Eric Margolis: War fever wins elections.

[IndianaGreen]

Published on Sunday, July 30, 2006 by the Toronto Sun

The Final Say

Israeli soldiers are again being sent into the quagmire of Lebanon, being used as battering rams by the U.S. against Syria and Iran

by Eric Margolis

The spreading war in Lebanon has bared the bizarre contradictions and self-destructive nature of U.S. Mideast policy.

<snip>

Attacking Hezbollah also serves as the long-predicted (by this column) "November surprise" to boost sagging Republican fortunes in U.S. mid-term elections.

Americans, steeped in deep ignorance and prejudice about the Mideast, are now being misled by the administration and its media allies that Lebanon is a new front in the so-called war on terrorism. As I recently learned doing radio shows across the U.S., a great many Americans cannot distinguish between Hezbollah, al-Qaida, Taliban, the PLO, Hamas, etc. All are terrorists. Listeners even called in to ask if the fighting in Lebanon was the prelude to Armageddon.

Bush has failed to stop al-Qaida and is stuck in lost wars in Iraq and Afghanistan costing $300 billion. His answer: Start a new crusade in Lebanon against the latest bogeyman, Hezbollah, and its Syrian and Iranian allies. War fever wins elections.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0730-26.htm

[MikeNearMcChord]

1. I loved this quote

However, Canadian PM "Steve" Harper has no doubts. He suggested the deceased Canadian major and his UN-mandated post may have been at fault for being in the way of Israeli bombs, and that Israel's destruction of the southern third of Lebanon was a "measured response." Many Canadians must suspect they elected a prime minister who actually may be George Bush's intellectual equal.
To those of you in Canada, Was there a big outcry when he said that?
The money quote
The bitter lessons of Israel's 1980s disaster in Lebanon are forgotten, just as the U.S. military in Iraq forgot the lessons of Vietnam. A triumphant Hezbollah may even emerge as the victor of this battle. The big winner? Osama bin Laden.

[CHIMO]

2. Yep

Just look at the potentate backing down on the softwood lumber agreement.

He is taking a beating in Quebec. The provence he was counting on for a majority.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=68958da6-4a40-4887-805e-d2057b99b80a&k=62697

When reading the article take note that the paper is very right wing and the poll was commissioned by them. Result. Falling support for the potentate.

[IndianaGreen]

3. I swear, Bush is infecting the entire planet with this stupidity

Seems like everyone has forgotten lessons learned the hard way. One would think that our Vietnam experience would have made us cautious about another military adventure, or that the mere mention of "Lebanon" would have instilled caution in Israel's leaders.

As to the Harper quote, it is so asinine, that it could only be matched by Bush.