We are forgetting what the Bush adminstration is capable of...

[debbierlus]

It doesn't seem to me that people are connecting the dots. Given the record of the Bush adminstration, don't you think it is possible that the admistration will DELIBERATELY use this 'opportunity' of the crisis between Israel and Lebanon to start a wider with Syria and Iran?

I posted this yesterday, but I think it bears repeating. I have been concerned for some time that a conflict with Israel could be used as a guise to start a much broader war. And, it gives the adminstration the cover they need, for in the guise of protecting and allying with Israel, people will go along with their war plans. Look at the Congressional resolution that passed yesterday, and the division among progressives.

Aren't we forgetting that Bush was talking just a MONTH ago about pre-emptively attacking Iran with nukes. A move only held off by Pentagon higher ups that convinced them that it would be political suicide (article from New Yorker linked below). People are talking as if this adminstration actually has an interest in seeing this conflict cease. I think they want it to expand, I think it is their goal. Here is my post from yesterday:

Read these stories:

Israel Won't Rule Out Full Scale Invasion of Lebanon:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060720/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel_255

Then, read this story. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060720/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_hezbollah_s_patron

I am not an expert on Middle Eastern affairs. However, I am very uneasy that the US will use the situation that is occurring between Israel and Lebanon as a catalyst to start a wider war. Just a couple of months ago, Bush was stating that the PREEMPTIVE use of nuclear weapons in Iran was on the table. They have been practicing for a full scale invasion:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article12754.htm

And, the war is reportedly being held off by only a few senior commanders in the Pentagon who fear the repurcussions of a Iranian war - quote from the New Yorker article (please go to the link and read the full article, it will give you a much better understanding of the current situation)

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060710fa_fact

The fact the US has allowed Israel to respond to the Hezbollah attacks and kid-nappings with such excessive force and has not called on Israel for a immediate cease fire is most troubling. Experts are warning that the longer the violence continues, the higher the risk of a all out war between the two nations that could drag in neighboring nations.

This may be very well the cover the US has been waiting for to begin its war with Iran. The administration knows the US will be skeptical of a preemptive military strike on Iran, especially one utilizing nuclear weapons. But, if they can tie the strike as a response to a Iranian attack on Israel, they can claim they are aiding allies and thus not acting preemptively. The truly frightening thing about all this is that this adminstration is capable of deceiving the public about the actual events. As we have learned from Iraq, this adminstration has no problem lying and distorting information, if its suits its own purposes. And, I do not doubt for a second that they will exaggerate or lie about Iran's connections with Hezbollah in order to justify attacking Iran.

I am absolutely outraged at the democrats response to this crisis. Instead of condemning Bush for not demanding Israel immediately call a cease fire, and talking to the American people about the possible implications of this decision, what do they do?

Sign on to a Congressional resolution backing Israel.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/07/20/congress_to_voice_support_for_israel/

It is the Iraq war resolution all over again. Not the same content of course, but the same implications. Support for a policy that is doomed for failure and utter disaster. This is the time the dems need to stand up and say NO. Loud and clear.

Beware of what is occurring. Do not be pulled into supporting another unethical, unnecessary war by the adminstration's tactics. The consequences of a wider Middle East war and a US strike on Iran are clear now.

Call your Congress person and demand that they pressure the adminstration to call for a cease fire now, and publicly condemn Israel's actions.

E-mail this post to everyone you know and urge them to do the same.

[ComerPerro]

1. Ive said for a while that I'm sure the administration is privately

encouraging Israel to keep up the attacks so that Bush can have war with Iran and Syria

[debbierlus]

5. Not even privately, they refuse to even ask for a immediate cease fire

And, that isn't because they want to give Israel a week to dismantle Hezbollah. They won't succeed in that objective in a week, and the adminstration knows it. They want that time to escalate the situation. An adminstration official said yesterday they didn't even know if a cease fire was possible!

This is an incredibly dangerous time, and I am incredibly distressed that the democratic leaderhship is not more vocal about the implications about this crisis.

Where is the dem leadership?

You can be pro-Israel and condemn a war. It isn't mutually exclusive. That is another false choice the adminstration is using in their set-up.

Beware of these people.

[ComerPerro]

6. But, I think they go farther than that. I think that privately

they are telling Israel to keep up the war, and to find as many excuses as possible to link this to Iran and Syria.

And I think they are making deals, offering aid and support.

[havocmom]

7. And lots of foot dragging getting Americans out of Lebanon

They could really use some more innocent American victims to get the masses revved up. They need to get eyes off their scandals and screw-ups. They need a campaign issue for November.

Bet enlistments go up when lots of US citizens are killed in the fighting. More enlistments will make it easier to squeeze the military brass into excepting widening the theater of war. More Americans dead will increase passion for it.

War is profit. They will do what it takes to increase profits. They will do what it takes, short of sending their own kids off to spend ordinance and increase sales.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. why not? It pushes Iraq/Afghanistan off the pages.

it distracts, instills fear, and makes sheeple proud of their govmint.

[kimmerspixelated]

4. Yep, Bushee Boy

WILL DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT Israel, and stop at nothing. I think we should all be very afraid.

[onecent]

17. I am afraid!

[newyawker99]

24. Hi FitzmasAgain!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mmonk]

3. Of course (deliberate). That's why we're not a peacemaker.

Very little people in our government are. You can count them on your hand. This is all much bigger. There is a plan. Ask yourself when our government has quite acted like this before. We've always been big on being a player (negotiations).

[gkhouston]

8. of course. I fully expect them to try it, but I think they're

underestimating the isolationist sentiment that a lot of Americans have. The economy's not doing well despite what they tell us, gas is way up, too many of our soldiers have already been overseas for far too long, etc, etc. -- I wouldn't be surprised if Joe Murkan said, "To hell with the Middle East. Let them blow themselves to hell and gone. We'll get our oil somewhere else or figure out how to do one of those alternative fuels. Gas is too damned expensive, anyway." And if BushCo tries to jumpstart a war with a terrorist attack here, the reaction might well be the same, because we never did get Osama. Why the hell pour more of our money and more of our children's lives down a black hole and get nothing in return except debt and grief? And weren't the Republicans supposed to protect us from the terrorists? Looks like they failed.

[debbierlus]

10. I don't think they will be constrained by logic or American sentiment

And, I was incredibly troubled to hear Rice today with her nonsensical remarks about the current situation being birthing pains of a new middle east. They STILL intend to remake the Middle East in their image, and I don't think reality or public opinion will stop them.

It never has before.

[gkhouston]

11. no, I think they'll try it. I just don't think they can carry it off.

They may have been hoping to start this after the midterms but the polls aren't looking so good now, so they've moved things up. Perhaps they're hoping that the distraction of war will once again keep the Republicans in power. I think it could be a bad miscalculation this time. A lot of Americans want to bring the troops home from the Middle East and this administration is on the verge of digging us in much, much deeper. Basically, BushCo has nothing left to lose and they're throwing the dice, hoping that "war" equals "patriotism" equals "Republican victory".

[AntiFascist]

16. I agree...

watch for pro-war Republicans and Democrats bring about a DRAFT because that is the only way to beef up troops. Then the shit will really hit the fan and it'll be Viet Nam all over again, or worse. Of course there's always the Terra factor...

[JuniperLea]

9. I've said this from the begining

Of course! It was all in the plan.

[bdamomma]

22. what a thought provoking thread

we are putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and it doesn't good so good. we have to keep on top of this. but it was all planned, and it doesn't look so good, things may spiral out of control, this is really scary. I can't understand either why our Democratic Senators are for this continued attack on Lebanon, no ceasefire, this is not how this crisis should be handled and in the meantime more people are getting killed they just do not care at all. I am enraged at all of this.

[magellan]

12. In my estimation

...there's two sides playing games here: Syria and Iran, and Israel and the US. They're all doing exactly what the other side wants.

Syria are making a power play for Lebanon (and beyond) through Hezbollah. Iran supply arms to Hezbollah just like we supply arms to Israel, but Syria is orchestrating events so that's taken the US heat temporarily off Iran.

Meanwhile Israel is itching to get into southern Lebanon, to clear out Hezbollah and perhaps make a land grab. Hezbollah want this fight because Israel's heavy-handed tactics promise to radicalize more of the ME against Israel.

And of course the US has been silent because the more Hezbollah does, the more excuses BushCo have to go after Syria and Iran.

I may not have every detail right, and I welcome correction. But that's basically how I see it. No one's the good guy in this. There are only victims.

[debbierlus]

13. I agree with you.

No one is blameless. I just shudder to think about the implications of the Bush doctrine and policy. These people are lunatics.

The United States should be leading with dignity and a committment to a diplomatic solution.

Just what the Bush adminstration WON'T do.

[tnlefty]

14. Not Bush** doctrine entirely - PNAC.

And I'm truly finding it hard to believe that I'm supposed to jump onboard this.

Another thing has been running through my mind over and over of late - I remember seeing interviews with Kevin Phillips when his newest book, American Theocracy, came out and one interview was on Democracy Now and I'll try to find something on it either on the net or in the book.

One comment he made was similar to: 'rightwing elements in the protestant, Jewish and Catholic communities are pushing for all of this to occur.'

[AntiFascist]

18. If you include right-wing Islam then you have a real conspiracy....

keep in mind the Al-Qaida spawned from US anti-communist initiatives in the ME.

[tnlefty]

19. ? I'm not looking for a conspiracy as of the type dismissed as tinfoil hat

varieties - although I do think that the word conspiracy is used to shut down questioning and seeking answers. I'm taking these bastards for the words that they put into print.

I'm aware that Al Q spawned as a resistance to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, but perhaps I'm totally missing your point. And why has Al Q been so quiet lately except for an announcement that Bin Forgotten is supposed to make regarding the Israel/Lebanon hostilities?

[AntiFascist]

20. I'm not talking about a tinfoil hat conspiracy....

it doesn't have to be a well-organized conspiracy, more that of achieving a common goal: that of War. American (Judeo-Christian) neocons want war, the (Jewish Orthodox) Likud wants war, and the (Fundamentalist)radical Islam wants war. None of these groups like the status quo, particularly al-Qaida, and so doesn't it make sense that they might work together to some extent in achieving their common goal? The one thing they all seem to hate, deep down, are leftest freedoms, particularly when the they go against their respective theologies.

[bdamomma]

23. yes, and mix all those religious ideologies together

they all want to be raptured, and pushing for end times.

these people are very dangerous.

[Bullwinkle925]

15. Wouldn't surprise me in the least. Nothing these bastards do or

think of doing is not out of the realm of possibilities!

[bdamomma]

21. After reading your post, this is how they want to invade or expand

their war with the help of Israel, this deadly regime of PNAC want to see their agenda to be followed, the more death and destruction is what they want. This is not a movie, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and ? Syria ? Iran and what North Korea, be very scared. :scared:

[lonestarnot]

25. Well whoever those couple of senior commanders are, I hope

the fuck they hang tough on this one!