Bush intends to attack Iran before the end of his term

[raebrek]

Source: The Jeruselum Post

US President George W. Bush intends to attack Iran in the upcoming months, before the end of his term, Army Radio quoted officials in Jerusalem as saying Tuesday.

The official claimed that a senior member of the president's entourage said during a closed meeting that Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were of the opinion that military action was called for.

However, the official continued, "the hesitancy of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice" was preventing the administration from deciding to launch such an attack on the Islamic Republic.


Read more: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=121066868313...

---

How many people thought they saw this coming?

Raebrek!!!

[WillBowden]

1. Hardly Late Breaking News...

We've talked about it here for months. Heh.

[seemslikeadream]

3. months?

years, we knew it was coming.

[leftchick]

2. lovely

and our complicit congress will do what exactly?

[seemslikeadream]

5. Good Morning to you leftchick

What are you doing up so early?

[leftchick]

23. good morning to you SLaD!

back atcha

I am almost always up early.

[Larkspur]

7. Pass an Iran War Resolution?

It has the same initials as the previous pre-emptive war resolution.

[leftchick]

21. I don't believe they even have to do that

Given the very convenient Kyl-Lieberman amendment from last summer (that Hillary still stands by signing on to!) I believe it gives dick the authority to attack the Iranian "Terrorists" who "threaten our troops". All bullshit of course just like the last preemptive war.

It is perfect timing though for the repukes isn't it? We have the military, media, repukes and even a lot of Democrats spewing the exact same bullshit about Iran. A perfect storm to sweep war hero mclame into office and keep the neocons in power.

[Divernan]

44. And even if McCain lost, they've locked in more years of profit for corporate war profiteers

[Jackpine Radical]

27. That makes the Search & Replace functions easier

on their word processors.

[DeSwiss]

8. Sounds like its about time for another....

"STRONGLY WORDED LETTER."

[saigon68]

66. Joementum Limpmann will be the first

To put your children on the firing line

[AndyTiedye]

91. Congress Cannot Defy AIPAC

[EmeraldCityGrl]

108. I'm reading some of the response posts to the Jerusalem Post Article...

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=121066868313...
Most are demanding aggression from the US to destroy Iran. The world cannot survive with this type of mentality.

[MissHoneychurch]

4. WHY??????

Why does he think there is a reason, except that the soldiers are in the area already. How convinient ....

Asshole.

[searchingforlight]

6. Where is he going to get the troops? Maybe an air war.

[peacetalksforall]

35. They say the plan is all air, no boots, strike fast and this is the key -

the Iranians are going to lay down and accept this, other Moslems are going to lay down and accept this, even Sunnis are going to lay down and accept this, and even good people everywhere are going to lay down and accept this. This is part of their plan. The objective is to repay Israel-keep a bargain, plus retain power in our country for the eventual control and poverty of this country with USSR, People's Republic of China type rules and Nazi prisons and treatment. They must continue to hide their secrets in the form of evidence of their law breaking until everyone forgets about it and the new Constitution is is in place.

There are so many motivations for them to do bomb. And I believe they promised Israel - make that certain people - in Israel and the U.S.

They will make sure they destroy everything our war mongers have sold Iran so they can resell them to Iran as they rebuild. It makes a lot of sense - to them.

It's shock and awe II - the Iranians are going to cheer and throw flowers at the Embassy.

[aquart]

75. Gosh, that sounds dumb.

But how nice of you to blame Israel.

You "believe they promised Israel." Nice to know what your religion is. Nice to know what you take as an article of faith.

Easy for you to "believe," wasn't it?

Oh, those evil, plotting Jews.

Where's that vomit emoticon?

[pdxprog]

81. Israeli hard-line RW gov't !=Jews

The radical right-wing Israeli government no more represents Jewry in its entirety than the radical right-wing US government represents citizens of the US. Proceed with caution, all.

[bitchkitty]

82. How is blaming the Israeli government for

something being antisemitic?

[The Stranger]

86. That is quite an inference.

Nations make "deals" diplomatically, economically, militarily -- all the time. You are inferring things in that post that do not really seem to be there.

[cosmicone]

77. self-delete n/t

self-delete

[fjc]

96. Aren't you due to return to your planet soon?

[MindMatter]

97. Fortunately it will all be over in 6 days

Or maybe 6 weeks on the outside. Certainly not 6 years.

We know where the WMDs are.

It will be very interesting to see how Obama plays this one. This is a move that has some real hazards from McCain. If Bush can use it to fuel another cycle of hyper-patriotism, if even for a few weeks, that could help McCain, and that surely must be the thinking on the GOP side.

But the public really is weary of this fear-mongering. And because of that, any attack really has to occur within 3 weeks of the elections to accomplish their electoral goal.

This means that Obama has 4 months to prepare the public for the possibility of such a Wag the Dog move. If the public fully understands what these people are doing, it will backfire in a very big way.

Maybe it would be smart for people to start putting the question straight to McCain. "Are you involved in any plans to bomb Iran before the election?"

[dana_b]

106. yeah, cause we know how well "shock and awe" worked out for them the first time!!

FUCK!! These people don't learn. I literally hate them. Start writing your congress people and the White House today!! I know, it seems futile, but we have to do something.

[TrogL]

80. Lots of nukes sitting around doing nothing

You know he wants to push the big red button.

[notesdev]

9. Ron Paul, priescent

"I want these questions to be on the record"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWr5Wl-mev0


They are indeed on the record, no memory hole for this one.

If Bush attacks Iran without a Declaration of War, it should be properly considered a coup. Congress holds the power to declare wars, not the President. Starting a war without a declaration, assuming the declaration will follow - that requires a different form of government than the one we have.

[nongrata]

25. not a "war"

doesn't have to be a declaration of war, just a strategic missile strike against a terrorist base in Iran's borders ostensibly to protect our guys in Iraq. Then when Iran retaliates against US interests in the middle east, bush can defend and protect us against the axis of evil!

[Strelnikov_]

34. Thats the way I see it going down, initially. Recent articles seem to support this.

Then, like all wars, it will take on a life of it's own, out of the control of the political masters who thought they could control it.

[shadowknows69]

54. Yep, and Georgie has already labeled the Iranian Rev. Guard as terraists

So he can say it's all part of the war on terror. He's been bombing targets in Somalia for months now unabated. There's not enough strength in our government to stop him once it starts. They'll attack Israel and WWIII will be on.

[dixiegrrrrl]

83. He's been attacking Iran already, too..

remember this ?

Iran busts CIA terror network.

http://tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=168823

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Mudoria]

10. Wow.. More anonymous officials with all the

juicy details. Sorry.. more BS.

[raebrek]

15. anonymous sources make me nervous n/t

[mmonk]

17. Sometimes, anonymous sources leak things when they get nervous

as to derail the possibility.

[peacetalksforall]

41. Not bs, there is and has been evidence of their intentions for years.

The only thing not going right is the timing. It should have happened earlier, but they messed up in Iraq.

[Magleetis]

11. Shrub logic

For the sake of peace we must make war. FUGWB you are a POS.

[fasttense]

12. The Iranian attack will have nothing to do with protection

of the middle east or Israel. Bombing Iran will have everything to do with getting that old, forgetful McSame elected as President.

Rove thinks the American public are more likely to vote in McSame, and any other immoral republican standing around, if a war is in its infancy. It's a political maneuver that will cost many innocent lives.

[Cosmocat]

19. That is definitely part of the calculation ...

was definitely in their line of reasoning, to use the term loosely, for the Iraq disaster ...

[shadowknows69]

56. Or they've decided to go with the Alpha Omega Plan

and we'll all be under a fully functioning dictatorship soon.

[global1]

13. Didn't Hilliary Bring It Up At A Debate That She And Barack Would Go On Record......

to prevent that from happening so as not to burden the next President? Can't Congress intervene now to prevent this from happening? I would think that even the Repugs would not want *Co to do this. Why is this man still in office?

[awoke_in_2003]

87. She may have said it in a debate

but she voted on record for Kyl-Lieberman Amendment.

[happygoluckytoyou]

14. HELLO CONGRESS OF 2006.... HELLOOOO ! ! ! ! ! DON'T BE SHY... STEP IN ANY TIME NOW !!!

[Tab]

16. Congress won't go for it

and we need to unplug these assholes from the White House while we still have a country left.

[Botany]

18. We must now have a plan because after seeing bush on Keith last night ....

.... I have little doubt he is crazy enough to do such international crime.

We need to have a GENERAL STRIKE ready to go an attack on Iran happens.

The Congress needs to impeach both Bush and Dick Cheney if an attack happens.

According to the N.I.E. Iran does not have the bomb, the capicty to build a bomb,
the capicty to make bomb grade materials, and will not for the next 3 to 5 years.

We need to watch out for another "terror attack" that will be used an excuse to attack
Iran.

We need to remember post 9-11 one the largest pro American demostrations in the
world was in Tehran, the Iranian Govt. told us that we could use Iran's airspace to
attack al Qaead & the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Iranian Govt. also said that any
al Qaeda fleeing into Iran they would catch and turn over to us, and the the Iranian Govt.
offered to talk w/ the bush adim. about stopping all of it's nuclear programs.

[Lint Head]

20. Bush must kill more people before he leaves office.

It is in his nature to kill. Death is the answer to all issues for Republicans be it health care, natural disasters or dealing with your enemies. John McCain was released from his torturers because the American government negotiated with a terrorist regime in Vietnam. Who would Jesus negotiate with?

[mwb970]

22. Is there *no* evil act that these vile cretins will not stoop to?

I would be disgusted, but I used up my lifetime supply of bush-disgust along around 2005. I couldn't possibly hate him any more than I do now.

[onehandle]

24. But they'll defend themselves with the missiles that Reagan sold them.

C'mon, smirk. Dish out some more appeasement.

[leftchick]

26. when they do look for $200.00 a barrel Oil!

http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff05172008.html

Of War and Gas Prices
Fear at the Pump

By DAVE LINDORFF

<snip>

“Oil prices have gone from the mid $20 range in the fall of 2002 to $127 yesterday—a rise of $100/barrel in just over five years,” he says. “And the bulk of that increase can be attributed to the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to the threats of war against Iran.”

Hussein-Zadeh’s analysis looks at a number of ways that the Bush/Cheney wars have contributed to rising oil prices. Chief among these are two factors: the threat to supplies, particularly from the Persian Gulf region from which 20 percent of the world’s oil supplies come, and a falling dollar, because oil is priced in dollars, and as it loses value, oil producing countries raise their prices to compensate.

In an article titled “Worried About the Price of Gas? End US Wars,” Hussein-Zadeh writes, “Soon after the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq the price of oil began to escalate in tandem with the escalation of war and political turbulence in the Middle East.” Furthermore, he says, “Anytime there is a renewed US military threat against Iran, fuel prices move up several notches.” If the US were to actually make good on Bush’s and Cheney’s threats to attack Iran, in Hussein-Zadeh’s view “the sky would be the limit” to oil prices, with $200/barrel being a starting point.

The dollar’s fall, too, is significantly a result of the wars—particularly the Iraq War, he says. That war has been costing the US $200 billion a year, all in borrowed funds. That in itself is a huge hole that has to be funded by borrowing from China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and other nations. But as Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz has pointed out, the true cost of the Iraq War, when interest on debt, health costs of injured veterans and other long-term costs are factored in, is more like $3 trillion and rising. And when currency speculators and traders—the ones who really set the value of the dollar—make their bets, they’re looking at that bigger number, not the little one.

[Ian David]

28. Probably true, but citing an "unnamed official" is hardly a smoking gun. n/t

[ohio2007]

29. The Jeruselum Post

Raebrek, your still wrong about the Iran invasion of 2005,06,07, and 2008.

crying wolf until people will say ;
"Thanks to us,we prevented *co from invading Iran"

LOL

[Hugabear]

I'm glad that you have such unwavering faith in Our President

Just because he hasn't attacked Iran doesn't mean that he won't. And the anti-Iran rhetoric coming from the White House is the highest that it's been in the past several years.

But go on believing the Liar.

[ohio2007]

52. You've been crying wolf for 3 1/2 years now

http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CLA410A.html

STFU with this make believe invasion BS already !

[Hugabear]

59. I hope we're wrong. But you cannot deny the rhetoric and propaganda has been increasing

Previously, the rhetoric was simply that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons, and that they were a state sponsor of terrorism. However, lately they've been trying to make the case that Iran is actively helping the insurgents in Iraq, training them and providing them weapons. By doing so, they're accusing Iran of waging a proxy war against the US. On top of that, there have been an increasing number of minor military incidents in the Persian Gulf involving Iranian gunboats and US and British warships.

[Tempest]

65. I'd think it was BS, except...

Have you ever seen the movie The Dead Zone (not the TV series)?

Bush has reminded me of Greg Stillson since day one.

I see him starting a war with Iran to bring about Armageddon.

[raebrek]

84. How about to bring about drilling for oil in our own country?

I wouldn't put it past him.

Raebrek!!!

[beezlebum]

there were rumors for years they were going to invade iraq

starting in the late clinton years (not saying anything about clinton, but i remember the constant attention on iraq just before the election), picking up the pace in 2001, whispering up the oft-dispelt myth that iraq somehow had something to do w/ 9/11.

perhaps they aren't, and merely leak it to create doubt, maybe to instill fear or distract.

i want to be skeptical, but i have trouble putting it past them.

[Dead Elephant]

30. Would this shock anyone

from the war criminal administration.
Bush and his cronies are the self serving creeps.

[The Wizard]

31. Setting an example in stupidity

And to think Nixon was called The Mad Bomber. This administration is Nixon on crack, steroids and bad acid.

[Jefferson23]

32. This administration and our Congress scare the hell out of me. When is

this insanity going to stop? This is no surprise, Bush has wanted to do this for so long, where is Pelosi, we have no respresentation of checks and balances.

[PinkyisBlue]

33. "Bush and Cheney were of the opinion that military action was called for. "

And I am of the opinion that this administration is totally corrupt and should have been impeached years ago.

If Conyers and Congress aren't going to address the issue of impeachment until after Iran is attacked, it will be too late.

[L. Coyote]

36. The Continuing War of DISTRACTION from Bush War Crimes and FAILURES.

The ruse is so old it was an eye witness to the Big Bang!

The problem with wasting time staring into glass balls is
that you cannot look back at the war crimes at the same time!

[L. Coyote]

37. REALITY CHECK: Sen. Byron Dorgan: Iraq Waste, Fraud, & Abuse

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Time for change]

38. I do agree strongly with one thing that Bush said

"Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world's deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations".

That is true. Who could argue that the Bush/Cheney administration isn't the leading sponsor of terror in the world? By permitting them to remain in office, the U.S. Congress is committing an unforgivable betrayal of our current and future generations.

[L0oniX]

39. This will be the penalty for not impeaching Bush and the Dick.

[ToughLuck]

45. I agree 100% There are no boundaries for Bush/Cheney, and Pelosi made sure of it.

[mdmc]

40. We will shock and awe them, oil will pay for the war

and it will be over with in a couple months. On to annihilate!

[whistle]

42. Iran has over 65 million population, three times that of Iraq and twice

...the land area, I get the feeling Bush/Cheney will do this as a deliberate effort to bog down the next president in an endless war. Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, but opinions are not facts. Congress needs to stop this madness now.

Some additional data on Iran:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Iran

[Doctor_J]

61. It's also a relious religious republic. If * attacks Iran the

fighting will not be confined to the ME. The billion or so Muslims will take up arms, I fear.

[mopinko]

43. please see this thread on this same subject.

please reply to the poll, but please also visit the link.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[peacetalksforall]

46. Drop everything so that Cheney cannot drop everything. It's time to

hammer Congress and fight every bomb supporting lobbyist in this country.

Some have fooled us with the notion that we don't have the armed forces to do this. That doesn't seem tp make a difference to these people.

And we're going to find out if European leaders are in with Cheney or not if they don't demand the Cheney and his gang stop this.

What was on the front page of DU yesterday - new meeting between Iran and Russia. Who precisely knows the purpose.

Prevent every one of these war panting and heaving Cheney supporters and bomb planners from doing this to the people of Iran and the world and the planet that hosts us.

[peaches2003]

47. If Gates and Condi are REALLY against this.....

they must resign NOW and tell the truth. They can't be the 'Loyal' wimp that Colin Powell was and cover for the little son-of-a-bitch. Someone HAS to speak up and save this country from one more Bush disaster. I would never support Powell for any office again after what he did.

[shadowknows69]

48. This simply cannot be allowed

Someone has to stop this. Can you say no elections?

[ohio2007]

50. Iran launches fresh crackdown on websites (yes, proper elections will stop the 5th columnists)

Iranian authorities have blocked access to several websites and blogs of women's rights advocates and journalists critical of the government, a press report said on Tuesday.
The move follows a new directive sent out by a committee tasked with identifying illegal websites to Internet service providers, the reformist Etemad Melli newspaper said without giving a source.

"There seems to be a tougher approach this time as some sites and weblogs belonging to women's rights and human rights campaigners, writers critical of the government and well-known journalists" have been singled out, it said.


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080520121743.po...

Can't allow power to be taken away from the regime !!!

[SOS]

85. Repressive on women's rights? Censorship of web sites?

When does the US launch attacks on Saudi Arabia and China?

[beezlebum]

102. ...breitbart??

so when do we invade all the other oppressive regimes?

[The Backlash Cometh]

49. Well, give him a helmet and a tank and wish him well.

The rest of us will stay here to clean up the mess he created.

[lovuian]

51. Its been about the NWO agenda

everything is in place for it

[ElsewheresDaughter]

53. and call for "marshall law" and suspend the elections

[enki23]

62. they might have to call in paul phoenix too...

.

[Phred42]

55. Impeaching Bush & Cheney NOW is the only way to Stop this ....

- and the Coup That Mark Crispan Miller is talking about in his recent video

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Baby Snooks]

57. The Saudis

I doubt Condoleeza Rice or Robert Gates have any real influence on either Bush or Cheney and if anything, the Saudis are blocking it. Keep in mind that King Abdullah has referred to the "illegal occupation" in Iraq. He is not about to allow a second "illegal occupation" in Iran.

The friends of the Bushes who have been enemies of the American people are becoming enemies of the Bushes and possibly friends of the American people in their opposition at this point to the policies of the Bushes which have prevented peace all these years.

The Bushes belong at Nuremberg. But then so does Bill Clinton.

[Broadslidin]

58. Word to The Wise: quietly, "Stock-pile gasoline, diesel fuels...!!"

Following the example of this imperial government
and its strategic crude oil reserve.

[Doctor_J]

60. Can't Congress arrest * and Cheney to prevent this?

There must be some recourse.

[squawk7700]

63. The Jerusalem Post is about as reliable as the National Enquirer

...

[tinrobot]

64. October Surprise

Everything is political with them, guarantee this will be right before the election.

[billyoc]

67. Congress already approved 300 million for this, so why all the shock?

Cheney has the money already, there are no more procedural niceties for him to observe, even if he was of a mind to. Game on.

[8 track mind]

68. HHmmmm

wow..........didn't.......see....this.....coming.....

[bdamomma]

69. red alert you guys read this!

not surprising news lies and nothing but lies from this sickening regime we have.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=121066868313...

White House denies Army Radio report on plan to attack Iran

[muriel_volestrangler]

70. ALternative thought: build up Rice as the 'wise foreign policy' VP candidate

Rattling sabres is always a favourite move of the unthinking Bush, and the bullying Cheney; doing it this way could have the added advantage of painting Rice as the cautious foreign policy expert, to join McCain's ticket to reassure centrist voters it won't just be 'bomb, bomb Iran'.

[KillCapitalism]

71. They can't do it, they've ran out of time.

Sorry, but I don't buy it. If they wanted to attack Iran they should have got on it back in '05. I guess it's a good thing this administration is full of slackers.

[Deep13]

72. Impeachment is off the table!

[sakabatou]

73. Fuck

[dutch-Eddie]

74. You're all correct, of course - war with Iran is in this

administration's plans. They should, however, wait until Iran develops and uses nuke at least once. Then - no one will be able to accuse Bush and his cronies of war mongering and using faulty intelligence as a pretext for a war.

[Finite]

76. No way

not even Dumbo is insane enough to start another war whilst occupying two countries to the tune of $9 - $10 billion a week. I will bet you a large amount of money this isn't going to happen.

[cosmicone]

78. Iran is not Iraq ... this would backfire

Iran has been armed to the teeth with defense gear from Russia and China. They are not impoverished or under sanctions like Iraq. They also have modified shore-to-ship sizzler missiles for which US Navy has no defense. They also have smart radars which is practically impervious to attack.

Iranian nuclear installations are in very rugged, mountainous territories and deep underground.

Iran will shoot down planes and may even sink a carrier or two with a sizzler missile.

The economic fallout will be even worse with oil reaching $250/barrel.

Lastly, the shias in Iraq who have been largely cooperating will be unleashed and given anti-tank weapons and other gear that Iran has given Hizbollah. Remember how Hizbollah decimated Israeli tanks? Imagine what will happen to the US convoys if the Iraqis got the anti-tank weapons.

I doubt Gates and the generals would do something so foolhardy.

[Dukkha]

79. then you KNOW what needs to happen to Bush

[liberal N proud]

88. His recent Middle East trip was probably a planning session

with our "allies" in the region.

With friends like these who needs enemies?

[jespwrs]

89. WW3

I really think Cheney wants to start basically a WW3 in the middle east. US attacks Iran, Iran attacks our forces and then Isreal, Hamas attacks Isreal, Isreal goes apesh*t and attacks everybody but the U.S., Russia might even join the fun. Syria attacks Isreal, Hezbollah takes over Lebanon, God knows what the Saudis would do if Isreal starts shooting at them. Cheney knows all this and thinks it best to just light the fuse and then he can have his ultimate war. Isreal would probably start the nuking...what else...massive death and destruction, total economic collapse, martial law...

Maybe I'm paranoid but...

[KansDem]

90. It's the Bush M.O.

His poppy lost to Bill Clinton in 1992, then sent troops into Haiti before Clinton was inaugurated. Watch His Royal Flatulence do the same...

[McCamy Taylor]

92. Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 2006 was for this, too, but the US military refused.

Those who watched the news closely saw it all. The Pentagon criticized the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and in particular its attacks on civilian and Red Cross targets and signaled that it had no intention of intervening even if Syria got involved.

And as we all know, Hezbollah had plenty of heads up about the attack (which was six months in the planning according to reliable sources though Israel claimed that it was spontaneous in response to the kidnapping of a soldier and no one over here except me ever dared to suggest that it was deliberately timed as a distraction for the day Plame would sue Cheney and Rove) so they were armed to the teeth and did not need any support from Syria. Makes you wonder who in the US or Israel warned Hezbollah or Syria or Iran in advance that Cheney and Israel were conspiring to have Israel invade Lebanon as a pretext for a US-Iranian engagement?

Considering what happened in 2006, I figure the chances of a war this time are slim at best, the only reason the Pentagon might consider allowing a brief engagement being that the are stumping for McCain and decide that war is his best shot at the WH. However, I believe that his support comes mainly from the retired military in the MIC, not from active military who support Obama more.

[frogcycle]

93. they will declare a state of emergency and invoke

the emergency powers bs exec order to suspend congress and SCOTUS; put all power in the executive (as if it was not de facto already). bush will be kept heavily medicated and cheney will be the Czar, or Supreme Leader, or Dear Leader, or whatever he chooses to call himself.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

94. Did anyone watch the recent PBS documentary "Carrier?"

What frightened me the most was the commentary from many personnel on their disappointment that they didn't "see any action."

The military has become a paycheck for many that are either unemployable or lack opportunities in their own community. Sorry if that isn't the
popular rah rah! "support the troop"s rhetoric we are suppose to spout, but it was their own words that have brought me to this conclusion.

If that maniac in the Whitehouse proceeds with his demented plans, the Navy will play a huge role in the attack.

I remember reading recently about the retirement of the man in charge of the Navy in the golf region. He was vehemently opposed to attacking Iran.
He and Gates were of the same mindset.

Bush is mentally ill, delusional and needs to be forcibly removed from office. We can not sit back and allow this to happen.

[aquarius dawning]

95. Doubtful. I think it's safe to say that Iran dodged the bullet this round.

It will be interesting, one way or the other, to see what happens with this country over the next four years though. Even more interesting, one way or the other, will be the spin used to apologize for whatever happens with Iran. One thing is for certain, Iran will be a major issue for the next President...one way or the other.

[Peace Patriot]

98. Rumsfeld urged "swift action" by the U.S. in support of "friends and allies" in South America

"The Smart Way to Beat Tyrants Like Chávez," by Donald Rumsfeld, 12/1/07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

Intense propaganda right now to paint the presidents of Venezuela and Ecuador as "terrorist-lovers." Presidents Hugo Chavez and Rafael Correa are hugely popular, democratically elected leftist presidents who control the largest oil reserves in the western hemisphere (both countries are members of OPEC) and believe in using the countries' oil profits to bootstrap the vast poor majority. They border Colombia to the north (Venezuela) and south (Ecuador). Colombia is a Bush Cartel client state, run by fascist murderers, torturers and drug traffickers, on whom the Bushites have larded $5.5 BILLION in military aid--the largest U.S. military aid package in the world outside of Israel. About a third of Colombia is controlled by leftist guerrilla fighters (the FARC). In the other two-thirds, Bush tool Alvaro Uribe gets elected by stuffing ballot boxes, bullying, intimidation and murder (of union leaders, community organizers, leftist political candidates, human rights workers, journalists and voters). Over 50 of Uribe's political cohorts (including relatives) are under investigation, indicted or in jail for death squad and drug trafficking activities--such as chainsawing union leaders and throwing their body parts into mass graves, and slitting children's throats on suspicion that their parents are leftists. Thousands of innocents have been killed RECENTLY in Colombia's 40+ year civil war, almost all of them by Colombia's military and closely associated rightwing paramilitary death squads, and tens of thousands of poor people have fled into Venezuela and Ecuador as refugees. Colombia continually harries Venezuela's and Ecuador's borders with incursions, death squad murders, and Bush/U.S. "war on drugs" toxic pesticide spraying.

The situation is a tinder box. The Bushites recently threw gasoline on the fire by providing Colombia with high tech surveillance and ten 500 lb. U.S. "smart bombs" (and possibly U.S. aircraft and personnel) for a BOMBING of Ecuador and cross-border incursion, to wipe out a FARC camp that guerrilla leader Raul Reyes had set up for the release of FARC hostages to the presidents of France, Ecuador, Venezuela and Argentina, who have been trying to negotiate hostages releases and a political settlement of Colombia's civil war. The U.S./Colombia thus ended any further hostage releases (Chavez had gotten six hostages released) and hopes for peace. The Colombia/U.S. attack on Ecuador very nearly started a war between Colombia and Ecuador/Venezuela--exactly what the Bushites wanted--and was more than likely orchestrated from Donald Rumsfeld's privatized "Office of Special Plans." (I'm pretty sure Rumsfeld was involved in the unbelievable treachery of Uribe REQUESTING Chavez's help in negotiating FARC hostage releases, then--when it appeared that Chavez was going to be successful--BOMBING the location of the first two hostages, as they were in route to their freedom, driving them back into the jungle on a 20 mile hike, back into captivity. Chavez got them out safely a few weeks later. The plan seems to have been to hand Chavez a diplomatic disaster, with dead hostages. It smells of Rumsfeld.)

In summary, shots have already been fired in Oil War II: South America. The Bushites have been unsuccessful at provoking Venezuela and Ecuador into a direct war. (Chavez was apparently key to staying Ecuador's hand, at retaliation for the bombing/incursion. Brazil's president Lula da Silva called him "the great peacemaker." He also recently said, "You can criticize Chavez on many things, but not on democracy." --which might come as a surprise to most north Americans--if they were ever to hear of it--so disinformed are they by our corporate news monopolies.) The Bushites' Plan B is their funding, organizing and arming of fascist cabals within democratic countries to split off the oil rich provinces in fascist secessionist movements, causing internal chaos and civil war. They have two such Plan B's in motion--in the oil rich Venezuelan state of Zulia (bordering Colombia), and the gas/oil rich eastern provinces of Bolivia (the Bushites supporting the white separatist movement against Bolivia's first indigenous president, Evo Morales). They also have reconstituted the 4th Fleet (a nuclear fleet) which is roaming around off the Venezuelan coast.

I think the "October Surprise" is as likely to be eruption of the Oil War in South America, as it is an attack on Iran. Iran is well-defended and has powerful friends (China!). Virtually all of South America is now leftist, democratic and PEACEFUL--and, in so far as democracy creates strength (commitment of the people to the government), South America is far stronger than the United States. But it is not strong in armaments (except for U.S.-Bush armed, fascist Colombia), and Brazil's president recently proposed a South American mutual defense, so worried are they by the threat of U.S.-Bush aggression. As for the U.S.-Bush flooding fascist cabals with money, arms and organization, the South Americans PROBABLY can handle it--can prevent the split-off of oil-rich sections of their countries into Exxon-Mobil controlled, fascist mini-states. But there may be more bloodshed before it's over, as global corporate predators seek to regain control of the Andes oil fields. It is a situation that could be used for Bushite/corporate war mongering, and the writing of a narrative to cover Stolen Election III.

[Peace Patriot]

100. Good info sources on Oil War II: South America...

www.BoRev.net (hilarious AND informative)
www.venezuelanalysis.com (just informative)

[katty]

99. the 'tide' of opinion is heavily against whackjob's bush/cheney

if Gates is saying 'not gonna happen' then he is at least doing his gatekeeper job until these sick freaks are out of office.

[marias23]

101. Will U.S. Gernerals Be "Good Germans"?

We tried German officers for their illegal actions. Will the American Generals also "just follow orders?"

[HEyHEY]

103. If polls start showing a certain Dem white house victory - say hello to the attack

I wouldn't be surprised if the thugs do it to start shit and make the job even harder for the next Dem President.

[dana_b]

104. anyone who is paying attention in the slightest way??

Seriously - just the first pargraph with this statment:
"the Administration preferred to resolve concerns about Iran's push for a nuclear weapon "through peaceful diplomatic means." "

LOL yeah, right!! We'll fall for that one again.

The American people need to begin to contact their congress people, write to the White House and protest now, not when we're on the brink and it's too late.

[SOS]

105. Which phony excuse will they use?

The nuclear excuse discredited by the 2007 NIE and the 2008 IAEA report?
Or the ridiculous notion that Shiite Iran is training their archenemy Al Qaeda?
Or perhaps the recent display of 20,000 captured insurgent weapons, not one of which was from Iran?

[dana_b]

107. right! all phoney and wha people forget

is that Russia likes Iran. Who will be supporting them? Russia? China? This could be WWIII. Even the Europeans will probably try to stop us - as they should.

[kestrel91316]

109. I have predicted for YEARS that he would POISON THE WELL.

IMHO it's Plan B. Plan A was to not relinquish power at all and cancel the elections, but he couldn't get away with that now with his numbers in the shithole. So he's gonna start WW III right before he leaves office.

[Moderator]

110. Locking--story denied

The original link now shows a different story, denying the first one

May 20, 2008 11:00 | Updated May 20, 2008 19:26
White House denies Iran attack report

The White House on Tuesday flatly denied an Army Radio report that claimed US President George W. Bush intends to attack Iran before the end of his term. It said that while the military option had not been taken off the table, the Administration preferred to resolve concerns about Iran's push for a nuclear weapon "through peaceful diplomatic means."