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Is an Attack on Iran Imminent?
"The power of the Executive to cast a man into prison without formulating any charge known to the law, and particularly to deny him the judgment of his peers, is in the highest degree odious and is the foundation of all totalitarian government whether Nazi or Communist."
- Winston Churchill, Nov. 21, 1943
Since 9/11, and seemingly without the notice of most Americans, the federal government has assumed the authority to institute martial law, arrest a wide swath of dissidents (citizen and noncitizen alike), and detain people without legal or constitutional recourse in the event of "an emergency influx of immigrants in the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs."
Beginning in 1999, the government has entered into a series of single-bid contracts with Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) to build detention camps at undisclosed locations within the United States. The government has also contracted with several companies to build thousands of railcars, some reportedly equipped with shackles, ostensibly to transport detainees.
According to diplomat and author Peter Dale Scott, the KBR contract is part of a Homeland Security plan titled ENDGAME, which sets as its goal the removal of "all removable aliens" and "potential terrorists."
Fraud-busters such as Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, have complained about these contracts, saying that more taxpayer dollars should not go to taxpayer-gouging Halliburton. But the real question is: What kind of "new programs" require the construction and refurbishment of detention facilities in nearly every state of the union with the capacity to house perhaps millions of people?
Sect. 1042 of the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), "Use of the Armed Forces in Major Public Emergencies," gives the executive the power to invoke martial law. For the first time in more than a century, the president is now authorized to use the military in response to "a natural disaster, a disease outbreak, a terrorist attack or any other condition in which the President determines that domestic violence has occurred to the extent that state officials cannot maintain public order."
The Military Commissions Act of 2006, rammed through Congress just before the 2006 midterm elections, allows for the indefinite imprisonment of anyone who donates money to a charity that turns up on a list of "terrorist" organizations, or who speaks out against the government's policies. The law calls for secret trials for citizens and noncitizens alike.
Also in 2007, the White House quietly issued National Security Presidential Directive 51 (NSPD-51), to ensure "continuity of government" in the event of what the document vaguely calls a "catastrophic emergency." Should the president determine that such an emergency has occurred, he and he alone is empowered to do whatever he deems necessary to ensure "continuity of government." This could include everything from canceling elections to suspending the Constitution to launching a nuclear attack. Congress has yet to hold a single hearing on NSPD-51.
U.S. Rep. Jane Harman, D-Venice (Los Angeles County) has come up with a new way to expand the domestic "war on terror." Her Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 (HR1955), which passed the House by the lopsided vote of 404-6, would set up a commission to "examine and report upon the facts and causes" of so-called violent radicalism and extremist ideology, then make legislative recommendations on combatting it.
According to commentary in the Baltimore Sun, Rep. Harman and her colleagues from both sides of the aisle believe the country faces a native brand of terrorism, and needs a commission with sweeping investigative power to combat it.
A clue as to where Harman's commission might be aiming is the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, a law that labels those who "engage in sit-ins, civil disobedience, trespass, or any other crime in the name of animal rights" as terrorists. Other groups in the crosshairs could be anti-abortion protesters, anti-tax agitators, immigration activists, environmentalists, peace demonstrators, Second Amendment rights supporters ... the list goes on and on. According to author Naomi Wolf, the National Counterterrorism Center holds the names of roughly 775,000 "terror suspects" with the number increasing by 20,000 per month.
What could the government be contemplating that leads it to make contingency plans to detain without recourse millions of its own citizens?
The Constitution does not allow the executive to have unchecked power under any circumstances. The people must not allow the president to use the war on terrorism to rule by fear instead of by law.
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167 Comments so far
Show AllContractors and American soldiers routinely shoot the wrong people. President Bush, Senator McCain and Senator Clinton either have shot or would shoot the wrong countries.
Do we need more loose cannons? I think not.
The sum of all fears. The USA--and hence, the world, poised on a new Great Depression-brought about by what is euphemistically called "deregulation." The owners of capital, bankers, investors, industrialists-poised to profit by the "shaking out" a depression allows. And WAR--ALWAYS the FIRST RESORT of Capital. ALWAYS the BREAD to the elite. Here it comes, boys and girls. Iran is first. Syria. Even Egypt. There will be a "terror" attack on the USA. Or possibly an ally. Martial law? Here it comes.
STAND UP NOW.
I heard Richard Greene on Air America Radio question John Conyers vigorously about impeachment just a few weeks ago. After some evasive answers, he eventually claimed that impeachment was being held in reserve as leverage against an attack on Iran. He said that Congress would impeach immediately upon such an attack, and that the threat had been communicated to Bush.
I think if it's even true, Conyers is living in a fantasy world if he thinks Bush would take a threat from Congress seriously. Has he met Bush?
I read the article re. the nuclear flyover mentioned by erbalist and elmysterio above; however, I'm sure where I read it. I don't remember it being an accident, though I may be wrong. I did read that the U.S. "accidentally ship some nuclear bomb fuses to Taiwan; the shipment was supposed to be helicopter batteries (supposedly).
The nuclear story that really disturbed me was in yesterday's (4/24) USA newspaper in the Nationline section on page 3A.
"Utah governor to block Italian nuke waste
Utah Gov. Joh Humtsman reversed his stance and said he will block the shipment o Italian nucleaar waste to a desert dumpsite in his state.
Huntsman had said the federal government should decide where to dispose of such foreign waste. On Wednesday, he said he has changed his mind because the federal government has been slow to adopt a policy to block foreign radioactive waste. EnergySolutons has asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for permission to store 1,600 toms of low-level waste from Italy at a dump about 70 miles west of Salt Lake City."
It seems that we will import anything, as long as there is a buck to be made by some corporation. For example, lead laden/deadly toys and tainted deadlier medicine from China.
What was the reason were given, as to the reason we shouldn't be going to Canada or other foreign nations to get our drugs/medications? Theirs isn't as safe as ours. I wonder how many people in this country know that some of the critical medications they are receiving is actually coming from China. I knew that I was getting some that were made in Ireland, by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals (who recently abandoned their very large facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan).
amen canuckchuck - The moment Nancy Pelosi took impeachment off the table (and that was the FIRST THING she did) it was a inviting even more criminal behavior.
daniel david - why is it hard to imagine an attack on Iran of any size? It would be monstrously stupid and criminal,
but look at the record.
elmysterio - that's a good question. What IS the rest of the world doing? I believe it is our responsibility as US citizens to stop them but dammit we could use some help.
minecritter says: "I think if it's even true, Conyers is living in a fantasy world if he thinks Bush would take a threat from Congress seriously. Has he met Bush?"
I say: Has Conyers met Congress? What a bunch of nothing.
"however, I'm sure where I read it" should read "however, I'm NOT sure where I read it"
Sorry 'bout that.
Hello out there in CD land. This is Osama Bin Laden. I am writing to you thru
this email i've hijacked on this most wonderful web site. I love the internet.
The internet, in its own way, sorts out the bullshit, i call it camel shit, and
discards it. Should the United States, aka, "the great satan" attack Iran?
Yes, i endorse this. Please do it now instead of tomorrow. Your government,
under The Bush, needs a lesson on how to live "together" on a tiny blue planet.
Yes, my dear bush, attack Iran. Drive oil prices maybe to five a gallon over the
summer when we all, out here, try to make a buck. A war, no lets give some of
the writers on this board some credit, an invasion of Iran. A third occupation
after afghanistan and iraq. Only Iran has a much bigger population and a dedicated
military. Maybe we could increase our war debt from the projected 3 frickin trillion
to six trillion frickin dollars. Would that get anyone's attention outside of the oil
companies who have been making record profits in the last many quarters. I fricking hope so.
Vote Obama and then get on his team to make sure he keeps his promises.
Doug Lago,you may be right,but I tend to agree with Ron Paul and Jesse Ventura that we still can save the country because we have a what they call: "a soft form of fascism". Having said that, you have it correct my friend.
What will the million plus Iranian ex pats in the US do, if the US use nuclear weapons against their relations?
Will the rest of the Islamic World just sit back and Watch?
If you thought 9/11 was bad, then just wait and pray that you don't overstep the mark.
Help! Anyone on this page from Britian and other countries, please get your governments to threaten sanctions against the US if we attack Iran.
www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/09/3071/ - 71k
Your answer.
Another brawl in the sinking lifeboat.
~JOHN BENGSTON~ asked, "If we bombed Iran, would that give reason to suspend the next presidential election?"
I don't believe it would John, but the ensuing depression we'd experience most cetrainly would. If we have a depression for any reason Bush would have to inact presidential directive #51 and when he does that, President Bush would officially become King George. He's already our king but it isn't offical.
Our military does't have to use thermo-nuclear bombs, we now have the DU ("Big Blue") a truly awsome shock and awe bomb and of course other DU bunker buster bombs, which essentially are small atomic bombs with tons of deadly radioactive dust blown out into the atmosphere when they're exploded and the deadly microscopic dust circles the globe.
There are several things that will transpire if we bomb, bomb Iran, and NONE of them are good. Russia and China have already openly warned they would support Iran if we did such an insane thing. They won't just sit and watch that disaster without reacting in some fashion. Perhaps not militarily, but there are many things they can do to help plop our economy to the bottom, as it's already racing down that slippery slope.
Some here have posted that they've heard this possible attack on Iran for years and it's just more talk. ___ Well, I think the Author knows what he's talking about and he's no dummy. Wnen one stacks up all the chips, Fallon gone now, Betray-us replaced him, etc, etc, it sure don't look very promising. ____ We'll see.
$5 bucks a gallon for gasoline ~RANDOLFSKI~? It's already $9 a gallon in Europe, of course that includes 80% taxes. I can see it going to $25 a gallon here, if we could even find any to buy.
Argentina would cut us off entirely for one thing. I'd suspect all countries would stop shipping food to us and now we import about 45% of our food. If Cheney Bush do it, we'll beome a forth world nation, that has an arsenal of atomic weapons and the means to deliver them. ___ Scary, and very tragic.
Rich - You must still be clinging to your Republican unthink! How in the hell can Hillary and Obama stop the fools in the White House? Or rather, if you think they, either of them, can stop it, then why don't you? Do it now? I'll bet you helped elect the idiots that's there now!
ok so everyone here seems to think the world, as in China, Russia and all the other Non-us-aligned countries are gonna stand there and watch the USA nuke or invade Iran.. that is what is scary...they ARE NOT going to let them just do it .. the nukes are gonna fly.. Ukraine, who have most of the old solviet block nukes will not hesitate to launch them if the US or Israel goes ahead with the planned attacks.. china will not let the western imperialist get a free ride they will let fly some of their nukes, as well as pour literally millions of ground troops into the region...
get ready for the fireworks.. and as the old cold war adage went..
jim
canada
jim_murray@jdz.ca
IN CASE OF NUCLEAR ATTACK;
Remove glasses and sharp objects from your person
crouch in a Doorway or other structurally strong place
put your head between your knees
and the line they never added,," and kiss your ass goodbye"
ps. the wingnut religious zealots won't have long to wait for Armageddon
Keyinside: Way to go!
Rich Griffin and Ginger:
I don't know what section of the US you live in, but by now, it doesn't matter. Come next Thursday May 1st, the ILWU (the longshoreman's union) will shut down all 26 ports on the west coast for one day to protest our "involvement" in Iraq. From the Mexican border up to the Canadian border. This is a worker's movement and ALL working men and women, non-union as well as union are invited to participate if you are against the crimes waged on the Iraqi people. Whether you live in Maine or Georgia, or Texas, New York or wherever, feel free to support these brave male and female longies by not working next Thursday. You want to make a positive change, it means being active, and informed. Two gentlemen will tell you more about this event. Go to www.kpfa.org and hit programs and scroll down to 'Living Room' and click on 'past shows' and click on Thurs. Apr. 24 (yesterday). Jack and the good Clarence will fill you in for about a half-hour.
CORRECTION: Last night on two other articles, I said it was next Friday rather than Thursday. Sorry for the mistake.
First, KEM, I think you meant Venezula, not Argentina if you were talking about gasoline/oil.
Second, I agree with Doom & Gloom. I've been screaming, e-mailing, protesting, signing petitions, and every other thing I can do to stop the current occupation Iraq, an invasion of Iran, for fair elections, and impeachment. FISA is a big deal but all that we have accomplished is to stall the inevitable. The only "win" we have had is to stop Blackwater in Pescadero, CA. I won't stop doing what I have been doing for years, but I KNOW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that all my efforts are in vein. So I have spent part of my time and dollars over the last year also getting ready for the inevitable. I'm no longer afraid. I'm not even scared. All I can do is all I can do, and all I can do is enough.
Look folks, nothing and nobody can save us. Even Fallon couldn't stop this mess in Iran. "They" don't have the answers even if "they" gave two figs about America or the people of the world. The only thing that matters at this point is your family, your neighbors and your community. Even if I don't survive, at least I will perish amoung friends.
Oh, and for those of you calling all American citizens to the barracades, just let me know when. I'll be there. Here in my community. And believe me, I may be old, but I can make a hell of a lot of noise! And I'll bring some food along with my big mouth!
If Bush took such an action, say goodbye to independent voices on TV (Amy Goodman, KO, Bill Moyers, etc), say goodbye to a neutral internet... or perhaps any internet. Say goodbye to affordable food, gas, and home energy. And say goodbye to democracy, even any illusion thereof.
For if the US did bomb Iran, the rest of the world, especially the Muslim world, would then pose such a risk to US security that Bush would soon "be forced" to declare a "police state of emergency." Indefinitely. Giving himself the power to control the media, communications network, interstate and international trade, and elections.
This course of events is not likely but it is possible. What's scarier? The prospect that this might happen, or the fact that it is no longer beyond of the realm of possibility?
Hey, Peaceman, I like it! I'll spend the day hanging out in my garden.
Rebel Farmer: Good for you! I already told the company I'm going up to San Francisco for the rally and the march. The longie (male and female) drill team is something to see. Hope we get a big turnout. Thanks, Rebel.
Randolfski ,your funny!But your right, even Hillary is rolling out O.B.L. Get ready cause here it comes an October surprise! We are in for an interesting summer and fall.May we all live in interesting times!But honestly folks is the military really that stupid? Does shrub wanna apocalypse? Or just a quiet private wedding for Jenna and a gracefull(sic) exit to Paraguay? peas in
If tomorrow all the things were gone
I'd worked for all my life
And I had to start again
with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars
to be living here today
Cause the flag still stands for freedom
and they can't take that away.
I remember that song coming out right after 9/11 and how I felt and we all felt when the wave of patriotism swept through us. And to think the words of this song make me want to throw up shows me how much bush has tarnished this country in our own eyes and the worlds eyes.IMPEACH!!!!
Do you people have any backbone? What do you mean, if Bush does this or if Bush does that. This country doesn't belong to Bush, Cheney, Blackwater, or the biggest lying hypocrites in our nation's history: the racketeers also known as republicans and democrats. THIS IS MY COUNTRY and YOUR COUNTRY, LADIES and GENTLEMEN. (Forgive the capitol letters. I don't want to get reprimanded like the person writing everything that way.)
If we don' unite and fight...then all those who lost life, limb, and were afflicted with post traumatic stress disorder (it wasn't "termed" then) fighting fascism and imperialism in WW2 did do so in vain.
Hey, I'm scared of my own shadow, but enough is enough! I wrote about being backed against the wall on one of these articles last night. Same thing applies. George Washington lost battle after battle for the first year, but did he give up? The Soviet Union lost more people in the Battle of Stalingrad than the United States lost in all of WW2 fighting the "superman" and the "samuri." Did the Russians whine like children or did they fight for THEIR country?
History tells us 19 civilizations fell from within, only three (?) were conqured from without. The choice is ours.
IMPEACH both BUSH and CHENEY................IMMEDIATELY
RE: First, KEM, I think you meant Venezula, not Argentina if you were talking about gasoline/oil.
Rebel Farmer - it is Alberta that supplies most of your gasoline/oil and Harper threatening to shut off the taps (fawcetts?) at the end of that SPP/Three Amigos meeting was just for show.
Think of it, if the Repugs didn't think that McCain could win, they would not need an excuse to bomb Iran.
I wonder how long it took them to go through photo graphs and photographs before they found those matching pictures. They would be more credible going after Harold and Kumar - especially after putting Marc Emery in prison.
Yes, I meant Venezula, thanks.
I don't believe atomic bombs would be used in an air assault on Iran, at least not initially. They might if Iran took out one of our aircraft carriers with anti-ship missiles and the Iranians have plenty of those.
I don't see China or Russia answering with nukes unlees we used them first. I do see where China may team up with North Korea again and invade South Korea and at the same time attack Taiwan. lots of scenerios are possible. It could develop into WW Three and a full blown nuke war.
I personally don't foresee WW Three starting unless nukes are used by our military. I'd predict it is most likely our having a depresion if we attack Iran and Bush declaring Martial law and taking over everything. He won't be able to stop the anarchy and rioting, the burning of cites which will occur.
Be prepared to flee the cities and if you don't have any food, be prepared to go hungry. If you don't have a full tank of gas, be prepared to hike fairly soon, if you do have a full tank, be prepared to hike eventually. If you have some bikes to haul along, better haul them. Practice camping out and count the stars at night, ___ every American's dream. If yu make it to the mountains, you can watch the pretty red glow in the sky from massive fires.___ Not a pretty picture, hope none here have any infants. Take your pets, eventually you wil need food.
Is there a thread here with some fun things to discuss?
Peaceman,
What does "uniting and fighting" mean, exactly? How do you envision that? I'm not implying that it can't happen, but it sounds rather vague. Whom do we fight, when and how?
john bengtson:
The answer to the question of "Can Bush suspend the 2008 presidental elections", is yes. I believe it is in the Presidental Directive 51 (but don't quote me on that). But the answer is a firm affirmative!
If the idea of winning in the Middle East is a pacified Iraq under foreign occupation, forget it. That's never going to happen. But that is not the objective of the capitalist ruling class (see Tony Blair's consultations with Rupert Murdoch in the days before the war and the list of attendees at Cheney's energy policy meetings, Ken Lay, ExxonMobil, etal.). They're after control of Middle East oil, whether that means having it themselves or denying it to other capitalist powers (see the 11.9% growth of the Chinese economy this past quarter).
They have 160,000 US troops on the ground there. Another 130,000 armed mercenaries they refer to as "contractors" and several thousand troops from stooge countries like Britain and Poland. Three naval battle groups are lurking in the Persian Gulf awaiting the order to secure Iranian oil.
Domestically they are scrambling politically for delay until an attack on Iran whips up the inevitable war fever. After that there will be no questioning government policy, if martial law is not declared. Certainly elections will be nixed as a luxury we just cannot afford.
When our bourgeois democracy is shut down completely soon, an insurgency will become our only option. We must enlist people and accept the leadership of people in this insurgency without regard to race or nationality. Unbeknownst to most oppressed white workers in this country, unity with his/her African-American, Hispanic and immigrant counterparts is the only hope of salvation. Racism and xenophobia and every other tactic of division have been the lifeblood of capitalism with good reason. Our unity is the only potentially deadly threat to this system. White supremacy, religious fundamentalism, sexism, homophobia, and all the crackpot schemes and nihilistic cults of the bourgeoisie, like al-Qaeda, are dead ends for all of us.
Inthenow:
#one) UNITING. I'm weary of polls, but if 70%, give or take a few percentage points, of Americans are against the invasion and occupation of Iraq, for example, are against the disregard for Constitutional government and adherence to the Amendments starting with the Bill of Rights by this administration and the collaboraters in Congress, the checking and balancing of the three branches of federal government policed by the elected representatives of the people, torture as official doctrine, armed military aggression against innocent people, contempt for and violation of treaties our country is signatory to, violations of International Laws accepted by most nations on this globe, a disregard for the Geneva Convention and mockery of it, condoning mercenary companies and labeling them "security services", kidnapping people and calling it "extraordinary rendition", gutting social services, gutting the infrastructure within our borders, preventing government scientists from reporting the truth pertaining to research results, bankrupting the Treasury with fiscal recklessness, and giving the Pentagon and CIA enormous power without restraints, spying on who knows who?, another violation of our civil rights. I could continue, but we'll fall asleep reading.
#two) FIGHTING. There are various ways to fight the battle which needs to be won if we actually want "freedom" and "liberty", "democracy" and the usual words denoting these principals. We can take up the sword and the musket as was done beteen 1861-65 in 'The War Between The States' or by less violent means. As a commited pacifist, I prefer the friendly way. The coordinated unity of working people standing together for the common good. In my experience and what I have read, the quickest path would be a gentle nationwide stryke of the workforce. Its very effective! It even worked with Danish factory workers during the nazi occupation. It wasn't a strike but they conned the Germans in leaving the plant before the end of the shift. The Danes literally shut down the shop! So far we have seen two ways to fight. Another way would be for people in the armed forces not participate in illegal "crimes against humanity," certainly described in the Nuremberg Trials. What if military personnel realized how they were being manipulated and used for criminal activity and started "walking off the job in large numbers?" Another way to "FIGHT."
I'm dreaming of a Patriot in Congress taking out Bush and Cheney (sung to the tune of 'White Christmas'). They would have the element of surprise, and would change the course of History.
Imminent in the sense of October Surprise and ripe because there is not yet a spokesman for the opposition until the Democrats come up with a one. Al Gore would be fine in the event of a calamity or other necessity for compromise, but while we bicker, W's brain is still ticking. We have created a new superpower called Haliburton or something, with it's own private blackwater army, headquartered in Qattar, with U.S. taxpayer dollars and a printing press. The "real" America needs to get off it's fat arse and go to war on it or we'll forever be the host to that parasite, leaving our government as it's mediator to us.
Iran, Iraq = Axis of Oil
Bush/Cheney = Oilmen
Nuking Iran = war for profit
= crimes against humanity
GOOD MORNING AMERICA !!!! I'm writing to you from FRANCE (you remember us, those "cheese-eathing surrender monkeys" from not so long ago, the same people who warned you about staying out of Vietnam and about avoiding any kind of an occupation in muslim countries (aka "Algeria").
Years ago, my very first course in Poly Sci 101 taught me that "Fascist regimes such as Nazi Germany and others ARE NOT RESPONSIVE TO MASSIVE PROTESTS BY THEIR CITIZENS. Such regimes DO AS THEY PLEASE, and they MURDER or otherwise destroy dissidents and resisters (see Senator Paul Wellstone).
I gave up on America 2 years ago when I left the country. ONLY A TOTALWORKSTOPPAGE and millions of ORGANIZEDRESISTORS prepared to ARREST the cheneybush sociopaths can stop the madness.
KEM PATRICK, cheney's intents from DAY ONE has been to use tactical nukes against Iran or Syria, whichever comes first. You are NAIVE.
Rebel Farmer is CORRECT: all this emailing and writing to Congress is a sham and a shame, Conyers and Pelosi and EVERY GODDAM ONE OF THEM is LYING. They will NOT impeach because cheneybush have got them by the GONADS and have threatened all-out world war IF Congress dares to even begin impeachment.
Lastly, MCCAIN MUST WIN THE ELECTION so he can pardon the whole lot of these sociopaths (otherwise they will hang). So one of 2 choices remains for Americans: another rigged "election," or a CANCELLED ELECTION due to world war. Either way, cheneybush are looking to save their asses and run with the money they've stashed.
You are going down, my friends....and the rest of us probably with you. That's whay cheneybush necrophiliacs do: they are fascinated with death and destruction, and they ALWAYS end up dragging everyone else down into their carefully-crafted HELL ON EARTH. Always.
Such a shame that you, my fellow americans, waited too long to rid yourselves of this pestilence. It's called SELF-DEFENSE, and SELF-PRESERVATION. Even at that you have FAILED.
It's true that a case can be made for the Bush people thinking bombing Iran is answer, a follow up to Iraq. And it's also true they may suspend elections following such a policy. But it doesn't go unnoticed among service people in Iraq and Afganistan that if such a policy is pursued they're dead. Like our erstwhile congresspeople, all military personnel pledge to support the constitution, not the president, against all enemies foreign and domestic.
In sum, for Bush/Cheney to bomb Iran implies that they're
together in a suicide pack. Still, stranger things have happened.
When the Bradley vehicles rolled into Bhagdad, the Republican Guard for the most part had laid down their arms to aid the USA to get rid of Saddam. People were running amongst the tanks to get to the Statue of Saddam to pull it down. There was doubt, certainly, but many Iraqis believed that the USA and its allies were there to liberate Iraq... this view didn't last for long. You can bet Iran has learned this lesson concerning USA imperialism and there will be no doubt in Iran.
The USA cannot possibly win a conventional war against Iran because the enemy ground forces will be gurilla/terrorist. Nuclear, chemical and biological weapons will be imperative. However, Iran is ruled by Islamic rule and any pretense that the USA is not attacking Islam will be gone.
If the USA attacks Iran no one will stand with the USA - certainly not the populations of those 'allies'. Then there will be Pakistan, India, China and Russia. How would they feel about nuclear radiation floating across their borders? But what about the American people themselves?
This has to be dumber than the attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbour.
Do you want your children and grandchildren drafted to go to the middle-east and get their legs and arms blown off, their faces melted like wax, suicidal, suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, exposed to depleted uranium, radiation, etc.? That's if they're "lucky" enough to not come back in a coffin.
The war profiteering leaders of the U.S., including the Democrats, don't care as long as their children and grandchildren aren't drafted. Don't worry, they will find a way to weasel them out of serving in the military, just like frat boy, dry drunk George Bush's father did for him during the Vietnam conflict.
There's nothing leaders in the U.S. love more than starting wars and unleashing the rabid dogs of war on weaker, nonthreatening countries.
fainthope:
You refer to the "strange" idea of a cheneybus "suicide-pact."
Nothing strange here. It's the logic of their pathological condition.
Yes, sociopaths FIRST exploit, manipulate and destroy others.
But YES, they are ultimately SELF-destructive...and of course when they are up against the wall they ALWAYS find a way to take everyone (ie. the USA and the planet) down with themselves.
History has consistently shown that tyrants destroy themselves and those who were stupid enough to believe/follow the tyrants.
Please big asteroid wipe out this species known as humans.
So what is the ENABLER PARTY GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
You know, the spineless pack of sheeple running the Dem Party.
My guess is fall in line, keep their mouths shut, bend over, and let Bush and Cheney give them the royal frigging they have become accustom to. The more things change the more they stay the same.
The Bush Administration could not possibly be so deranged as to attack Iran.....could it?
Wait, no don't wait, attack! We need to consider Iran's weapons of mass destruction, or perhaps the possible development of such. If Bush doesn't take them out, Hillary has already promised to "obliterate" the Iranian people. "Democracy brings peace, don'cha know!" "Freedom is on the march!" And best of all, "Support our troops!"
.
Different verse, but it seems to me that WE'VE ALL HEARD THIS SONG BEFORE.
.
My God, people, how long will you sit and take this treachery? Does no one comprehend that one day we will be, America will inevitably be on the list?
.
Action is indeed needed, but not against Iran. Action is needed here in the "good ol' USA" before America is completely stolen from us, and to quote a famous old Iranian, "...and lo, the bird is on the wing."
.
We need to toss the rascals out and get on with the difficult job of re-building America and repairing our relationships around the world.
.
Now, dammit now, before we are destroyed!
This subject is so painful I can barely write in response; but one thing stands out to me: that America has so celebrated the use of force, has manipulated sports to facilitate a near-worship of "team" orienation, and has such an extensive propaganda network that the HEART of its citizens (too many, although given the 70% disapproval rating, we know it's NOT a majority) has gone DEAD. Here is where the celebration of logic, and cold deliberate THOUGHT processes devoid of COMPASSION and feeling have led this nation. There is an abject failure of empathy. The very fact that high-placed people discuss bombing a sovereign nation with aplomb... that having FIXED the case for war against Iraq and gotten away with it, they barely have to pay their PR people for a second sinister round. They are just pulling out the moves from the initial playbook. Act like the other nation is the offending party; posture that they are interfering with America's "noble" objectives, use the "security card" to convince the fools and sheep that all is being done for their protection, etc etc etc.
In a sense, our native population is being held hostage to a non-representative government. Those in the game are under thrall to Mammon and refuse to jeopardize their own positions to potentially alter the trainwreck of American history and its reverberations around the globe. In such a scenario, only our trade partners can help to alter the course... what would happen if those lending the US the money to continue this depraved war and its intended expansion just said NO? Would they? Otherwise, the responsibility for shed blood extends in the way the idiot in the getaway car is held as an accomplice to the bank robbery. And that's if no one gets shot during the execution of the grand heist.
~CANARDTAHITI~ Thank you so very much for informing me that I'm NAIVE. Since you apparantly are privey to Cheney's inner circle, perhaps you could post a link and identify someone else who is as informed as you are and confirm your "intelligence" as to EXACTLY what Cheney's intentions are and have been, in regard to the types of bombs he will use in an attack on Iran.
For several very good reasons, I stated I don't believe our military would use atomic bombs if we did start a war with Iran, that was my personal opinion. Therefore you claim I'm NAIVE. You have a different opinion, apparantly based upon firs hand knowledge and inform everyone here that Cheney has always intended to use atomic bombs and WILL use them. What else do you know that you are allowed to share with us NAIVE little people?
I'm sorry but I don't confer with Cheney, but am glad to know someone here does. Perhaps you could share some more of your first hand knowledge and "intelligence".
KEM,
Regarding the unraveling of the Korean cease-fire pact you mentioned China might engineer while everyone's looking to Iran, do you have any good reads on how/if Taiwan might get dragged into the fray? I don't expect to be excused from the chaos George and his Dick create in the ME just by virtue of living in Taiwan, but it'd be nice to get a little heads-up if you know of any good analysis sites centering on China.
I suppose this'd all mean the Olympics'd be kinda moot, too.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mullen has admitted that the US is prepping for action against Iran.
Not looking at options.
PREPARING MILITARY ACTION!
War with Iran is not a possibility.
It is, as of now, going to happen.
Mini 'Tonkin Gulf' incidents are becoming more and more commonplace in the MSM. Gen. Petraeus is a shoe-in for command of CENTCOM. Cheney and his cabal of bloodthirsty warmongers are clamoring for a solution to Iran.
And now the chairman of the Joint Chiefs says that the US already has the plans, and is prepping for action, just awaiting the 'go' word.
Should this go forward, and the US does attack Iran...
Then in the words of Rev Jeremiah Wright: "GOD DAMN AMERICA!"
Siouxrose; Inflated hubris. Too many in this country think we are invincible. The "Kool-Aid" worked for a time but when the buzz slowed down, stronger additives were poured into the mix and many still quench their thirst for this devil's brew.
You wonder why they got away with it the first time? Possibly two words which should be condensed into one.
Republican and Democrat or Republicrat. They are one and the same, serving the same masters.
"In a sense, our native population is being held hostage to a non-representative government."
Cheney, smirk, and the D.C. establishment haven't lost a moment's sleep over the endless tirades written about them and their nefarious deeds these past 8 years. I doubt if they even read them. They know the majority prefer subservience. It's easier to let another do your thinking and let the "experts" formulate your opinions on various matters, freeing you from time spent seeking out the facts which interfers with television and sporting events.
Maybe Oswald Spengler was on to something in describing how cultures and civilizations rise and fall. We know the direction ours is heading. I wrote about the action on May 1st . Two responses. And you wonder why the ruling class scorns the public? Apathy, lethargy, and willful ignorance are "the axis of evil."