Tonkin Gulf II? The Guns Of August May Be On

[CGowen]

by Patrick J. Buchanan

Is the United States provoking war with Iran -- to begin while the Congress is conveniently on its August recess?

One recalls that it was in August 1964, after the Republicans nominated Barry Goldwater, that the Tonkin Gulf incident occurred.

Twice it was said, on Aug. 2 and Aug. 4, North Vietnamese patrol boats had attacked the U.S. destroyers Maddox and Turner Joy in international waters. The U.S. Senate responded by voting 88 to two to authorize President Johnson to assist any Southeast Asian nation whose government was threatened by communist aggression.

The bombing of the North began, followed by the arrival of U.S. Marines. America's war was on.

As Congress prepares for its August recess, the probability of U.S. air strikes on Iran rises with each week. A third carrier, the USS Enterprise, and its battle group is joining the Nimitz and Stennis in the largest concentration of U.S. naval power ever off the coast of Iran.

And Tonkin Gulf II may have already occurred.

In Baghdad, on July 1, Gen. Kevin J. Bergner charged that Iranians planned the January raid in Karbala, using commandos in American-style uniforms, that resulted in the death of five U.S. soldiers.

...

If what Bergner alleges is true, President Bush has not only the right but appears to have the blessing of Congress to attack Iran. And he now has the naval and air forces at hand. What is stopping him?

For it is surely not Congress, which buried a resolution last spring declaring that Bush must come to Congress before taking us into a new war in the Middle East. Congress appears to be signaling Bush: "If you want to hit Iran, you have the green light. No need to consult us."

http://www.postchronicle.com/commentary/article_21292655.shtml

[snappyturtle]

1. This has to end. No more war.....ever. K&R

[ixion]

2. agreed. no more war...ever.

kicked for peace!

[CGowen]

3. I don't know if the MIC will agree n/t

[snappyturtle]

4. No I don't delude myself into thinking the MIC would ever go

along with my no war attitude. I love the way the war, in the last couple of days, is being extended into 2009! I listened to Duffy, reporter for TIME magazine, on WSJ this morning and he was reporting how long it will take to dribble our troops home.

All I know is my nephew who went to Camp Tajii in February flew commercial airlines here and there 'til he finally got to some point in Europe. I tried to call to ask if the redepolyment will be handled in the same manner...use of commercial airlines. I can't imagine we don't have enough troop transport aircraft to evacuate our soldiers in a more expedient manner than Duffy was proposing...although he never talked about specifics. It's all such a farce. We're in this forever............imho.

[jmp]

5. This can't be good for Pat Buchanan's GOP cred ... (nm)

...

[Supersedeas]

6. how many reporters even know what Tonkin is

[CGowen]

7. worlds finest replicas?

http://tonkinreplicas.com/