Chinaview has reported -- surprise (not) -- that... "Officials in Washington are developing potential scenarios for a military strike against Iran, local media reported Wednesday. The news comes after Germany announced last week that it no longer supports additional sanctions against Iran." The countless billions wasted in Iraq have made no impression on the Whitehouse. Neither have the thousands of U.S. soldiers lost to the conflict for no good reason. This is the greatest tragedy, lives thrown away with no just purpose. We never had then, and do not have now, any just cause for invading or (presently) being in Iraq. Saddam was a ruthless killer to be sure, but this list is extensive, and should the U.S. decide to abolish all such persons, we would simply victimize the entire U.S. populace to get it done. It simply is not our jurisdiction, unless and until such persons attack U.S. persons or property -- or present to its citizens a clear and present danger. You do not have to wait to fire at a man who is in the process of aiming his weapon at you. But you need EXTREMELY good evidence that such a danger ACTUALLY exists. The same rule applies to wars, and since the lives at risk occur there in much larger numbers -- not to mention whole economies and possibly the global economy -- the proof required is much the greater. Washington should be preparing an extended apology list, not a war-scenario options account against another wingnut dictator, who wants "Israel wiped off the map." Israel is quite capable. Let them try it if they have an appetite for suicide. If the U.S. decides to sell Israel whatever weapons the two wish to contract for, this is entirely lawful. The U.S. can even sell Israel shells with the name "Ahmedinajad" inscribed on the front if they wish. Or perhaps the would prefer "Happy Hannukah," depending on the manufacturer's sense of humor. But we are still not the world police. And pretending otherwise is much too expensive. U.S. citizens should be extremely concerned that the present administration remains wholly blind to this lesson recently history has so cleary taught us -- again. We need to recover and rewrite the classical "Monroe Doctrine," to specify -- in the U.S. Constitution -- exactly when, and under which conditions, the President may declare war, not simply that he has this power with the consent of Congress. The same goes for "police actions." The difficulty in this is two-fold. 1. We have already entangled ourselves so far in Iraq -- even to the point of nation-building as a programme, which is not, nor has it ever been, the job of the U.S. military. They are supposed to kill people and blow up stuff. 2. Iran has meddled almost as much as we have in Iraq's internal affairs, of which the U.S. has become part and parcel under less the ideal conditions. This means that the choice to attack Iran will greatly complicate the already unanswerable dilemmas raised there for the U.S., with other complications they do not now -- nor will until the problem is out of hand later -- understand. This happened in Iraq, and it will happen in Iran. This is partly because the U.S. -- even with fairly good intelligence -- simply does not grasp the mindset with which these people operate. This also has been demonstrated repeatedly in Iraq. Chances are good that if the U.S. chooses to invade Iran that a much larger wave of 'insurgents' than we can now imagine will join the side of Iran from multiple countries in the region embroiling us in an international fiasco of untold proportions with a price tag the size of New York state. The time is right to bow out gracefully -- as much as is possible -- apologize sincerely for our blunders, offer reparations to the Iraqi people, and LEARN the lesson we have not figured out since WW II, what historians generally (and accurately) regard as the last legitimate war fought by the United States in the past two centuries (this one being brand new). |
We have already lost far too many Americans and Iraqis to an unwarranted cause. If the Iraqis want to establish their own government, they have a much better start on it already than the U.S. did in its infancy, facing overwhelming odds in two wars (in 1776 and 1815) against the British. We can still pull out with some dignity on the international stage if we do it under no apparent compulsion from outside factors.
The recent cut in troops need to be expanded considerably into four or five large "waves," [divide and recall] of troops sent home until their entire number is recalled in proper order, after the mechanism for large scale redeployment is set in place.
The current trend is a good one. But we need to pick up the pace. Iran should simply be left to its own devices, and Israel to its own defense, and weapons purchases. How the U.S. can console the families of lost soldiers, I am at a complete loss. But restitution there is certainly in order as well. Sorry cannot ever be enough, but it must be said. And nothing says "I'm sorry" like a million dollars tax-free (unless it is paid in gold and silver). If we can afford billions for Iraq, we can afford this reparations suggestion.
Think on it.
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