Iran: Why Am I Still Worried?
By Nicole Belle Tuesday Oct 23, 2007 8:02pm
Mr. Bush claims that rumors of plans to attack Iran are ‘baseless gossip.' So why am I still worried?
Five years ago we established Artists United to Win Without War because of concern about the veracity of Mr. Bush's claims about Iraq. We were alarmed at the hawkish tirades from Washington portending a clear intention to launch an unprovoked attack against a nation that had done us no harm. And we were appalled at the bellicose ranting of the mainstream media that acted as Bush's megaphone, drowning out the few lonely voices trying to add a touch of reason to the mix. So we released a call for restraint, signed by celebrities, military officers, diplomats and foreign service professionals, asking him to honor our country's historic opposition to a "first strike" and to support the UN inspection teams checking to see if Saddam was actually hiding WMD.
The media, of course, ignored the professionals on our list and attacked the upstart celebrities in an attempt to divert the discussion away from whether we were being told the truth to whether actors have a right to an opinion.
I'm worried today because the "thousands of lives" we warned might be lost in Iraq became hundreds of thousands. The millions of dollars we worried might be wasted became hundreds of billions. The international respect we feared might be damaged has instead been shredded. And the elected representatives we felt had shirked their duty have not yet shouldered it.
In our naiveté, we did not know that our Constitution and Bill of Rights would be sundered and America would become a nation of torturers.
So I'm worried because the same media that turned Saddam into Hitler despite the fact that he had no meaningful army and no weapons of mass destruction, now confers the title on the hapless tool Ahmadinejad, who has no power over Iran's military and little political standing in his own country, except that rejuvenated by the blundering president of Columbia University.
I'm worried because although General John Abizaid, former chief of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), doesn't believe "the Iranians intend to attack us," saying, "Iran is not a suicide nation," he is now retired.
It's reassuring that Admiral William Fallon, the current head of CENTCOM, refused to send a third naval carrier task force to the Persian Gulf because it would signal a preparation for war. He's said to have vowed there would be no war against Iran on his watch and implied he would quit first.
But I worry that Mr. Bush doesn't care what military leaders say when Mr. Cheney sets his mind to doing something. General Shinseki, General Zinni and General Batiste opposed his policies in Iraq. They're now gone, as is much of Iraq.
It helps when Mohammed ElBaradei, Nobel-Prize-winning Director General of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, says "I don't see Iran, today, to be a clear and present danger. And our conclusion here is supported by every intelligence assessment I've seen that even if Iran has ambitions to develop nuclear weapons [which it denies], it's still three to eight years away from that. We need to continue to do robust verification. But we do not need to hype the issue. What we need right now is to encourage the moderates in Iran."
But Mr. Bush bugged UN offices before the vote on Iraq, pressured our allies, and had Colin Powell sell his soul for a green light to "shock and awe." Powell is now sorry, but gone. Mr. Bush remains and he's never made a mistake.
So I'm worried. Despite the disaster in Iraq, the neocons remain in full-throated war cry.
I worry when I learn that Defense Secretary Gates' Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coalition Affairs can publicly say "I hate all Iranians" and keep her job.
I worry when Mr. Bush's choice for Ambassador to the UN, cashiered against his boss's wishes, runs around calling for the bombing of Iran and, where have we heard this before, "regime change."
I worry that Mr. Bush could give 45 minutes of his day to Norman Podhoretz, the Grand Poobah of neoconservative ideology - which gave us the war in Iraq - to lobby for an attack on Iran.
I worry that despite Bush's dismissal, it's not just "baseless gossip."
I worry because a humiliating lack of public support seems to mean nothing to Mr. Bush and those propelling him.
I worry because I see the arrogance of a cult intent on fulfilling its mission before they lose what they seem to believe is a God-given opportunity.
And I worry because too many Americans, once again, seem content to sit on their hands, unwilling to believe this man could do something so stupid.
Mike Farrell, author of "Just Call Me Mike - A Journey to Actor and Activist," was co-founder of Artists United to Win Without War.
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Nobody should believe Bu$h or Cheney because they lie. They don't know how to tell the truth or even what it is.
We all need to be on alert to what they're up to... same thing that got American into war with Iraq is going on now.
I look forward to the "War" with Iran. Maybe then we will see the Tyrants Bush, Cheney, Republicans, Democrats, Military Brass, and the U.S. Corporate State Controlled "News" Media brought to swift justice for "War Crimes" against humanity. No I'm actually serious.
If you think that a few old people carrying Impeach Cheney signs is going to stop this you are crazy. The USA is in a total death spiral and I look forward to seeing this rotten Government collapse under the weight of its own rot so we can start over debt free.
Please spare me Hillary Clinton and Bill Maher. I'm not a Democrat or Republican, just a very pissed off Post American. regards
I worry that BushCo. is thirsty for more oil and the promise of $150/barrel. Take that China.
No, no. The media learned it's lesson last time - remember all those self-serving stories about how they had been "fooled" (Translation: Lied to)? They couldn't possibly be misled by the exact same "stories" and justifications that led us all into Iraq for a second time...
Kudos to Mike F for once again attempting to be a voice of reason amongst the screams of the insane.
[/sarcasm]
SHOCKING!!!
Please note the [/sarcasm] was for the first paragraph in #4.
Looking at that picture, the only thing I can think is, it's the end of the world!
We're so screwed, and all thanks to the Democrats/Republicans (battered wives) who are affraid to stand-up!
Is that a pretzel fart?
. @ 8:
I wish it was, dot, I wish it was! But if Dumbya takes us down that road, it's gona be one hell of a pretzel no ass will be able to hold!
Whats the U.S. life expectancy now after 7 years.
50?
The only thing that can stop the Ricky Cheney, Bush insanity is the U.S. Congress and the in-Justice Department. Since the Justice Department has decided to be on legal retainer for the White House only Congress remains and sadly politicians are politicians regardless of party. The Dems are dragging their feat because Iraq continuing will be the issue that puts more Dems in office next November. I'm still not convinced impeachment of both Boy George and Ricky Cheney should not be pursued. The founding fathers obviously knew that on occasion the country would be better served if the presiding officer and others were removed without the nation suffering and being damaged until elections came up again. As most know impeachment is mentioned SIX TIMES in the Constitution. War powers and executive privilege were never mentioned. If I'm not mistaken the primary reason for the Revolutionary War is to provide a government with a separation of powers and checks and balances yet we allow this mis-administration to consolidate power and avoid checks and balances.
Steve Everett
http://www.JustAThoughtThatsAll.com
"Any government without wide ranging, enforcible checks and balances will certainly in time become imbalanced." -- by Steve Everett
IMPEACH NOW.
Thanks for posting this. Every time I go to Huff anymore I get temporarily blinded from the initial flash from the paparazzi blast.
When the anti-democratic Republican appointed conservative activist judges on the Supreme Court threw the election in 2000 Clinton should have suspended the results, ordered a re-election, and had the US military frog march Rehnquist, O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy and Thomas from the bench. Now it may be too late to save our nation from the anti-America reich wing fascists.
....not to mention saving the world from BushCo...
If only every American would read Mike Farrell's words.
As much as I believe the fucking twit will do it.........I just can't see it happening........gawd...I hope I'm rite.
Wow, Mike Farrell should be our president...what do you think? President Hunnycut!
Quitting would just encourage the U.S. to attack Iran without him in the way. If Fallon really wanted to do anything, he'd refuse to give any such orders he might receive.
Post American:
I'm worried that the worst-case scenario is that we wind up occupied by China and Russia for a while. But maybe they'd at least do something about our deteriorating infrastructure...
Ruthless People @ 14:
Yep!....that was his biggest mistake!
I wonder if all those who really voted for bush and now regret feel any guilt?
How about buyers remorse?
After all, another war WILL effect them even more than just the last 2.
Do I feel a draft?
Dahgrostab'ph-r-i @ 18:
We already had a president BJ!
are we fucked? yes, we are fucked!
Dahgrostab'ph-r-i @ 18:
NO. We'd lose one our best and brightest if he got into the racket.
with only a 24% approval rating...HOW THE HELL DOES HE PULL THIS SHIT OFF????
12 slippytoad Says: IMPEACH NOW.
We repeat that so many times, me included, that I feel like with our ROLLOVER Dems they are just ignoring us.
Come election on November 2008, we'll be asking the losing Dems:
"can you hear me now?"
President Bush's disturbingly flip comment last Wednesday about Iran and World War III not only revealed his apparent comfort when discussing global conflagration. Bush's gaffe also showed the common vision between himself, the man most likely to succeed him as head of the Republican Party and those who advise them both. For George Bush, Rudy Giuliani and the likes of Norman Podhoretz, the only dispute about "world war" is whether we're already fighting it and what number we're on.
For the details, see:
"Bush and Giuliani on the Next World War."
So uh what happened to the hunt for the Nine Eleven Conspirator Osama Bin Laden? Never forget, remember? What a mess!!!
Truth be told, the spying sans warrants began in February 2001. It's still a little known fact.
FunMe @ 26:
I just hope the the Dems we replace....are with real Dems
Ok, can the moderator explain to me why my comments were erased, specially since I didn't break any rules and stayed on topic?
Looks like the United States Military is ignoring orders they find to be immoral or unconstitutional. Great Great NEWS!!!!!
Impeachment will never happen at this stage. Too much time wasted.
Vote OUT the Dems that were elected 06. They have proven to be ineffective. Replace them ALL.
Orangutan. @ 32:
Can you provide a link to this news? Thanks!
Truth Hurts @ 31:
don't take it personally....the new server has it's way sometimes.
It seems, blatantly obvious, that George W. Bush is in league with Al Quada. Osama bin Laden's stated goal is to bankrupt the U.S. The unelected President is doing that with his war and more, including his disastrous tax and program cuts.
The U.S. is being systematically weakened. Our military has lost its top spot to Blackwater. There are as many, or more, Blackwater mercenaries in Iraq as there is U.S. troops.
If the concept is a good script for a season of "24." Hmmmmm. BRB. Writing to Kiefer Sutherland...
We remember.
THE PETITON LETTER
http://civic.moveon.org/artistswinwithoutwar/
TO: President Bush
War talk in Washington is alarming and unnecessary.
.... We reject the doctrine--a reversal of long-held American tradition--
that our country, alone, has the right to launch first-strike attacks.
It also was signed by:
Eugene J. Carroll, Jr.,
Rear Adm. U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Sgt., U.S. Army (Ret.)
Mitch Ryan
Ambassador Jonathan Dean
(U.S. Rep. to NATO Warsaw Pact)
Ambassador Edward Peck
(former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq)
Anyone hear that Bush quote to the effect: "19 kids hijack planes and kill 3000 students." ???
This guy is beyond Reagan's muddle-mind-musings.
Orangutan. @ 32:
Wouldn't that be something!.....geezz...I hope this is real.....this would be a nice square punch in his face!....please,please,please.
Oct.24, 2007
Tucked inside the White House's $196 billion emergency funding request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is an item that has some people wondering whether the administration is preparing for military action against Iran.
The item: $88 million to modify B-2 stealth bombers so they can carry a newly developed 30,000-pound bomb called the massive ordnance penetrator, or, in military-speak, the MOP.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3771522&page=1
mudshark @ 25:
“Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
They will attack before January '09. Bank on it.
mudshark @ 35:
Oh... The server just didn't like me for some reason.
I'm sorry server, I'll just play along and not think. Promise!
Gee Mike, you sound dangerously..sane. I keep waiting for some Iraq version of the Gulf of Tonkin bullshit to be the headline one morning.
L.A. Confidential @ 41:
Yeah!..OK...Bu who is stupid enough to believe this crap anymore?????.......oh yeah.....the 24%rs.....who are in a minority.
"Big ol democracy just keeps on rollin'
Doesn't worry bout where its goin."
Truth Hurts @ 43:
I'm not kidding.....it's been happening for weeks now..........not as bad as it was last week.
Firestarter5 @ 42:
I have a fantasy of a reverse "Seven Days in May" scenario. Cheney calls the pentagon and gives the command to attack Iran, The admiral instead calls Reid and Pelosi and asks them to start emergency impeachment procedures against cheney and his little monkey George. You can fill in the rest
. @ 40:
I get a funny feeling reading your post......like you know WTF your talkin about........but hey.. that money wouldn't help SS....would it?
Not all failure is created equal. Launching another losing war is a good option if it turns out to be less of a loser than the one in Iraq. Bush-Cheney could improve their legacy grade from a low F to a regular F.
moondancer @ 48:
Reid/Pelosi issue a 'harsh' statement?
mudshark @ 47:
I'll let you in on a little secret, that's what I tell commenters on my blog when I delete their comments. I'm an IT expert. Oops!
But it's ok, I believe you. ;)
Server, since you're recording this, I'll play nice and just express outrage at the GOP, minus thought. *Movin on*
And before he leaves, a final fuck you America........
Truth Hurts @ 52:
well ok if you say so.......BTW.....whats your blog?
Hey if you look at the picture of george, it looks like a flaming John Paul II behind him. Wow!
The tyrant knows that he rules over a nation of cowards, Republicans, Democrats, Slaves. No one wants to be fired from their 'jobs' and lost their 'health insurance'. We are living in Revolutionary times, but no one wants to talk about it. Go read the Declaration of independence. Listen to Abe Lincoln or JFK. Voting won't fix anything. Impeachment won't fix anything. I think we're in a civil war!
mudshark @ 45:
Post American....not yet.But
If Bush and Cheney attack Iran it will be Pelosi's and Reid's fault. They knew the man was mad but refused to stand up to them. They knew the man was insane but they took impeachment off the table and gave him everything he wanted. They could have stopped the funding but they didn't. So I hold them accountable just as I would someone who gave a heroin addict money to go about and buy more.
Mike Farrell, thanks for posting this. To compound the Iraqi blunder with yet another - and far more dangerous - Middle East invasion would not just be a repeat blunder, but a crime against morality, logic and history.
Here's some blogging on the imminent Iranian war from both sides of the political divide (apologies to C&L for reposting this from another of today's threads, but it's relevant here):
Fareed Zakaria in Newsweek:
” The American discussion about Iran has lost all connection to reality. Norman Podhoretz, the neoconservative ideologist whom Bush has consulted on this topic, has written that Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is “like Hitler … a revolutionary whose objective is to overturn the going international system and to replace it in the fullness of time with a new order dominated by Iran and ruled by the religio-political culture of Islamofascism.” For this staggering proposition Podhoretz provides not a scintilla of evidence.
Here is the reality. Iran has an economy the size of Finland’s and an annual defense budget of around $4.8 billion. It has not invaded a country since the late 18th century. The United States has a GDP that is 68 times larger and defense expenditures that are 110 times greater. Israel and every Arab country (except Syria and Iraq) are quietly or actively allied against Iran. And yet we are to believe that Tehran is about to overturn the international system and replace it with an Islamo-fascist order? What planet are we on?”
[source: http://www.newsweek.com/id/57346 ]
And the response from David Frum (policy advisor to Rudy Giuliani and friend of Norman Podhoretz) on NRO:
“If a non-nuclear Iran is really so weak, that suggests two conclusions:
A) It is really, really important to prevent Iran from going nuclear. Given the vicious record of the Iranian regime, we should prefer that they stay as weak as they are.
B) If they are so weak, then the US has comparatively little to fear from Iranian retaliation for a strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.”
[source: http://frum.nationalreview.com ]
Um . . . yeah.
So . . . according to Frum, Iran is a threat regardless of all historic evidence to the contrary. But if it isn't a threat, hell, why pass up a terrific opportunity to blow this rogue nation to shit just to make sure? Because, apparently, it's the non-threatening countries you have to look out for. If they're weak now, they might become strong someday . . . . Or something like that.
If anyone can figure out Frum's logic, let me know, because I sure as hell can't.
I'm beginning to root for Iran in this because I hate the US Administration so much. Just imagine if the US attacked and Iran replied and killed millions of Israelis? What if they also sent some missiles to the US and another million were killed? Don't think for a minute that the intelligence the US has is true. Wasn't before Iraq and it isn't now. They have no intelligence, just look at them because they can't even spell IQ. Sorry, but I love ad hominem attacks now and then.
Bush (probably that asshole Cheney though) will then want to go nucular and I hope someone really doesn't let that happen. This admin is the scariest hostile admin in history.
I also see in the future the Bush Administration in the Hague, being tried for Crimes against Humanity. Can't wait to see them sentenced to life, or worse, and spend their term in an Iraqi jail until they get hung, shot or worse. We can only wish for justice for the thousands of innocents killed and the millions displaced because of a lie. And all this for what?? Nothing.
Annoyed Canuck @ 59:
Planet??? ..... Boosh world.
goodone @ 60:
it certainly would of been better to give Sadam his 100 million.
You and we have every reason to be worried.
cognitive dissonance
"it certainly would of been better to give Sadam his 100 million."
What I heard that he would have taken the 1 billion from his own country and the US wouldn't have spent a penny. Did I hear wrong about this?
Now the US is spending, what, 133 million PER DAY on this war. Again I say, for what? What's the point? Nothing. The rational mind boggles at the stupendous idiocy of this Bush Administration. How stupid can they get? I think we haven't heard the worst of it yet and I cringe the day I turn on the TV and there's a Bulletin, "Bush to Speak".
While Admiral Fallon's alleged vow is reassuring and totally righteous, something tells me that all the Erik Princes in the world will be more than happy to step up in his place.
It's not so much "you and what army?" anymore as it is "you and which army?"
goodone @ 65:
I read somewhere that he said he would agree to leave for 100 mill......I read it hear on someones post....but I also recall it in the news a long time ago................as for boosh to speak.....please no more.
mudshark @ 67:
If that fucker was to say he'd leave tommorrow......I'd give up my left nut...with no pain killer.....just so he'd leave.....but.....Chainey has to go too......that might hurt a little.Ya know...the left nut.
[Deleted. Enough of you. All of your comments demonstrate a distinct dislike for this website. I've helped you not to come back here-Sitemonitor]
adam @ 69:
Please explain your position.
c'mon Adam.......show us what you got.
well, i guess we won't be seeing mike farrell on t.v. anytime soon.
Hey BaCoMbe.....are you out there?....this ones right up your alley.
adam @ 69:
Tell us oh wise one, what did Iraq do to us?
adam @ 69:
Watch Fox News much?
mudshark @ 25:
Easy; he is not directly accountable to the people.
I mean, so what? A poll makes zero difference to him legally. And more importantly, times have changed. There was a time when if you went below 20% popularity, you better damn well stay locked in the White House. Because without bulletproof glass, private jets, etc. At some point you were going to be vulnerable the people. Accountable, if you have been bad enough. Even then, people used to remember those crazy stories about peasants finally getting fed up when their "representation" kept betraying them and storming the palace to lop the heads off of the entire royal/imperial/presidential family. I feel that fear helped keep the past presidents in line. But, of course, also allowed the crazies to assassinate some good men too. Well now they are protected from assassination, but also completely isolated from the people. That is no better than the other evil of "mob rule".
It really doesn't matter what people think of you if you can insulate yourself COMPLETELY from reality. Bush is an internationalist. He really will take the money and run. Why not? All his buddies will be in Dubai waiting for him.
Oh we're definitely going into Iran --right after we're "attacked" again.......
Janet @ 74:
they objected to the slant drilling that u.s. companies were doing on the iraq-kuwait border in 1990.
tr @ 78:
A little known but accurate fact. U.S. companies were assisting Kuwait to steal oil from Iraq to the tune of millions of barrels. Iraq protested and then things turned ugly.
Shared Humanity @ 79:
Is this what started the first Iraq War?
You should be worried. We have a Congress that will give Boosh anything he needs. They'll complain, send stern letters, and apologize later for it. And anybody else that opposes will face ramifications.
Plus that's arbusto's personal framed poster of a mushroom cloud behind him. Bill Kristol has one just like it at his crib. ...hot ass MCILFs
Thank you, Mike.
couldn't bush just take one of his many vacations back in crocket texas?
and maybe while there he could practice his nuke perfections using his
own ranch as a test site. we all know that he is not in the real world the
rest of us live in, so let him blow up his own land.
xoites defends Constitution @ 80:
I was just going to ask the same question....
Bush has another thing to worry about.
There is a Group that is setting up for an INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL Court to try the BUSH regime and Congress for WAR CRIMES.
The Group is encouraging the United Nation to proceed.
If Speaker does not do her DUTY under the U.S. Constitution; She may be a subject to a Criminal offense herself for being an accomplice.
AMERICA must RISE and stand up according to our civil duty to DEMAND that our representatives ACT accordingly and enforce our LAWS. Our Constitution demands that Congress defend our Constitution from enemies domestic or international; otherwise they too are IN VIOLATION of their OATH to office.
Speaker must realize that IT is NOT up to her to decide that "IMPEACHMENT is off the table". It is HER constitutional DUTY to enforce IMPEACHMENT and proceed with the necessary action when IT is justified accordingly to the U.S. Constitution.
#79....damn......I knew something wasn't right......I just didn't know what it was.
Proud AMERICAN @ 85: