Chris Hedges: Bush’s Nuclear Apocalypse

[Freedom_from_Chains]

Chris Hedges: Bush’s Nuclear Apocalypse
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Posted on Oct 9, 2006

AP Photo/Vahid Salemi
Accompanied by armed forces commanders, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reviews Iran’s Shahab-3 missile, a weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and reaching Europe, Israel and U.S. forces in the Middle East.

By Chris Hedges

Editor’s Note: The former Middle East bureau chief for The New York Times and author of the bestseller “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning” reports on Bush’s plan for Iran, and how a callous war, conceived by zealots, will lead to a disaster of biblical proportions.

The aircraft carrier Eisenhower, accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio, guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage, guided-missile destroyer USS Mason and the fast-attack submarine USS Newport News, is, as I write, making its way to the Straits of Hormuz off Iran. The ships will be in place to strike Iran by the end of the month. It may be a bluff. It may be a feint. It may be a simple show of American power. But I doubt it.

War with Iran—a war that would unleash an apocalyptic scenario in the Middle East—is probable by the end of the Bush administration. It could begin in as little as three weeks. This administration, claiming to be anointed by a Christian God to reshape the world, and especially the Middle East, defined three states at the start of its reign as “the Axis of Evil.” They were Iraq, now occupied; North Korea, which, because it has nuclear weapons, is untouchable; and Iran. Those who do not take this apocalyptic rhetoric seriously have ignored the twisted pathology of men like Elliott Abrams, who helped orchestrate the disastrous and illegal contra war in Nicaragua, and who now handles the Middle East for the National Security Council. He knew nothing about Central America. He knows nothing about the Middle East. He sees the world through the childish, binary lens of good and evil, us and them, the forces of darkness and the forces of light. And it is this strange, twilight mentality that now grips most of the civilian planners who are barreling us towards a crisis of epic proportions.

These men advocate a doctrine of permanent war, a doctrine which, as William R. Polk points out, is a slight corruption of Leon Trotsky’s doctrine of permanent revolution. These two revolutionary doctrines serve the same function, to intimidate and destroy all those classified as foreign opponents, to create permanent instability and fear and to silence domestic critics who challenge leaders in a time of national crisis. It works. The citizens of the United States, slowly being stripped of their civil liberties, are being herded sheep-like, once again, over a cliff.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601009_bushs_nuclear_apocalypse

[truthisfreedom]

1. oh. so THAT's the October surprise. i was wondering when we'd find out.

nice of bush to make it so... abysmal.

[aquart]

2. Bush couldn't even keep a head of lettuce safe.

And we're trusting him with nukes?

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. Sounds like a scorched earth plan to me.

Like a baby having a temper tantrum. "If I can't have my way, I'll bring on Armageddon, because I'M the Decider!"

[Syrinx]

3. check out the last paragraph

If you are sure you will be raptured into heaven, your clothes left behind with the nonbelievers, then this news should cheer you up. If you are rational, however, these may be some of the last few weeks or months in which to enjoy what is left of our beleaguered, dying republic and way of life.

[Old and In the Way]

4. If you were guilty of dereliction of duty that resulted in the deaths

of 3000 Americans, what would you do to avoid accountability? Add to that, starting a illegal, unjustified war in Iraq? Hmmmm, knowing these war criminals MO, starting WW3 doesn't seem so far-fetched to me.

I do think we are in a end game of sorts....if they can't steal this election, they know they are in big trouble. I guess the question will be, will our military allow this administration to start another elective and catastrophic war? Iran is not Iraq and they've been preparing for this eventuality. Having GWB as our C-I-C, counseled by his braintrust of delusional chickenhawks, doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling that he'll do any better prosecuting a real war than he's done screwing things up in Iraq.

[Larry Allen]

5. We aren't doing enough to halt the march to war with Iran.

Unlike Afghanistan and Iraq, Iran has the capability of defending herself. Most assesments coming from Israel or the pundits only address how many years can Irans alledged nuclear program be set back. They rarely address Irans ability to retaliate.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Larry Allen!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Eurobabe]

6. Canada, can ya please invade the US and depose this DESPOT *?

Jesus Christ, I am heading back across the pond soon, if fucking Boy George starts shit with Iran. Why don't the leaders in the EU DO something about this situation?

[whirlygigspin]

7. Smedley Butler time?

Well, the German army refused to put the torch to Paris when Hitler gave the order, maybe the spirit of Smedley Butler will do the same if it appears George and his racketteers try to wag the dog again.

I'm glad i'm not a general under this government of racketteers.

[yy4me]

8. Where are the commanders, generals, other military personnel

active or retired at this moment. Why do we not hear a cry loud and clear from them regarding this new and even more horrible taunt by **** and company? As each day passes, I become more afraid for the world in which we live. If the current administration is aware they are going to lose in November, this tactic will not get them votes to keep the GOP in place. I do not believe the public will rally 'round this flag. It will be ****'s final act of stupidity! We may live long enough to tell them so as we escort them all to the Hague! Why is this not more public? Have I missed network commentary about this flotilla heading east?

[Joe Bacon]

9. You hear nothing from them because they are brainwashed.

The overwhelming majority of the Armed Forces command structure is controlled by the religious nuts. Groups like Force Ministries are predominant. Take a look at http://www.forceministries.com and get scared to death. THis is the mentality of the armed forces, the same armed forces that force soldiers to sign prayer pledge cards and mail them back to assholes like Charles Stanley and John Hagee!

[Toots]

10. Hunter-Killer mission

When I was in the Nam we used to fly what was called Hunter-Killer missions. We would send out a Loach with a light team of guns trailing it. A Loach, Army acronym for low observation helicopter and light team of guns being two gun ship helicopters. The loach would fly low and slow along a river or known NVA trail and try and attract enemy fire. As soon as the loach was fired upon the guns would swoop down and annihilate the area. Often the loaches would carry sophisticated equipment capable of sensing human activity and use that to target an area. Then they would buzz that area until some idiot would eventually fire upon them. I have a sinking feeling that is what is happening with these ships going to the Straits of Hormuz. As soon as one of our ships is fired upon the war is on. That way Bush* can say he didn't start it but is defending the USA from attack. It is going to happen, prepare for it..

[Freedom_from_Chains]

11. That has been my thoughts also. Either that

or some scenario where Israel fires on Iran, ostensibly to protect herself, and then we swoop in claiming we had to protect her.

[conscious evolution]

14. I've been wondering if

our special forces teams have been training the local "resistance" on how to fire Russian missiles.