McSame

Wow. Even as dumb as Bush.

Different Day, Same Bullshit

Iraqn:

A Pentagon report will accuse Iran of continuing to funnel weapons and training personnel into Iraq, adding fuel to a heated debate among U.S. policy makers about whether Iran deserves any credit for the steep declines in Iraq's once-unrelenting violence.

This is the same Pentagon that couldn't trump up charges of Iraqi WMD and Christian-eating babies quickly enough. The same DIA that had their own special offices set up to counter the sane CIA intelligence. Why does anybody care what Dick "shot to the face and you're to blame" Cheney believes about anything? He's insane, has no credibility and is wrong about everything all the time.

Of course, Thomas Friedman will use this as an excuse to tell the Iranians to "suck on this."

U.S. to Pursue Iran Sanctions

This time it's because Iran made Bush look stupid:

The United States will forge ahead with a third sanctions resolution on Iran, U.S. officials said Tuesday, arguing that the American intelligence report made public this week showed that it was international pressure that caused Tehran to halt its nuclear weapons program four years ago and that such pressure must be maintained.

But China and Russia, veto-wielding powers on the U.N. Security Council, are likely to use the report's conclusions to argue that Iran poses no imminent danger and that additional economic sanctions are unwarranted.

China's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, told reporters Tuesday that Security Council members would have to reconsider new penalties "because I think we all start from the presumption that now things have changed."

But U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said that his instructions to press for new sanctions "have not changed" because Iran remains in defiance of two Security Council resolutions demanding that it suspend its uranium enrichment activities. Khalilzad said he could start circulating a draft sanctions resolution targeting individuals and companies related to Tehran's nuclear program as soon as Friday. The National Intelligence Estimate released Monday says Iran probably stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003 because of international pressure.

We are ruled by children.

General Hack

This calls for more MoveOn ads:

The U.S. military commander in Iraq stepped up accusations over the weekend that Iran was inciting violence there and said Tehran's ambassador to Baghdad was a member of the Revolutionary Guards Qods force.

...

General David Petraeus, speaking at a U.S. military base about 30 km (20 miles) from the Iranian border on Saturday, said Iran was giving militia groups advanced weaponry and guidance.

"They are responsible for providing the weapons, the training, the funding and in some cases the direction for operations that have indeed killed U.S. soldiers," Petraeus told a group of reporters when asked if the Iranian government was responsible for killing U.S. troops.

Since allowing himself to become a mouthpiece for the Bush administration, Petraeus has lost all credibility. Prior scaremongering tactics about Iranian intervention has already been debunked; similarly, a skeptical eye should be turned towards this. If Petraeus is worried about where militia groups got a hold of advanced weaponry, he might want to spend some time pondering about the huge U.S. weapons stores that magically disappeared, like magical September.

Go Home, Joe

Jim Webb:

On the Senate floor today, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) made an impassioned appeal to his fellow senators, declaring that the Lieberman-Kyl amendment on Iran should be “withdrawn” because the “proposal is Dick Cheney’s fondest pipe dream.” Webb cautioned that the “cleverly-worded sense of the Congress” could be “interpreted” to “declare war” on Iran. He continued:

Those who regret their vote five years ago to authorize military action in Iraq should think hard before supporting this approach. Because, in my view, it has the same potential to do harm where many are seeking to do good.

“At best, it’s a deliberate attempt to divert attention from a failed diplomatic policy,” said Webb. “At worst, it could be read as a backdoor method of gaining Congressional validation for military action, without one hearing and without serious debate.”

You're stupid and ugly and nobody likes you.

Let the Man Speak

If you've seen any news media today, I'm sure you've caught a headline, snippet or photo of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. I can't help but feel disappointed at the vitriol and hatred that is filling this country over this man.

It's still unclear to me what his claim to infamy is; the worst I can see is that he's a holocaust denier, which, for me, puts him in the same bag as flat earthers. However, Ahmadinejad isn't anti-Jewish - Iran has a sizable Jewish population that lives under perfectly acceptable conditions - so it must be that he's anti-Israel. I know this isn't news; the U.S. has a history of being rabidly pro-Israel, but at the end of the day Israel is not the 51st state and the U.S. has no obligation to make Israel's enemies into the U.S.'s enemies. Furthermore, it's not like Israel is a saintly country that has never done wrong. Yet, this dishonest intertwining of Israel's bogeymen and our own has tainted this country for far too long. Glenn Greenwald asks the right question:

[I]sn't it long past time to have the discussion about the extent to which the U.S. is willing to wage war on behalf of Israel's interests? Do Americans really think that Iranian hostility towards Israel or its support for "terrorists groups" that are hostile to Israel are grounds for declaring Iran to be our Enemy or waging war against them? If so, then let proponents of war with Iran make that case expressly.

All this fear and hatred has contributed to preventing Ahmadinejad to visit Ground Zero and attempting to preventing him from speaking at Columbia University. Last year Columbia canceled an invitation to him after pressure from Jewish groups, but this year he will speak. Columbia usually handles these things horribly, but this time I'm glad they made the right decision and stuck to it (full disclosure: I'm an alum). Like the man or not, Ahmadinejad is a world leader and should have a platform with which to air his views and have them questioned.

I want to know what is so horrible about this man that he shouldn't even be allowed to speak. Has this country become so blinded by lies and weak that we can't bear to listen to the point of view of someone who disagrees with us?

Greatest Idea Ever

So, so stupid:

Defense Secretary Robert Gates sketched out a long-term vision for securing Iraq that includes a continuing American military force that is a fraction the size of the one there today, no permanent U.S. bases and a significant Navy and Air Force presence in the Persian Gulf region.

In an interview in the Pentagon, Mr. Gates also said part of the long-range security structure would be stronger military partnerships with some of America's friends in the Gulf area, helping them build better counterterrorism forces as well as regional air- and missile-defense systems to check Iranian ambitions.

Maintaining a small military force in the region is the worst of both worlds. A smaller force will be more vulnerable to continued attacks and serves as a lighting rod and rallying point for all anti-U.S. forces.

But then again, this is all about Iran, as is everything else coming out of the administration's mouth on foreign affairs these days. Check Iranian ambitions? Last time I checked we'd done all we could to support them by destabilizing Iraq. Furthermore, Iran is already engaging in diplomacy with Sunni Saudi Arabia. Iran poses no military threat to the U.S. and only the delusional, bed-wetting neocons and authoritarians need to keep running around in a perpetual state of fear so they can justify lashing out at someone else to make themselves feel secure. See these posts over at TPM for more.

BTW, this just in:

The deputy commander of Iran's air force said Wednesday that plans have been drawn up to bomb Israel if the Jewish state attacks Iran, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

The announcement comes amid rising tensions in the region with the United States calling for a new round of U.N. sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear program and Israeli planes having recently overflown, and perhaps even attacked, Iranian ally Syria's territory.

Let's get something clear right now: Israel's interests are not necessarily aligned with the ours. They are merely another country and should not be treated specially. We really don't need to be Russia in 1914.

Best Idea Ever

I can't wait to hear what strong Iraq War critic Michael O'Hanlon has to say about this:

The Pentagon is preparing to build its first base for U.S. forces near the Iraqi-Iranian border, in a major new effort to curb the flow of advanced Iranian weaponry to Shiite militants across Iraq.

The push also includes construction of fortified checkpoints on the major highways leading from the Iranian border to Baghdad and the installation of X-ray machines and explosives-detecting sensors at the only formal border crossing between Iran and Iraq.

I'm not much for wishing people ill, but if it will prevent war with Iran, I'll even do a little dance in Fourthbranch's honor. Congress needs to grow a pair and stop this war now. Call your Congresspersons and let them know.

Link.

Spreading the War

Nothing good will come of this:

Israeli warplanes bombed unidentified Syrian targets early on Thursday, causing no damage or casualties, the official Syrian news agency said.

Syrian air defenses fired at the incoming planes, which crossed into Syria after midnight local time, the agency said.

"The Syrian Arab Republic warns the government of the Israeli enemy and reserves the right to respond according to what it sees fit," the agency said.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the air strike. Israel has long warned Syria to stop supporting militant Palestinian groups and the Lebanese movement Hezbollah.

Call me paranoid, but this is not entirely unrelated to the right wing's saber rattling over Iran. Someone's looking for an excuse.

Very Smart People

The State Department:

The United States sealed a deal on Thursday to provide Israel with $30 billion in defense grants over the next decade, a 25 percent boost that Washington describes as strengthening a bulwark against Iran.

At a signing ceremony in Jerusalem, U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said the United States would help Israel maintain a military advantage over foes ranging from Iran and Syria to their proxies in Lebanon and Palestinian territories.

"There is no question that, from an American point of view, the Middle East is a more dangerous region now even than it was 10 or 20 years ago and that Israel is facing a growing threat. It's immediate and it's also long-term," Burns told reporters.

"The United States faces many of the same threats from the same organizations and countries as Israel does, and so we felt this was the right level of assistance."

These people understand nothing and are wrong about everything, all the time. Even though this decision came from Foggy Bottom, I am sure Fourthbranch had a hand in it.

A large part of the reason so many muslims hate the U.S. has to do with Israel. Is Israel worthy of this level of assistance? I doubt it. Furthermore, as we have learned countless times in the last 5 years, the enemy of our enemy is not necessarily our friend. All this serves to do is galvanize Iran and increase the possibility of a conflict. Why is Iran automatically our enemy? What threat does Iran pose to the U.S.? It is notable that the U.A.E., Dubai in particular, is much more anti-Israel and anti-Jewish than Iran, as well as far more rich and powerful, but you never hear any angry rhetoric pointed at Dubai.

The U.S. should cut most - if not all - of its military aid to Israel. That would be a good first step toward easing tensions with many of our "enemies" and at no cost to us - profit, actually. Israel is not an enemy, but it is not automatically an ally. It is another country and should be afforded the same status as any other country.

Now See Here, Mr. Pot

No, see here, Mr. Kettle:

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman on Monday criticized a U.S. plan to sell state-of-the-art weapons to Saudi Arabia, saying it would undermine security in the Middle East, the state broadcasting company reported.

Mohammad Ali Hosseini's comments followed reports last week that the U.S. planned to sell Saudi Arabia an estimated $20 billion of sophisticated weaponry, including advanced air systems that would greatly enhance the striking ability of Saudi warplanes.

"What the Persian Gulf region needs is stability and security," Hosseini was quoted as saying on the Web site of the state broadcasting company. "Americans have been trying to disturb it by selling weapons to the region."

It's been true for a long time that Bush's foreign policy is something of a joke; with decisions made less on ideology and pragmatism than on cronyism and egos.

Al-Qaeda is a Sunni organization and recruits heavily in Saudi Arabia, home to a hotbed of terrorists, yet Bush - and the Republican party and very serious people followed suit - decided to brand Iran as Evil(tm) and make Iraq the focal point for Al Qaeda, while Saudi Arabia continued to be our ally. We even had last week's report of the Saudi terrorist-funding bank that our government has decided to not take action against.

These people are very, very stupid.

A Small Victory for the Grownups

Finally.

The United States is ready to hold new direct talks with Iran on the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, the State Department said Tuesday. The Bush administration accused Tehran of supporting Shiite insurgents there.

"We think that given the situation in Iraq and given Iran's continued behavior that is leading to further instability in Iraq, that it would be appropriate to have another face-to-face meeting to directly convey to the Iranian authorities that if they wish to see a more stable, secure, peaceful Iraq, which is what they have said they would like to see, that they need to change their behavior," spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

By grownups, I mean the not-completely-batshit-crazy people.

I am going to take this to mean that war with Iran is off the table. I can hardly believe that was something that was keeping me up at night, but it really was because this administration has proven itself to be capable of things - like, fabricating a war - that I had previously thought unimaginable. This is not to say that everything is smoothed over for good, but I think the probability of war significantly dropped.

I am sure fourthbranch is on his umpteenth consecutive heart attack right now.

Axis of Evil

Iran has lifted its ban on visits to a nuclear facility by United Nations experts and will now allow them to inspect the site, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Friday.

The U.N. nuclear monitor also said Tehran was ready to answer key questions on past experiments that the international community fears could be linked to a weapons program. The IAEA said Iran promised the concessions earlier this week in a meeting between its officials and a senior delegation from the Vienna-based agency.

It is refreshing to see someone acting like an adult. As opposed to a certain someone's press conference yesterday. I can hardly wait for the right wing to lose their shit over this. "They're hiding WMDs somewhere else!!! It's like the Red Cross visiting Teresienstadt!!! YAAAAAHHHHRRRRRRR!!!!!!"

Just did a quick check, no one has posted about it yet.

Link.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Does he even understand his position?

U.S. President George W. Bush reiterated on Tuesday that all options were on the table in dealing with Iran's nuclear challenge.

At the start of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Bush was asked if military action remained an option for dealing with Iran.

"My position has not changed. All options are on the table. I would hope that we could solve this diplomatically," he replied.

Bush said it was important that Iran faced "consequences" such as sanctions and other economic measures for defying the international community over its nuclear program. "There's a price to be paid," Bush said.

We are ruled by children.

Not Again

Sadly, yes.

The CIA has received secret presidential approval to mount a covert "black" operation to destabilize the Iranian government, current and former officials in the intelligence community tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com.

The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, say President Bush has signed a "nonlethal presidential finding" that puts into motion a CIA plan that reportedly includes a coordinated campaign of propaganda, disinformation and manipulation of Iran's currency and international financial transactions.

Because he has learned so much since his last go around.

Get Your War On

Even Tommy Franks has said otherwise.

President Bush said today he is certain that elements of the Iranian government
are supplying deadly roadside bombs that kill American troops in Iraq, even if
the innermost circle of the government is not involved.

Mr. Bush said it had been established beyond a
doubt that a branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps known as the Quds
Force is supplying Shiite groups inside Iraq with particularly deadly,
Iranian-designed weapons known as explosively formed penetrators, or
E.F.P.s.
“We know that,” Mr. Bush said at a White House news conference.

Impeach the fucker. I give up.

Alright Already!

Top 5 stories on my Google Reader (mostly world and business news):

1. Newsweek Cover: The Hidden War with Iran
2. U.S. Led Forces show evidence of Iranian arms in Iraq
3. Iran wants to stay within nuclear rules
4. Accord proves elusive at North Korea talks
5. U.S. officer: Iran sends Iraq bomb parts

Haven't we had enough of this already? Does it not bother anyone in the media that we are almost exactly repeating the same events of 5 years ago? Back then the news items would have read:

1. Newsweek Cover: Saddam daring U.N. for war
2. Investigators show evidence of biological weapons trailer factories
3. Iraq reconstituting WMD programs and centrifuges, trying to obtain uranium
4. Accord proves elusive at North Korea talks
5. U.S. officer: Iraq aiding Al Qaeda

Aside from the fact that point 4 is exactly the same - way to actually solve any problems, Bushie! - has no one in a position of authority picked up on what's happening? The focus should be on how the government is recycling the same old false Iraq propaganda with the Q crossed out and the N sloppily pasted on over it. Get with the program.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Writing on the Wall

Gates, February 2, 2007:

"Nobody is planning, we are not planning for a war with Iran,"

Gates, February 9, 2007:

Serial numbers and markings on explosives used in Iraq provide "pretty good"
evidence that Iran is providing either weapons or technology for militants
there, Defense Secretary Robert Gates asserted Friday.

The first statement should have set off alarm bells in everyone's heads last week, especially since Rumsfeld used almost the exact same words five years ago. Now the Bush administration is going to push all buttons in order to justify expanding the conflict into Iran.

We are ruled by lying psychopaths.

Can't Do Anything Right, Ever

You think they would be able to recognize a hornet's nest by now, but nooooo...

More than 600 fighters loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and 16 of
their leaders have been captured by security forces in a crackdown on the
cleric's militia, the US military said.

They really want to go to war with Iran. Way to go, Bushie!

Heavy Day

Light blogging. But this summation of Condi's testimony both gives a lot of hope for the Democrats and is very damning to Bush.