JUAN COLE: The decade-long Neoconservative plot to take the US to war against Iran foiled

[kpete]

The decade-long Neoconservative plot to take the United States to war against Iran appears to have been foiled.

......................

In 2003, the Neocon chickenhawks, most of whom had never worn a uniform or had a parent who did, joked that “everyone wants to go to Baghdad; real men want to go to Tehran.” When people have to talk about being “real men,” it is a pretty good sign that they are 98-pound weaklings.

.......................


All through the Cheney-Bush administration, repeated leaks from the Pentagon to Sy Hersh and other investigative journalists warned that machinations were afoot to draw the US into a war against Iran, as an outgrowth of the illegal and aggressive attack on and occupation of Iraq. The Neocons plotted against the lives of our children until their last day in office, in January of 2009.

After seeing what Bush did to Iraq, Tehran ramped up its nuclear enrichment program, in hopes of making the point that if the US looked like it might try to invade (which it often looked like), Iran might go for broke and come up with a small nuclear device. In 2003 when Khatami made the peace proposal, Iran had just declared a small set of nuclear experiments. As of 2006, it began serious nuclear enrichment activities, though UN inspectors have never found evidence of a nuclear weapons program.

As Secretary of State John Kerry pointed out Saturday night, if the Bush administration had accepted iran’s 2003 proposal, the rancor, saber-rattling, sanctions and the rapid advances in Iran’s nuclear program could have been avoided.
MORE:
http://www.juancole.com/2013/11/agreement-negotiate-enrichment.html

[malaise]

1. The neo-cons have been whipped

The war profiteers are on the retreat (for now). Crush them for ever.
This planet needs some peace and some post war development for people.

[calimary]

10. Well, most of 'em are chickenhawks anyway, so all they know how to do is talk tough.

They know nothing about anything else. It's a simplistic, low-on-the-evolutionary-scale, lizard-brain types who resort to bullying and smashing - first (and usually exclusively). Talking, negotiating, reasoning it out, using logic and other higher-brain less-Troglodyte functions - well, that must just be for sissies, 'eh?

[Iggo]

27. That tough talk totally works on the low-info flag worshippers, though.

That's what they've always counted on.

[LongTomH]

21. It's a continuing battle with those monsters!

I'm convinced they killed JFK because he wouldn't launch a 'First Strike' against the Soviet Union, either in the Berlin Crisis or the Cuba crisis.

It will be an eternal battle: Bush said "Money trumps peace." That's what we will have to continue fighting for the rest of our lives.

[tridim]

2. Which is why Netanyahu is crying like a fucking baby this morning.

Fuck the neocons. The World is moving forward.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. "Netanyahu crying like a fucking baby."

What a pleasant vision.

[2banon]

23. more like he's squealing like a pig - which he is

one more note, I woke up to that asswipe pig on Weekend Edition (gotta change that) squealing on about how wrong this agreement was, and the "interviewer" went on with "analysis" asserting in the mix of newspeak babble, that it is uncertain whether Israel possess nuclear weapons.. (I'm paraphrasing)

WTF is that POPPYCOCK/CANARD being allowed to be stated on any M$M anywhere.. !!!

[Baitball Blogger]

28. I guess he's not happy about losing his handout.

Last edited Mon Nov 25, 2013, 12:39 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm sure that they'll get less from the U.S. in a time of peace, than in a time of war.

[2banon]

36. do you suppose that's why bebe the pig is threatening to attack Iran? (what a fucking lunatic)

He reminds of what's his face in North Korea.. couple of psychopaths.

[Baitball Blogger]

37. It would not surprise me.

All the neo-cons were on the air waves after 9/11. They have the play book down. I just don't think our nation can take another economic hit, not to mention that we owe it to a generation of young men and women to find diplomatic solutions.

[2banon]

38. you and I are in agreement..

these psychopaths will find a way, and hey, don't forget they own the media.

That said, I'm holding out for a bit hope that this "agreement to come to an agreement" will ultimately bring us down the path of lasting freedom and good will. for a change.

[annabanana]

3. Every wrench in The War Machine is

a good thing . . .

[KoKo]

5. Recommend. A very good read!

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Remember the neocons outed Valerie Plame

in preparation, so she had to go.

Q: What is your take on President Rouhani and Iran's overtures on its nuclear policy?

A: I think it's fascinating. I really am heartened by seeing Rouhani's overtures. Of course, as a president once famously said, trust but verify. So it remains to be seen. But the fact that there is outreach, that there appears to be a moderation in their stance, maybe this is a window of opportunity. (On Friday, President Obama said he and Rouhani had spoken on the phone, the first direct conversation between the countries' leaders since 1979.)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2013/09/30/valerie-plame-blowback-interview/2879487/

[SoapBox]

7. Oh if only there was some jail time for The BushCo. Regime.

One can dream.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

47. Had I been Barack Obama

In my inaugural address in 2009, I would have said, "President Bush and Vice President Cheney believe they are about to go into retirement. However, as my first act as President, I am having both arrested under 18 USC § 2340A (c) for conspiracy to commit torture. Take them away."

[Myrina]

8. ... it ain't over yet ...

.... you never know what the unholy Cheney-BFEE alliance has up their evil sleeves.

[stillwaiting]

9. This can not be overstated. nt

[calimary]

13. Well, what I'd say then is - "okay, fine, then! YOU GUYS GO FIRST!!!!"

Last edited Sun Nov 24, 2013, 05:30 PM - Edit history (1)

And we'll be safely behind you - here at home where it's safe. You guys go out and play Rambo all you want. Put YOUR asses on the line first. "...and then we'll see." That's what they kept telling us during the Iraq War - every time they insisted on "giving it another six months." "We're gonna give it another six months, and then we'll see." And we were "another six months'd" for six YEARS.

I think dickie and georgie and their girlfriend contradicta, and wolfie and scootie and dougie - and all their little war-hawk friends who never served, never paid the price, never volunteered to go into harm's way, never got their hands dirty, never put their asses on the line for their country, never saw combat - hell, they never even got close! - and in only rare instances even wore their country's uniform for awhile - should suit up and go. Rummy actually did serve, under the most ideal and no-muss/no-fuss conditions - after Korea, safely BETWEEN wars, and of course georgie-poo lounged through the Vietnam experience in the "champagne squadron, keeping the skies of Texas safe from the Commies, when he wasn't busy skipping out, drinking and snorting and partying all night, and getting his teeth fixed during regular business hours. THEY should all be first in line. First to suit up and put their money where their mouths are, and GO OVER THERE AND GET IT ON. If they want their damn wars so much, THEY should be first to suit up and go fight. THEN I might be interested in hearing what they have to say about how urgent it is to put your life on the line for your country in some shit-ass sniper- and IED-infested desert somewhere.

Hey, PNACers, YOU FIRST. That means YOU, bill kristol. That means YOU, frank gaffney. That means YOU, jebbie-boy. That means YOU, kagan. And all your little saber-rattling friends who wanted to sit home in nice cushy air-conditioned TV studios and opine about the urgency of going to war - while everybody else's kids and well-meaning national guard and reserves members were sent off to do the dirty work. That means YOU george will. That means YOU charles krauthammer (don't care that you're in a wheelchair. Since you want war so damn bad, then YOU wheel YOUR ass out there, too. Perhaps YOU would be most uniquely qualified to understand the plight of the wounded and disabled soldiers).

Sorry to be so harsh and cold about this. But it seems to me that if we had more of this - those most ardently rattling sabers to get us into war, I think, SHOULD be first to suit up and get their asses out there on the front lines and lead the way. If we had THAT principle in operation, then maybe we wouldn't find ourselves mired in as many wars in the first place! Get some skin in the game, chickenhawks! Especially when you had the chance when you were younger and you managed to weasel out of it like Mr "Five Deferments" cheney famously did. Well, regardless, that bill's still there to be paid, and since student loans still stand whether there's bankruptcy or not, YOUR unpaid bill still stands, too.

[Enthusiast]

14. I share your contempt for these assholes.

That is all.

[ChazInAz]

15. Eloquently put.

Thank you for so accurately conveying my own thoughts on the subject!

[kpete]

20. calimary

that was magnificent
peace, kp

[NastyRiffraff]

25. Well said, calimary

Yes, they should go first. They never will though. Every one of them is too cowardly. "Real men" indeed.

[grasswire]

30. contradicta....LOL

The bobblehead?

[ladyVet]

32. Exactly this, calimary.

I spent the last year and a bit of my military career with mobility bags packed and ready, wondering when we'd get the call to go into Iran. I knew I'd likely never see my then-husband again, because he would have been on the closest flight line. I'd be stateside, running whatever was left of the motor pool.

We were ready to call family to come and get our son, and worrying about me having our second child alone.

Those were awful times, everybody on base was tense and sad and scared, and then St Ronnie Raygun magically makes it all go away. Bull and shit.

So, yeah. The warmongers want to start something? Then they and their families go first.

[blackspade]

40. Ka-Pow!

[myrna minx]

42. You, in one post. dredged up all of the horror I felt for those

nightmarish 12 years. We can't let the memory of that horrible time slip into faded soft light. The neo-cons and their bloody worldview was an abject failure and they cannot be allowed the benevolence of time to soften their destruction in the US, Iraq and the world.

[madokie]

43. Spot on

It does the heart good to read such righteousness

[BlancheSplanchnik]

46. righteous!!

As madokie said.

[Heather MC]

11. There you go again blaming Bush!!!

Cue Condelezza Rice to claim this was a Joint Administration effort. Like she did when asked about the death of Osama Bin Laden

[MyNameGoesHere]

12. I am grateful for a post that tells the real story

instead of making a list.

By the way, depriving the military industrial complex their little wars is going to cause these warmongers go really subversive. I now worry more than ever about a coup. Especially with Bibi's little public tirade.

[Tumbulu]

16. Yes, I share your worry over this nt

[nikto]

39. Good point!

Neocons have no morals and will stop at nothing.

[Botany]

17. Egg Zac Lee the same deal that was on the table for W, Rice, Cheney, & Rummy in 2003

just like blowing off N. Korea time after time and then they built some bombs.

How much time and money were wasted by these neo-con shitheads?


**************

As Secretary of State John Kerry pointed out Saturday night, if the Bush administration had accepted iran’s 2003 proposal, the rancor, saber-rattling, sanctions and the rapid advances in Iran’s nuclear program could have been avoided.

[polichick]

18. How is the mic going to take this?

[spanone]

19. rest assured, they will continue to whack the hornet's nest every possible chance

they will never go away.

[calimary]

33. Then the proper response is: "YOU FIRST!!!!"

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. We are not out of the Neo-con con game yet, but this treaty is a big step. nt

[Gman]

24. For now

They never quit

[northoftheborder]

26. my fear is what Netanyahu might do.

[countryjake]

29. Kick and Recommend!

[n2doc]

31. For now

The Neocons play a long game. If Christie (or any R) gets in, expect a return to the warmongering.

[calimary]

34. Well, then that's when we should start getting LOUDER: "You FIRST!"

If you're not willing to put your own money where your hard-on for war is, then you can't possibly expect me to put MY money (or my kids') where YOUR hard-on for war is!

[blackspade]

41. Good point.

Maybe we should have a war tax, where the rich pay for it.
After all If the poor have to fight it, they the rich can pay for it.
We all have to have skin in the game, right...right?

[roamer65]

35. They have not been vanquished.

All eyes should now be on the next moves from Tel Aviv and Riyadh.

[NewJeffCT]

44. Since I've seen Ben Cardin criticizing the deal

is there any chance it passes the Senate? Isn't he normally pretty reliable?

[PFunk]

45. I might be the lone voice here but I think this is also a facesaving thing for the US.

The sanctions were about to run their course as from many reports both Russia and China were about to resume trade with Iran. With many european nations doing the same. That would make the US continuing with them kinda week. So the US had to find away out of this mess. Still this will eventually be a good thing IF someone (i.e Israel, Saudi Arabia, Neocons, etc...) doesn't find a way of torpedoing it first.

[HoosierCowboy]

48. We were all for Irans' Nuclear Program

...back when the Shah was in power. Benny, sign the NNPT and stifle yourself. You could have made this much easier had you signed on when every one else did. Until you do, you have no moral authority in this issue.