The OTHER game plan unfolding...

[txaslftist]

Condaleeza makes noise about Iran's failure to abandon its nuclear ambitions and "other steps" that need to be taken...

Our not-so-secret overflights of Iranian airspace and covert teams within Iran...

Our not-so-secret intelligence and special ops teams within Iran scoping out the location of air radar sites.

Our not-so-secret plan: Iran continues to deny nuclear ambition. We show irrefutable (at least not immediately refutable) intelligence contradicting them. They continue to deny.

We are forced to employ "surgical air strikes" like we did in Libya, targeting Iran's nuclear weapon sites. Unlike Libya, however, there is a large group of American soldiers within easy striking distance of Iran, and like the cowardly arabs they are, they shoot some missiles at them.

America is once again the victim of a cowardly attack. Several dozen marines or several hundred Iraqis or both are killed by the cowardly Iranians.

We are forced by their unprovoked aggression into "taking steps" and we have a new ground war to the decided east of Iraq.

Hang on to your hats, folks. This ought to kick off just in time for the '06 vote, when all loyal Americans will have a choice between voting for a party with a "proven record of loyalty" when it comes to tough military decisions or voting for those who "don't support our troops" in their valiant efforts against the Iranian scourge.

That's the Republican marching song, folks.

[Straight Shooter]

1. There are differences: bush's numbers are down, and we'd need a draft

People can swallow the Kool-Aid until it begins to taste like vinegar, and then they catch on.

bush's approval ratings down to 45%. I don't think another war will pull his a** out of the sling. OTOH, I can't believe how gullible Americans were the first time around. It's like we have two species of homo sapiens in this country: those who use their cerebral cortex, and those who operate on instructions from their limbic brain

[radfringe]

16. bush*'s numbers are down

all the more reason to crank up the fear mongering machine

the only times his numbers rise is when there's a "non-specific" terra-lert or when the bushies are beating the war drums and accusing dissenters of being unpatriotic

9-11 saved his butt and gave him the political clout to shove his agenda and lies down our throats -- the repugs may be in power, but it's held by a very slim majority and they can lose it very easily

Attacks are still a daily occurance in Iraq -- but other than "footnotes" on the evening spews -- not much attention is being paid to it since the Iraq (s)Elections -- and things are focusing on bush*'s "new improved" agenda

but this new improved agenda is hurting bush*'s numbers, the lower his numbers go the less support he will have from repugs up for re(s)election -- they won't want to tie themselves to his coattails in 2006

as a second term pResident - he'll pretty much be a lame duck after mid-term (s)elections -- so if the repugs want to secure their hold on the government they will have to have some big issue to beat over the heads of Dems

and the only thing they have going for them is FEAR

[thefloyd]

2. I also read Bushco is pulling out

10,000 Marines from Iraq and replacing them with Army personel. We all know who is the first to go

[SnowGoose]

3. I don't mean to say that BushCo is *above* this, but

I just don't think they'll do it - they were successful at whetting America's appetite for war and glory before Iraq, but it has left a bitter taste in the mouth. I think that trick won't work again for another 30 years, till there's another crop of young adults who didn't learn the Vietnam/Iraq lesson.

Plus, I really don't believe the military's got it in them - I don't think this is just group think - the military is stretched pretty thin, and recruitment is down.

Of course all bets are off if there is any kind of big 'terrorist attack' on US soil, because then they could have a draft and invade whoever they want.

[txaslftist]

10. You don't get how it will 'spin'.

We won't be attacking them. They will be attacking US.

Our surgical air strikes won't be called attacks or aggression, they will be called "surgical air strikes."

Their response will be called naked aggression.

[Just Me]

4. We all know Rove's belief that WAR is good political manipulation.

I believe the neoCONspirators will go all the way. They have less holding them back now that the election is over.

I do not underestimate their ambition.

I do believe they are prepared to incite a world war, if necessary, to impose their vision of a new world order.

[BanzaiBonnie]

9. Just waiting for

the next Pearl Harbor. It most likely will not be in the US.

It's horrendous, but it will not surprise me. They somehow have to incite Iran into a first strike.

[dave123williams]

5. They really believe that it we...

...bomb them selectively, the Iranian People will 'rise up' and throw off their Mullahs. So, we show our support for their burgeoning democracy...by bombing them. This course of action is guarenteed to win friends and influence people.

[txaslftist]

11. Hell they do...

They don't believe it for a second. They want YOU to believe it.

[dave123williams]

15. Which is scarier?

[Sub Atomic]

If we bomb Iran

I bet you they'll send a couple of nukes to Israel.

[txaslftist]

12. Nope...not until later...

First they'll hit our boys in uniform on their doorstep. That's our excuse to "defend ourselves".

It won't be until they are getting hammered that they launch missiles at Israel. And they won't have nukes, cause they aren't trying to build them. If they have them by then, it will be because they bought them.

[tom_paine]

6. First, they need a draft. LIHOP #2 is coming, perhaps very soon

Then Phase Two of the Transition will begin.

[Just Me]

8. If/when that happens, I'll no longer have any doubts of MIHOP!!

I never could get to the point of believing MIHOP with respect to 9/11 although I do firmly believe they LIHOP.

If/when another major terrorist attack occurs on our soil and it is spun to justify the neoCONspirator march into world war and a suspension of all laws by the Homeland Security Secretary, I will start from a position that MIHOP!!!

[txaslftist]

13. You're gonna have to tell me what that acronym is.

[FLSurfer]

17. Let it happen on purpose

Made it happen

[Dhalgren]

7. Also, remember the timing cycle.

The Emperor needs to start this one as soon as possible so that he has time to work out the propaganda and coercion necessary to have his regime extended; either through his brother or through an emergency war powers act of some sort that allows "stop loss" to be applied to his office.

[txaslftist]

14. And you ain't wearing a tin hat, either.

three years ago I would have said you were, but nowadays?

A nuke on US soil is about the only emergency that would justify cancelling the '08 prez elections... It won't be in any red state, either.

any takers on that bet?