If the Bush administration, the New York Times, and the Washington Post get their way, the US military will commence with missile and air strikes against Iranian targets before the November elections.
Articles this morning both the Washington Post and the New York Times reprised their roles in the run-up to the Iraq war by beating the drums for war against Iran. Al Qaeda is no longer their favorite bogeyman as their focus has shifted to the regime in Iraq's neighbor to the east.
Clearly, both the New York Times and the Washington Post understand full well that their unquestioning regurgitation of administration talking points in late 2002 and early 2003 were low points in their journalistic enterprises. As such, it is difficult to understand how both news organizations could be retracing the same journalistic mistakes they made before the Iraq war with highly unreliable reporting from the likes of Judy Miller.
Let's be clear, we are not fighting Iranians or Al Qaeda in Iraq. We are fighting the Iraqis who are trying to gain control and drive out the US military occupation force. Any marginal influence by Al Qaeda or Iran is irrelevant compared to dealing with homegrown, Iraqi militias.
This is always the case with protracted military occupations of foreign countries. We tried to blame Cambodia for the problems in Vietnam, and began secretly bombing that country during the Vietnam War. As long as the US military occupies Iraq, and sows the seeds of civil war in that nation by our very presence, we will be fighting Iraqi militias on both sides of that civil war. A civil war made possible by US military intervention.
Bombing Iran under the pretense that they are engaging in a proxy war in Iraq will not solve any problems, but will exacerbate all problems faced by the US military there. It is possible that the administration is bluffing in order to prod Iran to back down on a number of issues. But that does not seem to be the Bush administration’s style, which prefers riding in on horseback and shooting wildly in all directions. Don't even bother asking questions later.
Considering the now constant din of administration warnings concerning Iran it seems likely that they are intent on widening the war in the Middle East before the fall elections here in the US. With the help of news organizations such as the Washington Post and New York Times they hope to drum up enough support for such actions. But if the American people have any say in the matter, the US will pull its troops out of the Middle East, rather than widening and deepening the conflict.
Dr. John Moffett is an active research neuroscientist in the Washington, DC area, who has published articles on the nervous and immune systems. Dr. Moffett is also the author and webmaster of the political opinion website www.Factinista.org, and is a Managing Editor at OpEdNews.com.
Clearly, both the New York Times and the Washington Post understand full well that their unquestioning regurgitation of administration talking points in late 2002 and early 2003 were low points in their journalistic enterprises. As such, it is difficult to understand how both news organizations could be retracing the same journalistic mistakes they made before the Iraq war with highly unreliable reporting from the likes of Judy Miller.
Actually, once you come to the realization that the primary purpose of the New York Times and the Washington Post, for example, is not to inform, but to propagandize and deceive, then it's not at all "difficult to understand" how they could make such "mistakes" again and again. You see, the ultimate objective of the people controlling the media is to control U.S. foreign policy. And the media is an important part of the infrastructure they need to do it...apparently not so much to try to fool thoughtful people as to provide a necessary "crutch" for the less ideologically inclined puppets in our puppet government in Washington.
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Harold Smith (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 384 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 8:07:22 AM
Entitling this article "the Coming War with Iran" continues to reinforce the thought-form that the Neocons are trying to manifest, one of the inevitability of war with Iran. This is not a done deal. This is not written in the stars. This is a projection of the fears and hostility of the American elitists, who are largely paranoid and psychotic, obsessed with Manichean fantasies and countless self-delusions. So we must avoid feeding their projections.
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Mac McKinney (41 articles, 56 quicklinks, 127 diaries, 899 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 8:14:33 AM
For the few that are paying any attention we know, but as for the rest of this brain-dead, spoiled, miss-informed, under-educated, over-worked, populace who couldn't find America on a map, let alone Iran, it is because of them that I have no hope. When in the course of 2 weeks you have a VP that can get on national TV and spit in the faces of the American people ("So?") and the next week have a president openly admit to condoning torture and the American peons do nothing simply increases disdain this administration has for them and they so rightly deserve.
I have no illusions. If the people of this country have not been outraged enough by now to take this administration out than they deserve everything that's coming - and it is coming. And not because I'm saying it or some headline says it, it's because of the obviousness of these cretins, knowing their MO, knowledge of the corruption of M$M, and complicity of near all those in government.
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Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 1059 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 9:09:33 AM
I don't know why I even continue to bother, but every so often I attempt to engage some of the sheeple in a conversation about Bush attacking Iran, 911, etc.; and the response, when not pure anger for raising an uncomfortable subject, is usually just a blank stare...sort of a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look, usually followed by a clumsy attempt to change the subject. Yes, the apathy, denial, etc., of the masses is simply overwhelming.
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Harold Smith (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 384 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 10:21:49 AM
Americans are still too fat, happy, and hyper-entertained. It's going to take more widespread economic pain, and recession, and rising gas and food prices, to wipe the stupid “what me worry?” grins off of most American faces.
But by then food riots might be spreading globally as we burn all our grain in our internal combustion engines.
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John R Moffett (78 articles, 14 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 591 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 10:28:54 AM
dr blix asks us all to take a powder and call him in the morning.
i only hope there will be a tomorrow.
One fear is that the UN rules ignored in the attack on Iraq will prove similarly insignificant in the case of Iran. But it may be that the spectacular failure of ensuring disarmament by force, and of introducing democracy by occupation, will work in favour of a greater use of diplomacy and "soft power". Justified concerns about North Korea and Iran have led the US, as well as China, Russia and European states, to examine what economic and other non-military inducements they may use to ensure that these two states do not procure nuclear weapons. Washington and Moscow must begin nuclear disarmament. So long as these nuclear states maintain that these weapons are indispensable to their security, it is not surprising that others may think they are useful. What, really, is the alternative: invasion and occupation, as in Iraq?
What you fail to grasp is that it IS a done deal--I went to D.C. to protest the impending Iraq invasion in '03, believing that the 'old rules' (circa Vietnam) still applied. What is now clear is that NOTHING anyone could say or do would have kept them from their PNAC objective. I'm quite sure that they devised other follow-up[ false flag operations since 9-11 in order to Super Size their agenda, but through either bungling or divine intercession they didn't manifest. Nonetheless, there is an over-riding, superimposed plan in operation by the shadow government that supercedes everything: the will of the people, the stability of the Middle East, and even the survival of the human race, and Cheney, Kissinger, Rice and co. have been placed in the position they are in to enact it. They have no choice, and they will move forward regardless of the consequences.
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Randje Mitchell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 48 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 7:19:27 PM
At this point they don't even need a "false flag" to happen
I'm not so sure that the cheney and bush remarks weren't an attempt to see just how far the American people can be pushed and if they're paying attention, and if they were what they'd do about it.
Well, apparently they got their answer - nothing.
So why should they need an excuse now? They know they can do whatever they want with not even so much as a peep coming from us or those that are suppose to watch out for us, so maybe these admissions ("So?" and "I knew and approved") are feelers? I can see no reason why they just wouldn't start the attack on Iran tomorrow and damn what anyone thinks. Who needs a "false flag" or provocation of any sort when you can blatantly show your ass and no one even bothers to slow you down?
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Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 1059 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 12:09:31 PM
Especially if they plan on using nuclear weapons...
If they are insane enough to attack Iran at all, under the circumstances (and I think they are), then I think they would also not hesitate to use nuclear weapons - if Iran tries to fight back. IOW, they don't need to rally anybody with a false-flag attack, military and/or civilian population, if they think all they have to do is essentially push buttons.
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Harold Smith (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 384 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 12:37:05 PM
we are not to fat or entertained-just geneticly weaker than the people who brought this country out of the darkness in the first place---easy living has created a race of garbage humans-here in wisconsin the snow was orange this storm we just got-what are they spraying to mask global warming--it seems mother nature is comming or they wouldnt be trying to dim the sun so it really doesnt matter what wars they start-mother nature already started hers----------
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skiidogs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 73 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 12:43:44 PM
The Bush cabal, once again beating the drums of war
Below is a taste of the blatant bellicosity this prevaricating cardboard cowboy intentionally spewed to the 'merian people during his Thursday surge lament. What he's essentially done is put the (lemmings) people of this country and the world on notice. "America will act." They've gotten away with this once already and they'll sure as hell do it again. And as my naive neighbor stated to me just yesterday "the people in this country won't go for that!" Oh, really now! I then replied "and just who do you suppose is going to stop Bush and Cheney?" There was no reply.
Aldo keep in mind that it is Israel who is pulling the American strings of war and I believe Cheney's recent meeting with Israeli President Euhud Olmert sealed the deal and a date has already been set for such a heinous, preemptive "nuclear" attack on Iran. It is now just a matter of this complicit corporate media, these hucksters of war fine tuning the mendacity, feeding a credulous America more propaganda and preparing them for yet more bloodshed.
Imagine though for a brief moment if this media were on our side? Exclaiming to the American people "take to the streets in protest, there is a good chance your government is about to commit eeven more War Crimes!" Then again if this were true we wouldn't be in Iraq now would we?
Dam! These no good media war whores! Dam them all!
"The regime in Tehran also has a choice to make," Bush said. "It can live in peace with its neighbor, enjoy strong economic and cultural and religious ties. Or it can continue to arm and train and fund illegal militant groups, which are terrorizing the Iraqi people and turning them against Iran. If Iran makes the right choice, America will encourage a peaceful relationship between Iran and Iraq. Iran makes the wrong choice, America will act to protect our interests, and our troops, and our Iraqi partners."
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Munich (0 articles, 47 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 676 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 1:51:35 PM
I do not believe there will be a nuclear attack on Iran, Russia would veto any move by the US to do that, which we would likely tell them about in advance. I believe the nuclear fall out issue the Saudi's raised after Cheney's visit was related to conventional bombs spreading radioactive material after hitting nuclear facilities. This would be bad enough without nuclear weapons use.
Also, rumors that Russia was briefed about the attacks at the NOTA meeting may be true, but what is not known is their reaction. First, they might warn the Iranian's whose air defense systems are provided by Russia; Second, they might object and leave open the possibility of Russian material support for Iran during a US attack.
Of course, this may be seen by Bush as his chance to start WWIII and reach the end-times, etc. he claims to believe in, and he certainly has been reckless enough to talk about. Or Bush might lose all support in Congress if he losses some capital ships in any exchange with Iran. He has positioned our ships close enough to the Iranian coast to bait such an attack.
Finally, in defense of the American people, they have no real control over their government, and they seem ready to take every opportunity to take back control when it is available, or at least they think it available. Bush was not booed by the intellectual elite at that ball game the other night. But I did notice the broadcaster could not bring himself to mention it, instead saying the president threw a good pitch. Thousands of people in those stands wipe the smile of Bush's face, so I think there is hope. And that is why we write, all of us, even those who give into despair, as we all do from time to time. But if you talk to ordinary people, almost without exception, they detest Bush and their government. They may not know a lot of facts, but they know they are getting screwed.
William H. White
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bhwhite (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 9 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 3:21:13 PM
The nuclear attack on Iran will come when it retaliates.
First, I don't think you fully understand the situation. What will Bush do if the Iranians fight back ferociously? What if airpower alone doesn't impress them? Clinton tried bombing the Serbs into submission and it failed miserably; IIRC, after about 78 days of non-stop bombing, Clinton took out about 13 tanks. Why would Bush fare any better, especially since the Iranians have had lots of time to prepare and have better equipment? Ask yourself: If Bush starts losing the war he starts against Iran, what will he do, surrender, or try to nuke them?
Second, yes, the majority of the people in America are largely responsible for this mess. Even right now as I type this, somewhere between 20 and 30% of the people fully support Bush. Probably another 20 to 30% on top of that would support him but for economic problems. More still would undoubtedly support him if he had somehow contrived something he could present as "victory" in Iraq. If a majority of the American people have been somehow "manipulated", it's mostly because they've allowed themselves to be.
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Harold Smith (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 384 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 5:39:13 PM
The American People know they are being screwed...
The problem is, even if they know they are being screwed, the American people continue to vote against their own interests. It doesn't seem to matter if it is on the economic front or going to war for no good reason, the wrong people keep being elected and reelected to office. John McCain will undoubtedly support whatever Bush and Cheney do and he will then be elected and continue those terrible policies. That is, unless Bush declairs Martial Law and postpones the election.
Leon
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Leon (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 18 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 4:58:19 PM
Another late night here in Tehran - just finished filing the above named article with OpEdNews - and trying to keep up with the latest on the bomb attack on a mosque in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz.
Three times a week I host a discussion program, Middle East Today, on PressTV from our studio complex here in Tehran.
At least once a week, on my show or elsewhere - during live interviews on the news - some US-based "analyst" or "expert" on the Middle East will come out with: "You have to remember Ahmadinejad did threaten to wipe Israel off the map."
This "quote" has taken on the proportions of an Urban Legend, but he didn't say it. What was going on in his mind at the time, what he really meant (along the lines of wife says one thing, husband hears something different) is open to conjecture. But he didn't say it.
He did say is that the "Zionist regime in Jerusalem will be wiped from the pages of history."
When you think about it rationally, that isn't so far removed from Bush's removal of Saddam and the Baathists in Baghdad from the pages of history, or indeed his threats to remove the current government in Tehran - for the sake of the people of course.
So it really isn't so surprising when the US mainstream media (and the British, French...) begin to beat the drums of war based on the utterances of their elected leaders.
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Chris Gelken (22 articles, 2 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 7 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 5:03:04 PM
Bush better expect another nasty letter from the Democrats!
The enablers like to criticize their great decider but besides Social Security, they haven't seriously even tried to stop any of Bush's policies no matter how foolhardy or decrepit.
The only ones that can or care to stop an attack on Iran are the American people, and so far there have not been enough of us willing to take responsibility and openly express, let alone demonstrate, opposition.
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Kathlyn Stone (33 articles, 204 quicklinks, 19 diaries, 557 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 5:13:43 PM
negotiate with Iran, but all options are on the table. Iran has until the end of April to comply with U.N. demands to stop enrichment. This gives Bu$h the excuse to bomb, when Iran refuses to do so. It doesn't matter to Bu$h & Co. that Iran is a signor of the U.N. Non Proliferation Treaty.
Bu$h has his daughter Jenna getting married in May, and his hands are full enough with this, let alone tasking his brain to comment about bombs dropping in Iran. "Munch" was too kind in describing Dybua as a "Cardboard Cowboy", I'd use the words toilet tissue cowboy, as he leaves a pile of crap with all the mischief he has been involved in over the years.
The coming bombing of Iran will happen as Bu$h & Co. are using the same play-book of falsely accusing them of "Wanting to Wipe Israel off the map", when actually the translation is "Israel's history will be like that of the Shah's", supporting Sadr Militia, and the patrol boat shenanigan last month.
A previous article in oped last week thought it was imminent, but the window for bombing Iran is much wider than that. Bush has between now and Jan 20th., unless martial Law is instituted, which is a very big possibility.
9/11 was the false flag for invading Iraq by linking it with "Al-CIAda" and Ronald Reagan's "Freedom Fighter" Osma Bin Laden in Afghanistan, with all the lame fabricated evidence, swallowed by a gullible public who bought the MSM mantra for war.
Another R.R. Freedom Fighter "Saddam Hussein", was selling oil in Euros, a currency which threatens the $ and part of the reason to illegally occupy Iraq. Now Iran is doing the same with its newly opened Oil Borse, which is why you hear all the regurgitated hype from Bu$h & Co to attack.
It's not a matter of if, but when.
All this carnage caused by these fascist chicken-hawks is to prop up the $ and transfer its remaining wealth to the privileged. War is a great way for a few to make huge profits and cull the world's population at the same time.
What compassion these NWO folks have for their fellow human? Useless Eaters, is how 4/5 of humanity is described by them.
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Stanimal (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 331 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 5:43:18 PM
All this carnage caused by these fascist chicken-hawks is to prop up the $ and transfer its remaining wealth to the privileged.
Nonsense. They're destroying the dollar, and they know it...they don't give a damn about the dollar.
War is a great way for a few to make huge profits and cull the world's population at the same time.
Actually the elite don't need a war to enrich themselves. They can simply print, "borrow" or take all the money they want from the treasury. How much of a reason do they need? Who or what's going to stop them? No, this is about primarily about someone's bloodthirsty, delusional "ideology" wrt Israel, not about "money".
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Harold Smith (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 384 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 6:45:53 PM
I am certain that the corpstream media would love a high profit, high viewer turnout war. We know that Bush and Cheney and the neocons want this war.
We know that the gutless, sycophant generals who are left, who will do as Bush and Cheney pull their strings to say, will fail to protect the safety of America and launch a war on Bush's command.
We know that psychopaths Bush and Cheney want this war.
But I'm not sure the republicans in congress want it. I'm not sure the one star generals and colonels want it. They just may keep it from happening.
Then there's the stark reality that already, our forces are so overextended that there is no way the US has the capability to engage in another front.
That does not excuse the war enabling, war mongering media from their disgusting behavior.
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Rob Kall (728 articles, 3775 quicklinks, 311 diaries, 1520 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 7:21:45 PM
I usually agree with you, but in this case, I'm not so sure. Look through the articles that appear on Op-Ed News and start connecting the dots. The strategic oil reserve is being built-up more than it has in my recent memory, a nuclear site in Pakistan has been attacked, our naval build-up in the Middle-East now surpasses that of pre-Iraqi invasion levels, and now CNN, the NY Times, Wash. Post, and most of the major media outlets are running stories that make it appear that Iran is our # 1 threat.
I almost think that Bush is attempting to punish our nation because he knows that he is despised and hated by the majority of the country. He was booed at a recent Baseball game and even the Pope refuses to have dinner with him. In short, Bush knows he is hated, has no respect from anyone with an ounce of common sense, and to make matters worse, he believes in Armageddon - and just might be mentally unstable enough to take out his frustration on the country as well as the entire global community in general.
The bottom line is what does Bush have to lose? He can do anything he wants, Congress is scared to death of him, and there hasn't been a successful movement to impeach the SOB - so what's stopping him from playing God? If Bush was described as a disease, there's no question that it would be a plague, one that threatens humanity in general - and so far, there doesn't appear to be a cure...
William Cormier
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William Cormier (111 articles, 5 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 276 comments)
on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 7:45:27 PM
