Yesterday, January 6, 2007, Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman, two-thirds of the trio of tyranny (along with Brother-in-Arms, George W. Bush), held a press conference at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. They were there to hawk the deployment of an increased sustainable (but unknown) number of American troops to Iraq. The war-hawk duo insisted their decision to go forth with an increase in troop strength resulted from their recent trip to Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel. The latter being a logical stop for Joe Lieberman, an avowed zionist.
Speaking at the press conference, Joe Lieberman drew interesting parallels between the social, political and religious crises of today and the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1930's and 1940's during the time of Adolf Hitler (who Lieberman never mentioned by name). According to Lieberman:
"There are people who have spoken of this moment in our history as if it were the '30s. And there's some parallels I fear there.... Some people say the war in Iraq is comparable to the Second World War in the late thirties and the failure to grasp the growing threat of fascism before it was almost too late. The painful irony in this moment in our history is that while in some senses it is comparable to the 1930's, it's also already 1942 because Pearl Harbor in this war has already happened on 9/11/01 and in the progeny of horrific terrorist attacks that have occurred throughout the world."
Lieberman's unspecified references to "There are people" and "Some people say" as the sources promoting the parallels between today's "Islamic extremists" and World War II Nazis, were sheer semantics. A purposeful contrivance to offset allegations that these are Joe Lieberman's views shaped by his zionist ideology.
Lieberman continues:
"The enemy we are fighting is an axis of evil. It is totalitarian. It is inhumane. It has a violent ideology and a goal of expansionism and totalitarianism. It threatens our security, our values, our way of life, as seriously in my opinion as fascism and communism did in the last century.... The tentacles of Iran... are all over the region and they're inviting, and in some senses beginning to shape new alliances that go across the previous lines of division which simplistically were seen as Arabs versus Israelis."
Lieberman defines Iran as a principal source of terrorism with 'tentacles all over the region,' which by insinuation attributes a level of responsibility to Iran for the attacks of September 11th. Lieberman is clearly developing a case that Iran in 2007 is Germany after 1942, since according to Lieberman's interpretation, "Pearl Harbor in this war has already happened."
One might conclude that Lieberman's devotion to Israel, far and above his devotion to the United States, is the driving force behind his desire to escalate the War on Iraq into a totalitarian war on "Islamic extremists."
Most frightening is the vagueness with which Lieberman and McCain describe "Islamic extremists." By their mutually unclear definition, an "Islamic extremist," can be any Islamic in the Middle East region and beyond, who espouses a dislike of, or anger toward, the United States. Therefore, any islamic is potentially an "Islamic extremist." Much like any non-Jew in Germany was presumably a Nazi. Both men's rhetoric is inflammatory and dangerous, since they draw no clear distinction between which Islamists are the enemy and which Islamists are not.
Using such vague characterization of the enemy gives way to open warfare on the entire Islamic population. A possible genocide which could make America the Germany of the 1940's.
John McCain's motivation to send more troops to Iraq is less clear, but equally dangerous. Even if tens of thousands of American troops are sent to Iraq, employing the "Powell Doctrine" of overwhelming force as Lieberman and McCain advise, it is still impossible to kill every radical who hates the United States, unless the United States commits purposeful genocide. The only universal identifying factor to determine the enemy as offered by Lieberman and McCain is that they are all Islamic. This is too broad a definition to define one's enemy in war. Escalating warfare with so broad based an enemy may lead to an all-out World War.
Diplomacy is by far the better route. Yes it is difficult. Not all participants will be honest. Not all will easily engage. But, in truth, the United States hasn't always been honest or so eager to engage. Still it's certainly worth a try. Bullying threats of overwhelming force, coupled with the refusal to negotiate with one's enemies is the coward's way out. These are insufficient methods to ward off potential genocide. It's much more humane to speak with one's enemies than to attempt to destroy them all.
The potential numbers of innocents, perversely termed 'collateral damage,' who would be killed by escalating the war, could reach unimaginable numbers. Far beyond the 650,000 already dead Iraqis. World hatred for America would intensify even more.
As a Vietnam veteran and former Prisoner of War, McCain is operating from the premise of 'win at all costs.' Listening to his assessment of the outcome of the Vietnam War, it is clear McCain believes the United States' withdrawal was premature, even though by doing so thousands more American deaths were prevented.
McCain is well aware of the potential casualties of American troops and innocent Iraqis by escalating the Iraq War. He must also be aware that the more people the United States kills, the more enemies the United States makes. There is no clear win for the United States in Iraq, which even McCain reticently admits. It makes much more sense to withdraw our troops now to prevent the killing of anymore.
Linda Milazzo is a Los Angeles based writer, educator and activist. Since 1974, she has divided her time between the entertainment industry, government organizations & community development projects and educational programs.
Linda began her writing career over 30 years ago, starting out in advertising and promotions. From 1976 to 1989, she operated an independent public relations service providing specialty writing for individual and corporate clients. For the past six years, Linda has focused on political writing. Her essays, letters and commentaries have appeared in domestic and international journals, newspapers, magazines and on dozens of respected news and opinion websites. She's an educator and creator of a writers' program she's taught privately and in public schools. She currently facilitates an advocacy writing workshop and is developing an advocacy writing program to be implemented in public and private educational institutions and in community based organizations.
A political and social activist since the Vietnam War, Linda attributes her revitalized-fully-engaged-intense-head-on-non-stop-political activism to the UNFORTUNATE EXISTENCE OF GEORGE W. BUSH and her disgust with greed-ridden American imperialism, environmental atrocities, egregious war, nuclear proliferation, lying leaders, and global tyranny!
People talk about him as a hero-- for what, surviving capture? He was a loser as a warrior and is a spineless, suckup chameleon, who shills for whatever he thinks is selling.
I agree with you on Lieberman. He's in AIPAC's pocket, or maybe even halfway up it's ass, beyond brown nose.
On the other hand, I get to see how Islamic extremist groups like Gamaat Islamaya-- the Islamic Brotherhood, in Egypt is brutally attacking, stabbing, running over, threatening and probably killing Christians who refuse to convert. Rape is okay for them, if the woman is a Christian. There IS a problem with extremist Islam, thought they are just another example of the problems with extremist religious people in Judaism and Christianity as well.
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Rob Kall (761 articles, 3850 quicklinks, 320 diaries, 1642 comments)
on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 8:56:35 PM
Why did Joe and McCain need to put there two cents in, like if anyone truly respected the pair of Ace's they would have beat Bush in the primaries and became President.
I'd truly like to give them dis-credit for there efforts.The propaganda they preach must be to attempt the republicans an upward [face (crack) lift].
Its obvious the lot of them have no business in foreign policies, they want to promote world war three.
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Fred F (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 363 comments)
on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 8:59:55 PM
"The enemy we are fighting is an axis of evil. It is totalitarian. It is inhumane. It has a violent ideology and a goal of expansionism and totalitarianism. It threatens our security, our values, our way of life, as seriously in my opinion as fascism and communism did in the last century.... The tentacles of Iran... are all over the region and they're inviting...". The enemies we should be fighting are within. Behind the scenes U.S. policy is made by an "axis of evil" for their own enrichment. American citizens are paying the price in blood and hardship...as always. The U.S. is making great strides towards fascism and totalitariansism, and is illegally expansionistic according to international law; with it's tentacles around the globe. Is not torture inhumane? (A stupid and foolish policy advocated by short-sighted immoral sadists). No matter what rhetoric is used, the ideology behind the U.S. actions globally is violent and aggressive in intent and actions. How can so many Americans smugly think of ourselves as an icon of a peaceful democratic republic offering Freedom to All, with qualities to be emulated -- please look at what we are exporting... Look at what we are sacrificing...our moral leadership (vaporized), our constitutional freedoms(necessary cut-backs?), our middle class, our sons and daughters, and on and on. For who, and for what? It's time to change the infrastructure of evil here on our soil. Those who cannot now "connect the dots", may never...sad.
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garth patchen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments)
on Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 10:34:11 AM
Tax the hell out of the war-profiteering corporations and reinstate the draft, with no exceptions, except those of conscious, with proof. Hey, lets face it; just about everybody has a paper (or cyber) trail these days, especially those who are very much for or against this war.
Any government, if given the choice, would prefer to conscript men and women who believe in the mission, whatever the hell that is.
When the people who benefit most from living in this country and its policies of capitalism on steroids and world domination have to do the sacrificing, the wars will stop.
It is that freakin' simple and everyone knows it.
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wintefire6 (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 88 comments)
on Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 10:56:28 AM
We don't need the draft, we can stand up and support Dennis Kucinich by calling our representatives and telling them so. Dennis has been very vocal about having the ability of getting our troops out NOW! There's $70 billion appropriated as of Oct 1st of which $8 billion used on a monthly basis, which can provide a safe means of bringing our military citizens home to safety.
It is highly irresponsible (and arrogant) to think that escalating or maintaining our presence in Iraq will benefit anything. "We broke it" as Colin Powell would say, and now we need to fix it. Military presence has clearly indicated that our occupation is not 'fixing it'!
We owe it to ourselves to at least look at what Dennis is saying. You can find it here: http://kucinich.us/
Let's pray and act our way to peace.
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Lisa W. (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 60 comments)
on Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 12:58:49 PM
Maybe Joe's name should give us a clue; "Lie" Berman.
His kids ain't going to do any bleeding to pump up the predator classes bank accounts; more likely, they will join in selling the uniforms and bombs that the cannon fodder kids will ware and step on, as they spend the next 3 thousand years killing one another, that is if Lieing Berman's tribe of bloodsuckers can continue to huckster on other peoples blood.
As for Mc Cain, his father rode around in a boat shooting bombs upon other humans, as a career choice.
The apple didn't fall far from the tree as the son learned to fly, so that he too could travel to far distant lands to meet strange exotic people, and drop bombs on them.
The man is a thick skulled small brained hardy barbarian, who has proven that crime pays, something Lieing Berman's tribe understood and practiced from thousands of years ago.
.
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Patrick (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 390 comments)
on Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 6:16:40 PM
We've contaminated the Iraq environment with enough depleted uranium to make it uninhabitable for any form of life forever. At current pace a scorpion won't survive. So, please tell us who's going to go work to extract the oil when it would be a death sentence to anyone that breaths the air, uses the water or eats the food?
It gets even funnier.
Everyone deployed has been exposed and carried the contamination home to their wives, children or anyone they exchange fluids with. Cancer rates and birth defects are souring. In Iraq, the parents no longer ask if the baby is a boy or girl - they ask if it's "normal".
Now it gets really hilarious.
bush wants to have more troops exposed.
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Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 1256 comments)
on Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 11:46:31 PM
