WWIII? Bring it on!

[marmar]

Bringing on "World War III"
by Bill Berkowitz

If you thought that a global conflagration on the order of a World War was more the stuff of Biblical prophecy, science fiction and apocalyptic end-times novels, think again.

For years, U.S. neoconservatives have been ratcheting up the rhetoric -- mostly in small gatherings and on partisan web sites -- claiming that terrorist activities around the world constituted the initial stages of a new world war.

But during the past week or so, with the Israeli/Hezbollah crisis in full swing, Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the United States House of Representatives, is using any platform available to him to convince the public that the U.S. is engaged in World War III.

Gingrich made national headlines when he claimed -- while discussing the situation in the Middle East during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Jul. 16 -- that the U.S. should be "helping the Lebanese government have the strength to eliminate Hezbollah as a military force."

A day earlier, the Seattle Times reported that during a fundraising trip to the state of Washington, Gingrich mixed a little partisan politics -- acknowledging his concern about the Republican Party's prospects in the fall elections -- while once again using the term World War III.

"This is World War III," Gingrich said. "Israel wouldn't leave southern Lebanon as long as there was a single missile there. I would go in and clean them all out and I would announce that any Iranian airplane trying to bring missiles to re-supply them would be shot down. This idea that we have this one-sided war where the other team gets to plan how to kill us and we get to talk, is nuts."

Gingrich also maintained that the use of the term "World War III" could re-energise the base of the Republican Party. He pointed out that public opinion can change "the minute you use the language" of World War III. The message then, he said, is "okay, if we're in the third world war, which side do you think should win?"

On Monday, Gingrich appeared on the Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" programme, and restated his World War III contention.

While Gingrich's media tour definitely thrust him back into the national political spotlight, it may have also given the public a sneak peek into the Republican Party's political/marketing strategy for the November congressional elections: If the war on terrorism doesn't create a fearful enough climate amongst voters, why not ratchet it up by mentioning the spectre of a World War III?

The rest of the article is at: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0721-22.htm

[shain from kane]

1. Newt already fought World War III in his pants. n/t

[LaurenG]

2. ^^

:rofl:

[marmar]

3. LOL....

:)
Never listen to someone named after an amphibian.