have the power of law. We all want to be a part of a nation of law, not men, so it is difficult to dissent against a group that represents the law.
>>The House on Tuesday also passed a measure calling for greater economic sanctions against Iran. That bill, passed on a 397-16 vote, would block foreign investment in Iran, especially its energy sector, and would bar the president from waiving U.S. sanctions.
Boy, imagine how world opinion will change after the supremely credible US Senate votes to rebuke Iran!
These jackasses can’t get rid of guys who weird off in the men’s room or take obvious bribes from EVERY source including communists, fascists, and criminals, in their own ranks.
Shakker: Imagine world opinion after Bush bombs innocent women and children in Iran.
I believe it is Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. and not D-Conn. But then the article is from FauxNews. Nevertheless I shall hold those jingos that voted for this resolution or any further funding of Bush’s oil war as personally responsible for the maiming and murder of thousands of American boys and also the countless hundereds of thousand innocent civilians martyred for JudeoCorporate profits.
Is it time to secede yet?
I have a strong suspicion that Cheney/Bush/Rice, don’t worry about World Opinion.
whatfools September 26th, 2007 9:08 pm
“I believe it is Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. and not D-Conn. But then the article is from FauxNews.”
Lieberman’s title for himself is the oxymoronic “Independent Democrat”. He’s inside and outside the Democratic Party, with one foot in the Democratic camp and one foot in the Independent camp. When it suits his purposes to be a Democrat, he’s a Democrat. When it suits his purposes to be an Independent, he’s an Independent.
Lieberman is pulling a Zell Miller. If he switched to the GOP, he would get a lot of attention for a couple of weeks, but after that he would be just another Republican. If he keeps his “Independent Democrat” designation, he can sell himself to the media as a “maverick” who is heroically bucking the “liberal orthodoxy” in his party and is being persecuted for it by those big meanie bloggers on the left.
Are there any tennis courts available where the fifth estate can declare sovereignty over the others?
JudeoCorporate profits …hmmm. Shall we blame this oil war on the Jews. What about Houston Oil? Didn’t realize Bush, Cheney, Christian right fundamentalists,and Big Oil were Jews…Get real.
Like other commentators, I refuse to accept any blame for the disgraceful actions of my so-called “representatives” in Congress who not only ignore my many communications to them but also refuse to act in a principled and/or honest manner. Why do they need me to inform them of notorious facts and obvious policy choices? For example, much as I have long admired John Conyers (not one of my state’s delegation), of late it has been deeply disappointing to hear him say that he will not utilize his discretionary powers as House Judiciary Committee Chairman to initiate an impeachment investigation against anyone, unless and until impeachment supporters deliver a minimum number of votes for impeachment. If Chairman Conyers is a “leader,” why can’t he lead? As Spike Lee might say, just do the right thing, man. But I don’t mean to single out Conyers; he is simply an example of a “people’s representative” that isn’t really representing the expressed wishes of the people who elected him to office. Pelosi and Reid are worse examples of the same problem: politicians who say they oppose war, but will not use their power to stop it.
“Lieberman said Webb was off-base on his interpretation of his proposal.
“Our colleague (Webb) has given the darkest possible interpretation … There is no intention of declaring war,” Lieberman said.”
Of course Webb gave the darkest possible interpretation. He’s actually got an IQ greater than his shoe size. As for declaring war, we haven’t done that formally since 1941. The last time around, Congress delegated its authority to Bush.
Where are our monks?
Lie-berman is NOT a (D). At least not that kind.
How in the world can supporters of Israel think that an even further expanded conflict in the region will benefit them???
If Lieberman really represents Israel first and foremost — as it appears — he seems to be hell-bent on implosion. One can’t possibly imagine how an unmanageable regional instability is going to work to Israel’s advantage. This sabre-rattling looks more like beating a hornet’s nest.
In a weird sci-fi sense, one half-wonders if there aren’t “false flag” Jews among the Bush neocons, trying to incite a new backlash of anti-semitism whether deliberately or no. And then the big scheme will be exposed. King George II would be not continuing the neocon/Zionist tradition, but returning to grandpappy Prescott’s brand of fascism (pro-Hitler, anti-semitic). I’ve long pondered how the flip-flopped occurred. The Bush’s simply work for whoever is the strongest economic power at the time? No principles whatsoever?
When Arjuna surveyed the battle field at Kurukshetra, he despaired when he saw the army arrayed against him. but we all know how that turned out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita
whatfools–
I think it is time, indeed. I’m with you, secession all the way.
Krisinta40–
Always trying to to lighten the mood (and expose those vile Libertarians…).
A shameful but predictable vote by the political pawns of the global corporate Empire which now runs this facade of “Vichy America”
Lieberman is merely reprising his effort in July, when his grossly under-reported amendment insinuating that Iran was responsible for the murder of US soldiers passed 97-0.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18301.htm
THAT was a sense of congress that could very easily be construed as a justification for war. The present amendment, contra Webb, is an entirely unreserved accusation and call to arms. Just try and find something missing or vague in it’s decietfully formulated causus belli. That anyone on this planet can take Lieberman seriously when he’s urges us not to misinterpret his stance speaks volumes about how lost the global media is countless dimensions of absurd rhetoric.
It is time to call up the Republican Guard! All able body Republicans between the ages of 18 and 55 should report to their closest Army recruitment post for basic training AND deployment to the Iraqi and Iranian fronts…no exceptions! No deferments! If you vote for the war, then you fight it.
Oh, and while we are at it, can we pay for this war in cash? For starters, let’s institute taxes similar to those in the other World Wars. If that doesn’t cover it, seize the estates of the idiots that advocate and/or voted for this war. Secondly, let’s enlist the rich and/or neocons to fight these wars, they have opted out of the last couple wars, so they should be ready to go. Mount up members of Congress, you will lead the first waves of attacks.
You know, if the Democratic Party thinks they can play both sides and get away with it, think again.
People have awaken to the fact that there is little difference between the Democratic Party and Republican Party. They both march to the drums of the Corporate and Israeli lobby, and in fact both are defacto members of the Corporatic Party, or whatever name they go by.
If we are going to be a 1 party government, might as well make it official. Just tell the Democratic National Party of your intentions to concede the 2008 elections by not voting. If and when they start acting as a Democratic Party, you may reconsider. Until then, the Corporatic Party can be 100% Republican for all I care. Hillary Clinton is just George W. Bush with a brain who can speak english and does not leave the toilet seat up. She is NOT representing the Democratic Party in good faith.
Iraq is one thing, I fully understand the need to stay in some capacity now that we done broke it, but opening the door to another war in Iran makes Hillary and the other Democrats who voted Yea a party to another war of aggression, which last time I checked is a crime.
Paul Bramscher, regional instability is in the interests of at least some of those on the Israeli Right. Oded Yinon, an Israeli journalist who at one time worked in the Foreign Ministry had written up a plan for an Israeli Strategy in the 1980’s that proposed breaking up the Arab states.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/pdf/The%20Zionist%20Plan%20for%20the%20Middle%20East.pdf
This may well be the neo-con and extreme right Zionists plan. I do not think it has the support of most people in Israel or most American Jews, but then again, Bush does not have the support of most Americans and see what he gets away with.
Christian Zionism is at it’s core anti-semitic. They believe all Jews will be converted to Christianity, or otherwise be struck down by God when Christ returns. Before this happens, they are happy to work together with Israel to create the necessary condition as they understand them from the Bible for this to occur. You might call it a temporary pact, like the Hitler-Stalin pact, and that didn’t last.
Bush’s grandfathers involvement with the Nazi’s was not uncommon. Many American corporations had links to the Nazi’s. In fact, they were great admirers of Nazi Germany and in particular Mussolinis fascism. Their fear was communism, and at the time it was believed by some that this was a secular Jewish movement, hence the anti-semitism.
Some say Hitler was actually an accidental Zionist in the sense that while his goal was to ethnically cleanse the Jews from German territory, he would have gladly shipped them all elsewhere if anyone would take them. So neocons being Zionists is not really a flip flop, especially since Zionism is being used as a weapon against Islam to achieve the geostrategic goal of securing the oil to back our currency. Zionism and anti-semitism is not incompatable to the neo-con as it was not to the Nazi’s.
Gravel rightfully shamed Hillary for voting in favor of this at tonight’s debate, whilst applauding Biden and Dodd.
“Shame on you, Hillary!”
Then she gave her demonic, fabricated laugh for the camera, as though this wasn’t to be taken seriously at all. The disingenuous political theater of it all.
And where were you, Obama?
Feinstein again generating profits for her husband - a major DOD supplier
GALEN
your poem had me in tears. it’s so sad what is happening to this world. so sad that just a handful really care about the other inhabitants and lifeforms. so sad we have become this destructive machine, killing ourselves and the ecology. and so sad that there is nothing we can do about it. someone asked ‘where are our monks?’. yes, where are they? thankyou for the youtube animation. i really laughed at that, especially the eyes whirling around in their heads………….so even before breakfast i had a ‘high’ and a ‘low’. i’m just numb now.
KEM PATRICK
good morning. you, suspicious???
Hey Galen and Canuckchuck, I’m ready to go! This is turning into a nightmare for us down here! I’m ready to help make canada a viable world interest, I work hard. I got skills! I see good opportunity!
If these political aholes try to think of another way to insult the real american with their mediocrity ….Damn I’m out numbered…Well…I don’t f$%@#%ing know. My F^*$#ing family landed hear in F%$@ing 1620 on the F&%$^Ing Mayflower and I cannot think of any f*$^^ing solidarity we have today worth a sh&^#$T today! WHAT ARE THEY DOING FOR US AT ALL!? These folks have to go. F^$#ing american pride. I’LL SHOW YOU AMERICAN PRIDE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WAR FOR SOME CORPORATION I DON”T CARE IF IT IS ISRAEL! What have they ever done for us? I don’t mean to SCREAM! What about us folks at home? Huh? Cheneys a fag like his daughter and cant find a homo in Iran? Good reason to go to war. Dont politicians have clubs where they rape innocent victims knocked out on drugs? Whats the prob? Dyncorp not in Iran? You have to wait to get home, boys? You don’t know what you look like any more, do you? Devil chants and all? You look sick you bureaucratic scum! Inhuman! I’d respect you all more if you admitted you are a walking public pissers! We will find a way. God will prevail! Your good Christian God will crush you, you liars and thieves of the poor and defenseless. You just wait. Your enemies have lined up to wait at the gate for ya’ll.
This is not my country anymore. Time to learn french or spanish!
I have to vent. Its a nightmare to read these articles and then think about it. You have to sleep sometimes.
In their attempts to expand the sole apartheid regime in the Middle East, vermin like Joe Leiberman and Feinstein will bring shame, poverty and destruction to our nation.
A couple of people have asked “Where are our monks?”–and nuns, you might ask also, since there are Buddhist nuns in the Burmese movement as well.
The fact is, in the United States we have very few monks, and far fewer nuns. There are, however, a good contingent of Buddhists who are socially engaged and active in the peace movement.
The Buddhist Peace Fellowhip was founded 30 years ago by men and women like the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, poet Gary Snyder, Joanne Macy and others who believe that Buddhism is more than a religion of meditative stillness–that it is, and must be, a beneficial social force as well.
The BPF right now of course is actively supporting the peace movement in Burma, and the current crisis there.
Peace, Tenzing (an American Buddhist monk)
Bottom line for me is that US/Israel war against Iran is unnessary, stupid and highly dangerous.
I might come acroos a stupid & naive person myself, whatever
I would like to launch a worldwide campaign were all people against war buy mini bells or medium size bells and ring them whereever they are to show how many people are against
the criminals in the White House and Congress.
Anyone who is interested should write me to my
home email address as follows:
fheydenreich@free.fr
I would like to underline that I am not part of any political party whatsoever or any other organisation.
However its time to act.
HELP ME GET THE CONCEPT TOGETHER AND WORK ON AN ACTION PLAN.
What I see in my meditation.
The United States moves first toward starting an “openly acknowledged 3rd World War”, then having to “endure at the same time a Civil War” instigated and started by a nation that was supposed to be one of its closest friends.
The result of finding this out will forces the United States into a confrontation with that country that will bring about a permanent rift and parting of ways, the downfall and subsequent extinction of that country.
Only after having endured the consequenses of what it has imposed upon others will it change its approach to “itself and the world”.
Morning COCO. Suspicious? Actually I joke around a lot to keep from having a fit, I’m suspicious of almost all of our congress anymore.
Several years ago, I did suspect Bush was wrong several about many things. I don’t suspect it anymore. The truth is, he is a puppet for Cheney and both of them are insane. That is not an attempt at humor, they are crazy and should be put away in a decent nut house, so they cannot ever harm anyone again.
Rice is an over-educated idiot who could charm a snake. Rumsfeld is a criminal, but is unaware of it because he is a horribly self centered man who resorts to sophism when debating an issue due to his inner insecurity. He may have been a badly abused child and never learned ot deal with his past. Bush did not have the intellect to select people of character for his cabinet and of course he diesn’t have any character so he would not know if any had any or not.
When atomic weapons were first used, stringent safeguards were implimented to insure, that if by some rare chance we did have a president who went nuts, he could not by himself start a nuclear war. Of course the stringent safeguards are a damn joke, because we have a crazy president and he can do it. Hell, Kennedy and Kruschev almost did it and neither of them were insane. This Iran issue is far far more serious than the Iraq issue, which I’m sure the Iraqis may disagre with.
Keep your fngers crossed babe, it is not gonna be good for anyone.
libertas fugit September 26th, 2007 5:43 pm
“every day is like reading another chapter from “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” but from the inside.”
Absolutely CORRECT…..
canuckchuck September 26th, 2007 6:59 pm
“Bush is going to surpass Hitler for the number of dead on his hands before the end of 2008.”
Well not exactly, Hitler killed approx 11 million [mostly slavs gypsies etc] and approx 5 million Jews…
But what Bu$hco have done is stir up the enmity of approx 1.4 million Muslims worldwide. Alternatively, is creating more future terrorists than Bush can kill in this lifetime…
But the damage Bu$hCo is really perpetrating is a WAR AGAINST the ENVIRONMENT affecting ONE THIRD of the worlds population, mostly impoverished countries who can’t defend themselves against the likes of despicable BU$H…
Conjunctively, Bu$h will easily surpass Hitler in the degree of villainy perpetrated….
“Lost” B-52 nuke cruise missiles were on way to Middle East for attack on Iran
SPECIAL REPORT — By Wayne Madsen
publication date: Sep 23, 2007
Labor Day weekend incident was a revolt by US Air Force and other US intelligence agencies against Bush-Cheney plans for pre-emptive nuclear and conventional strike on Iran.
WMR has learned from U.S. and foreign intelligence sources that the B-52 transporting six stealth AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missiles, each armed with a W-80-1 nuclear warhead, on August 30, were destined for the Middle East via Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.
However, elements of the Air Force, supported by U.S. intelligence agency personnel, successfully revealed the ultimate destination of the nuclear weapons and the mission was aborted due to internal opposition within the Air Force and U.S. Intelligence Community.
Yesterday, the Washington Post attempted to explain away the fact that America’s nuclear command and control system broke down in an unprecedented manner by reporting that it was the result of “security failures at multiple levels.” It is now apparent that the command and control breakdown, reported as a BENT SPEAR incident to the Secretary of Defense and White House, was not the result of a command and control chain-of-command “failures” but the result of a revolt and push back by various echelons within the Air Force and intelligence agencies against a planned U.S. attack on Iran using nuclear and conventional
weapons.
The Washington Post story on BENT SPEAR may have actually been an effort in damage control by the Bush administration. WMR has been informed by a knowledgeable source that one of the six nuclear-armed cruise missiles was, and may still be, unaccounted for. In that case, the nuclear reporting incident would have gone far beyond BENT SPEAR to a National Command Authority alert known as EMPTY QUIVER, with the special classification of PINNACLE.
Just as this report was being prepared, Newsweek reported that Vice President Dick Cheney’s recently-departed Middle East adviser, David Wurmser, told a small group of advisers some months ago that Cheney had considered asking Israel to launch a missile attack on the Iranian nuclear site at Natanz. Cheney reasoned that after an Iranian retaliatory strike, the United States would have ample reasons to launch its own massive attack on Iran. However, plans for Israel to attack Iran directly were altered to an Israeli attack on a supposed Syrian-Iranian-North Korean nuclear installation in northern Syria.
WMR has learned that a U.S. attack on Iran using nuclear and conventional weapons was scheduled to coincide with Israel’s September 6 air attack on a reputed Syrian nuclear facility in Dayr az-Zwar, near the village of Tal Abyad, in northern Syria, near the Turkish border. Israel’s attack, code named OPERATION ORCHARD, was to provide a reason for the U.S. to strike Iran. The neo-conservative propaganda onslaught was to cite the cooperation of the George Bush’s three remaining “Axis of Evil” states — Syria, Iran, and North Korea — to justify a sustained Israeli attack on Syria and a massive U.S. military attack on Iran.
WMR has learned from military sources on both sides of the Atlantic that there was a definite connection between Israel’s OPERATION ORCHARD and BENT SPEAR involving the B-52 that flew the six nuclear-armed cruise missiles from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to Barksdale. There is also a connection between these two events as the Pentagon’s highly-classified PROJECT CHECKMATE, a compartmented U.S. Air Force program that has been working on an attack plan for Iran since June 2007, around the same time that Cheney was working on the joint Israeli-U.S. attack scenario on Iran.
PROJECT CHECKMATE was leaked in an article by military analyst Eric Margolis in the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper, the Times of London, is a program that involves over two dozen Air Force officers and is headed by Brig. Gen. Lawrence Stutzriem and his chief civilian adviser, Dr. Lani Kass, a former Israeli military intelligence officer who, astoundingly, is now involved in planning a joint U.S.-Israeli massive military attack on Iran that involves a “decapitating” blow on Iran by hitting between three to four thousand targets in the country. Stutzriem and Kass report directly to the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Michael Moseley, who has also been charged with preparing a report on the B-52 nuclear weapons incident.
Kass’ area of speciality is cyber-warfare, which includes ensuring “information blockades,” such as that imposed by the Israeli government on the Israeli media regarding the Syrian air attack on the alleged Syrian “nuclear installation.” British intelligence sources have reported that the Israeli attack on Syria was a “true flag” attack originally designed to foreshadow a U.S. attack on Iran. After the U.S. Air Force push back against transporting the six cruise nuclear-armed AGM-129s to the Middle East, Israel went ahead with its attack on Syria in order to help ratchet up tensions between Washington on one side and Damascus, Tehran, and Pyongyang on the other.
The other part of CHECKMATE’s brief is to ensure that a media “perception management” is waged against Syria, Iran, and North Korea. This involves articles such as that which appeared with Joby Warrick’s and Walter Pincus’ bylines in yesterdays Washington Post. The article, titled “The Saga of a Bent Spear,” quotes a number of seasoned Air Force nuclear weapons experts as saying that such an incident is unprecedented in the history of the Air Force. For example, Retired Air Force General Eugene Habiger, the former chief of the U.S. Strategic Command, said he has been in the “nuclear business” since 1966 and has never been aware of an incident “more disturbing.”
Command and control breakdowns involving U.S. nuclear weapons are unprecedented, except for that fact that the U.S. military is now waging an internal war against neo-cons who are embedded in the U.S. government and military chain of command who are intent on using nuclear weapons in a pre-emptive war with Iran.
CHECKMATE and OPERATION ORCHARD would have provided the cover for a pre-emptive U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran had it not been for BENT SPEAR involving the B-52. In on the plan to launch a pre-emptive attack on Iran involving nuclear weapons were, according to our sources, Cheney, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley; members of the CHECKMATE team at the Pentagon, who have close connections to Israeli intelligence and pro-Israeli think tanks in Washington, including the Hudson Institute; British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, a political adviser to Tony Blair prior to becoming a Member of Parliament; Israeli political leaders like Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu; and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who did his part last week to ratchet up tensions with Iran by suggesting that war with Iran was a probability. Kouchner retracted his statement after the U.S. plans for Iran were delayed.
Although the Air Force tried to keep the B-52 nuclear incident from the media, anonymous Air Force personnel leaked the story to Military Times on September 5, the day before the Israelis attacked the alleged nuclear installation in Syria and the day planned for the simultaneous U.S. attack on Iran. The leaking of classified information on U.S. nuclear weapons disposition or movement to the media, is, itself, unprecedented. Air Force regulations require the sending of classified BEELINE reports to higher Air Force authorities on the disclosure of classified Air Force information to the media.
In another highly unusual move, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has asked an outside inquiry board to look into BENT SPEAR, even before the Air Force has completed its own investigation, a virtual vote of no confidence in the official investigation being conducted by Major General Douglas Raaberg, chief of air and space operations at the Air Combat Command.
Gates asked former Air Force Chief of Staff, retired General Larry Welch, to lead a Defense Science Board task force that will also look into the BENT SPEAR incident. The official Air Force investigation has reportedly been delayed for unknown reasons. Welch is President and CEO of the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA), a federally-funded research contractor that operates three research centers, including one for Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President and another for the National Security Agency. One of the board members of IDA is Dr. Suzanne H. Woolsey of the Paladin Capital Group and wife of former CIA director and arch-neocon James Woolsey.
WMR has learned that neither the upper echelons of the State Department nor the British Foreign Office were privy to OPERATION ORCHARD, although Hadley briefed President Bush on Israeli spy satellite intelligence that showed the Syrian installation was a joint nuclear facility built with North Korean and Iranian assistance. However, it is puzzling why Hadley would rely on Israeli imagery intelligence (IMINT) from its OFEK (Horizon) 7 satellite when considering that U.S. IMINT satellites have greater capabilities.
The Air Force’s “information warfare” campaign against media reports on CHECKMATE and OPERATION ORCHARD also affected international reporting of the recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution asking Israel to place its nuclear weapons program under IAEA controls, similar to those that the United States wants imposed on Iran and North Korea. The resolution also called for a nuclear-free zone throughout the Middle East. The IAEA’s resolution, titled “Application of IAEA Safeguards in the Middle East,” was passed by the 144-member IAEA General Meeting on September 20 by a vote of 53 to 2, with 47 abstentions. The only two countries to vote against were Israel and the United States. However, the story carried from the IAEA meeting in Vienna by Reuters, the Associated Press, and Agence France Press, was that it was Arab and Islamic nations that voted for the resolution.
This was yet more perception management carried out by CHECKMATE, the White House, and their allies in Europe and Israel with the connivance of the media. In fact, among the 53 nations that voted for the resolution were China, Russia, India, Ireland, and Japan. The 47 abstentions were described as votes “against” the resolution even though an abstention is neither a vote for nor against a measure. America’s close allies, including Britain, France, Australia, Canada, and Georgia, all abstained.
Suspiciously, the IAEA carried only a brief item on the resolution concerning Israel’s nuclear program and a roll call vote was not available either at the IAEA’s web site — www.iaea.org — or in the media.
The perception management campaign by the neocon operational cells in the Bush administration, Israel and Europe was designed to keep a focus on Iran’s nuclear program, not on Israel’s. Any international examination of Israel’s nuclear weapons program would likely bring up Israeli nuclear scientist Mordechai Vanunu, a covert from Judaism to Christianity, who was kidnapped in Rome by a Mossad “honey trap” named Cheryl Bentov (aka, Cindy) and a Mossad team in 1986 and held against his will in Israel ever since.
Vanunu’s knowledge of the Israeli nuclear weapons program would focus on the country’s own role in nuclear proliferation, including its program to share nuclear weapons technology with apartheid South Africa and Taiwan in the late 1970s and 1980s. The role of Ronald Reagan’s Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Ken Adelman in Israeli’s nuclear proliferation during the time frame 1983-1987 would also come under scrutiny. Adelman, a member of the Reagan-Bush transition State Department team from November 1980 to January 1981, voiced his understanding for the nuclear weapons programs of Israel, South Africa, and Taiwan in a June 28, 1981 New York Times article titled, “3 Nations Widening Nuclear Contacts.” The journalist who wrote the article was Judith Miller. Adelman felt that the three countries wanted nuclear weapons because of their ostracism from the West, the third world, and the hostility from the Communist countries. Of course, today, the same argument can be used by Iran, North Korea, and other “Axis of Evil” nations so designated by the neocons in the Bush administration and other governments.
There are also news reports that suggest an intelligence relationship between Israel and North Korea. On July 21, 2004, New Zealand’s Dominion Post reported that three Mossad agents were involved in espionage in New Zealand. Two of the Mossad agents, Uriel Kelman and Elisha Cara (aka Kra), were arrested and imprisoned by New Zealand police (an Israeli diplomat in Canberra, Amir Lati, was expelled by Australia and New Zealand intelligence identified a fourth Mossad agent involved in the New Zealand espionage operation in Singapore). The third Mossad agent in New Zealand, Zev William Barkan (aka Lev Bruckenstein), fled New Zealand — for North Korea.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff revealed that Barkan, a former Israeli Navy diver, had previously worked at the Israeli embassy in Vienna, which is also the headquarters of the IAEA. He was cited by the /Sydney Morning Herald/ as trafficking in passports stolen from foreign tourists in Thailand, Myanmar,
Laos, and Cambodia. New Zealand’s One News reported that Barkan was in North Korea to help the nation build a wall to keep its citizens from leaving.
The nuclear brinkmanship involving the United States and Israel and the breakdown in America’s command and control systems have every major capital around the world wondering about the Bush administration’s true intentions.
NOTE: WMR understands the risks to informed individuals in reporting the events of August 29/30, to the present time, that concern the discord within the U.S. Air Force, U.S. intelligence agencies, and other military services. Any source with relevant information and who wishes to contact us anonymously may drop off sealed correspondence at or send mail via the Postal Service to: Wayne Madsen, c/o The Front Desk, National Press Club, 13th Floor, 529 14th St., NW, Washington, DC, 20045.
http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/articles/20070923
KEM PATRICK
i know you joke around. so do i at times and you shouldn’t take me literally all the time. however, i agree that this ‘folly’ is about as serious as it gets.
Once again a majority or Dims show their true allegiance. It seems obvious to me that unless we all break with the Dims and unite behind an alternative we might as well stay home on selection day. Short of taking to the streets and shutting the country down via a national strike, building a progressive alternative and running candidates is our only realistic option. The revolution will not happen online.
Last night I saw a recent film on the occupation of Palestine:
http://www.occupation101.com/
A thorough overview and even though I was familiar with most of the facts, it was heartwrenching nonetheless. The scope of the repressed truth is breathtaking and there is so few avenues to expose it because of the power of the Israel lobbies and Jewish-Americans who put pressure on to silence any discussion.
Yes, Jewish-Americans whose indoctrinated allegiance to Israel and tribe–even when the crimes are on the scope of Nazi Germany (and I mean that with complete sincerity–how can one witness the Palestinian refugee camps and not see the Ghettos?) and psychology of victimhood keeps them in denial. Or is it guilt? Why else would it be so pressing to keep a lid on this shame? Why do politicians pandering for the Jewish vote and money appeal to the most radical Zionism and why is it that when anyone tries to educate or reveal the facts Jews organize to apply pressure-with charges of antisemiticm or policing and marginalizing their own as “self-hating Jews”.
If, as we are led to believe, the majority of American Jews oppose the invasion of Iraq and presumably the invasion of Iran, how can they at the same time support Israel, whose Likud Nazi government and NeoCon US representitives openly lobby for such action?
American Jews need to make a stand and oppose this unspeakable situation in Israel and it’s influence on our foreign policy- otherwise they are the Good Germans standing idly by why these crimes are being committed in their name. If I was a Jew I would be screaming my bloody head off. We are silenced by the strong arm of your Zionist lobbies and SILENCE IS COMPLICITY.
I am sure that senator Liberman is well aware of the fact that the U.S. government is and as been since at least 2004 and most likely long before,as been funding and trianing the PKAJ and the PKK to carry our cross broader raids into Iran.
In one incident a Revolutionary Guard member was killed, when a PKK member shot down a helicopter in northern Iran with shoulder fired missle..HMMMM,Wonder where he got that?
In an article entitled “The Next Act” published last November, Hersh wrote: “In the past six months, Israel and the United States have also been working together in support of a Kurdish resistance group known as the Party for Free Life [PJAK] in Kurdistan. The group has been conducting clandestine cross-border forays into Iran, I was told by a government consultant with close ties to the Pentagon civilian leadership, as ‘part of an effort to explore alternative means of applying pressure on Iran.’ (The Pentagon has established covert relationships with Kurdish, Azeri and Baluchi tribesmen, and has encouraged their efforts to undermine the regime’s authority in northern and southeastern Iran.) The government consultant said that Israel is giving the Kurdish group ‘equipment and training.’ The group has also been given ‘a list of targets inside Iran of interest to the US”.
Fuckin’ Lieberman—He belongs in a NURSING HOME, not the Senate! No price in blood or treasure is too great for his Chosen People who (Bible quote) “must not reckon themselves among the nations”….WHEN WILL WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH? Why don’t we invade Israel so that we can liberate the Palestinians living for generations now in concentration camps?
Vern September 27th, 2007 6:59 am
Last night I saw a recent film on the occupation of Palestine:
http://www.occupation101.com/
“A thorough overview and even though I was familiar with most of the facts, it was heart wrenching nonetheless. The scope of the repressed truth is breathtaking and there is so few avenues to expose it because of the power of the Israel lobbies and Jewish-Americans who put pressure on to silence any discussion. Yes, Jewish-Americans whose indoctrinated allegiance to Israel and tribe–even when the crimes are on the scope of Nazi Germany (and I mean that with complete sincerity–how can one witness the Palestinian refugee camps and not see the Ghettos?)….”
Excellent Commentary..
The red and blue map of the results of the last US elections, the exceedingly high number of violent deaths, the extremely high percentage of the population incarcerated in comparison to other western countries, their continuous military actions over the world, tells me that the United Nations should resolve to split the US of A.
The Democratic Party has itself to blame for this debacle.
Had national Democratic leaders thrown their full support behind Connecticut Democratic primary winner Ned Lamont in the general election in ‘06 would Joe Liberman be in the US Senate today?
Oh, well, at least one of my US senators, the Democratic one, voted against this latest example of national stupidity.
I don’t have a gram of faith left in this country! We are being run by warmongering lunatics who have their own selfish interests at heart. They could care less about this country and the people in it. It is utterly sickening what we have come to.
I saw Walt and Mersheimer speak this week on their new book the Israel Lobby. They were correct on everything including the fact the lobby would lead us head-long into war with Iran. I suggest you all read it as its going to be the blueprnt to understanding all future wars in the Middle East. AIPAC must be stopped at all costs. As these two eloquent speakers said lets empower the true Pro-Israel group Peace Now and Rabbi Lerner/Tikkun. Who’s with me? Congressman Jim Moran also warned about AIPAC recently.
Perhaps it’s all over ladies and gentleman.It’s hard to conceive of a more insane course America is on. A war with Iran is truly the end both of our current way of life, and possibly of life as we know it on earth. I have to wonder if there is a deliberate plan to destroy America- look at our failing education system, economy, and decimated manufacturing sector. This is a bit off comment, but what about the shrill voices on the left denouncing the 9/11 conspirators as infantile ninnies without looking in at any of the evidence? A friend of mine’s girlfriend was writing her thesis on planes crashing into the world trade center in 1997! And she was mysteriously murdered- as was one of the student leaders of “scholars for 9/11 truth” (shot in broad daylight by masked gunmen accompanied by his mother and girlfriend)
I am revolted with all of the Zionist bullshit and control of our country- name me a single sovereign country with so many dual citizens in top government positions. I am sick of the whining about the holocaust and genocide when (1) it is being committed right now in Palestine, and (2) there have been many other mass killings of ethnic groups throughout history. Anti-Semitism is being created right now by the total control of our media, our government by pro-Israeli forces.
Ok THIS, plus the LEADING DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANIDATES all saying they can’t garuntee troops out of Iraq by even 2013 (6 years from now) AND Hillary’s health insurance “plan” which is just another large government handout to Corperations. Also all with more imperial ambitions, and seemingly mum and content with government spying and destruction of civil liberties.
That’s like 7 strikes on the dems. I don’t know how any sane liberal, left-leaning, or slighly left-moderate could vote democrat in 2008. Someone tell me why they’re going to vote democrat in 2008. It’s going to make no difference, since 06 it’s definately made no difference. You think they’re going to change the direction of the country, but you’re wrong.
Someone tell me what good it does to vote democrat in 2008?
Rick: Coincedentally (!) enough, Iran closed it’s border crossings into the Kurdish area yesterday.
jungleboy: My ancestor too came across on the Mayflower. Three times. He was the ships carpenter. Helped break up the ship after its last trip.
Coco: I wanted people to feel the ‘punch in the gut’ that modern society has coming. I was in tears as I WROTE that poem. It was inspired by a wonderful lady I know, who loves her kids, and how I wanted them all to be safe.
“It was sponsored by Sens. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.”
Lieberman is not a Democrat. He’s an independent. Ned Lamont was the Democratic nominee for that Senate seat Lieberman defeated in the 2006 election.
The release is from Faux News. One has to read this stuff carefully. Notice that the Lieberboy is still a D-Conn, not I-Conn. They reproduce this misinformation intentionally. It’s good to see the list (thanks montemerrick and ascott) of who are and are not Democrats in the summary of who voted and how above. Clinton and Obama are not Democrats, Biden is. And thanks Greg Bacon for the lucid summery of subterfuge and dirty dealing in the world’s march toward Armageddon.
One more thing Walt and Mersheimer noted big oil advocates on tax breaks and other incentives but does not advocate on foreign policy. Its AIPAC and the neocons and the MIC people without them these wars in Iraq and now Iran could not happen. No more blood for AIPAC should be the new slogan! Until we recognize and name the problem the anti-war movement is doomed. After Iran these lunatics will push for Syria.
If anybody cares, there was a moment in the Democratic New Hampshire “debate” last night which says it all about our pathetic system dominated by corporate money and influence. Dennis Kucinich, in response to one of
Tim Russert’s idiotic hypothetical questions, stated that Americans can have a President who works for universal health care, funding of education, stopping preventive wars to control resources, cutting the military budget and ending the (illegal)Iraq war or they can have a tall president. Pretty good use of the 30-second “lightning round” by Congressman Kucinich.
Imagine, A not so peacefull million person march, because thats what its going to take. For years we have allowed our Constitution to be trampled by a minority with power. I’m sorry folks, its time to protect what congress won’t, Our Constitution. Thomas Jefferson said “sometimes you need a revolution”. Let me know when and where.
KEM PATRICK,GALEN ET AL
just had to tell you all this: headline on yahoo news:
austrian court refuses to declare chimp a person………..
I was so proud of Kucinich and Gravel last night. Russert kicked them several times with personal attack questions and they stood up to him. I hate, hate, hate, how Gravel is treated as a crazy old man! He’s an American hero for Christ’s sake and he’s treated like someone’s Grampa with Ahlzeimers. The man told the other morons on stage how they could end this war before the years out if that is what they REALLY WANTED to do, he was laughed at and scorned…Disgusting!
Anyone watch the DAYSTAR Christian/Zionist network? I was watching last night, and the preacher stated that “The goal of Islam is destroy the Jews and Conquer Jerusalem” and described the coming final battle of Armegeddon. He directly called for the destuction of Iran, and all Muslims- on PBS (the propaganda broadcasting system) the “War” propaganda feel-good piece was broadcast for 8 straight hours- any one catch Ken Burns when he said that “PBS is the best use of our tax dollars, and the Defense Department is the second best”= and then called for supporting “Freedom” and “Democracy” there is no more media- watch “Network” again- we are even worse off
The most positive possible interpretation of this? I think it is that we are one day closer to the collapse of this great experiment in self-government, known as the USA, that has gone terribly awry and had become a grotesque caricature of greed, self-absorption, and consumerism.
Another giant step towards a fascist state aided and abetted by Israeli lobby democrats and the thoroughly corrupt media.
Yikes, after reading the article and then the postings, I just want to bury my head in the sand and bite my nails as I watch the outcome of the Brewers Cubs race for the Central Division. I really dont want to think about it, I really dont want to think about it. I am going to pretend this is all a game of bluff. Surely Bush et al cant pull this off.
GO CUBS
Go see Jamie Foxx mow down Jihadists in a theater near you now! There’s an easy version of right and wrong for many Americans and the benevolent slums of Saudi Arabia are what freedom is all about.
Look, we don’t have time to send messages to our statesman, they’ll do what’s best. Their Saudi friends are deservedly more influential then we are. (sheesh, we’re just citizens.) Anyone with bags of money “wins.” Mattel has apologized to the Communists, Bill Gates loves them too. Freedom!
Even if the goal of Islam is so singular, that the average poor Joe Sixpacks on the street in the mideast is more concerned with geopolitics rather than feeding his own family (I dispute this), what of it? Since when is Israel’s defense our job?
They’ve got only 6 million people, 1/1000th of the world population. Why are we supposed to be so concerned about their fate, numerically speaking, any more than 1/1000th?
I’m not advocating any sort of anti-semitism here, and count several Jewish people as friends, and other Jews as philosophical/political influences. But why, exactly, is Israel’s defense our job? Why is the MSM so fixated on it?
In the politics of Empire, one can see why the European powers fought over North America. And perhaps there was some grumbling back in London in the late 18th century: “Why are we spending so much energy trying to fight for control of America?” There were, and remain, tremendous resources here. America, as a colony, was worth fighting for financially. It brought back far more tribute, wealth, etc. to the Crown than it demanded.
What’s Israel given the US in return for all the aid, the war expense, the GREATER amount of hatred of America that these policies have created, training grounds for more terrorists, etc.? What’s in it for the US? Is this not a fair question any more?
Let me see, North Korea has missles that could possibly reach our shores, but they are pretty close to China, Iran doesn’t have missles to reach us, yet! China needs oil and are staying pretty quit about what’s going on. The next 3 to 4 elections vote whoever is in, OUT, no matter what they’ve done, good or bad.