Ok that's it!

[knight_of_the_star]

Well here we go again. Our idiot President has decreed in his ineffable wisdom that, just like his case for war with Iraq, he is going to start beating the war drums with Iran. We all saw this happen almost five years ago with Iraq, and unfortunately too many people bought it. Hopefully this time people don't but this is just plain obscene that he has the audacity to even try this kind of a fast one on the American people.

Honestly, we're already engaged in a war on two fronts and losing on both. The Taliban, after having fallen so quickly and easily, has recently declared to the world they are ready to begin a serious summer offensive this summer. Looks like they aren't so on the run and beaten if they can make such a statement and back it up. That the government we're propping up over there can barely control Kabul certainly doesn't help matters any, yet while we have that front totally destabilized, not to mention that Afghanistan is for opium what Colombia is for cocaine, there is now a new breadbasket for terrorist groups looking to come after us, and this breadbasket is anything but secure. Sure our troops wander around, kill some alleged terrorists in firefights, make a big show of doing something when in truth the something their doing isn't having the impact they want it to have.

Iraq of course is far worse. Anyone who switches on the news can see that. Just this past week Najaf, which was supposed to be securely in the hands of the Iraqi Army, suffered a serious attack that if it wasn't for American air and ground troops would have probably been routed out of the city. If this is what the Bush Administration calls secure, I would hate to see how bad the hot zones are. There are also increasing reports that this war has effectively stretched our armed forces to the breaking point, with troops serving longer rotations and more and more tours of duty yet not really making enough headway to put a real dent into the situation there as things get worse and worse.

Now Bush wants to take our battered and nearly broken army, one that is barely holding together in Iraq, and go pick a fight with Iran. Let's think about this real quick. We're having a hard time with Iraq and their army was barely functioning when we started the war and look at how things are going now. Iran has a military of over 800,000 personnel, and unlike ours their entire armed force is in their country, they have access to highly sophisticated anti-ship missiles that can easily crack a supercarrier in two, not to mention a motivated population that will fight against outside invasion. That doesn't even take into the account the geography of the country. We are talking about a country that consists largely of mountains and deserts. To make it really fun, we have mountains that are deserts, like the Zagros Mountains that run along the border between Iraq and Iran. So not only are we going to be facing a capable, intact and motivated fighting force, we are going after it with a military force that is stretched thin, worn down, and pretty close to the breaking point. Think of it this way. We are going to be sending our heavyweight champion of the world who is still in the middle of a match with a lightweight who just won't quit and keeps running rings around our heavyweight and wearing him down for the last 80 rounds without break between rounds into a fight with a solid midweight boxer who has been watching the whole fight, working out, and resting up. As soon as he steps in the ring however the little lightweight dude isn't going away. It might not be a one round ko by the middleweight guy, but I wouldn't be betting on Mr. Heavyweight in that fight.

I hope this country has the intelligence and the courage to stand up to Bush and when he starts asking for another war with Iran while this one in Iraq is still circling the drain to stand up, look him square in the eye, and tell him that he can go fuck himself if he thinks we're stupid enough to fall for that again. At least, that's what I hope will happen. The scary part is, judging by his recent actions and statements, Herr Decider might Decide to ignore the American people and go ahead anyway. Last time I checked, in a Democratic Republic the decision to go to war isn't made by one man. It's made by the lawfully elected representatives who enforce the will of the people. And there's a name for a country where one man makes policy decisions, and it isn't a democracy. It's called a dictatorship. Or as Bush would put it, a Decidership.

[Double T]

1. bush is on HIS way to becoming a three time loser........

when it comes to HIS 'wars'. Congress and the American people need to STOP this madman from starting ANOTHER 'war'. HIS presidency is lost and there is NOTHING that will ever saver IT.

[knight_of_the_star]

2. I'm afraid that won't be enough

We might need to drag his ass out of the White House kicking and screaming to stop this. I sincerely hope that if he orders an attack in Iran that the troops on the front and officers in the Pentagon instead of following orders stop and say, "Sir, in good conscience we cannot obey such an order."

[Double T]

4. Congress will need to declare HIM unfit to perform HIS duties as president........

Congress must continue to build their case for impeachment of BOTH bush and cheney.

[mopinko]

6. you know, i have been saying that for a while- sir, no sir

is what they need to say. i have my fingers crossed that the strong showing our dem majority has made will give them the courage. with the thugs in charge, had i been a commander, i would have worried that i would swing. now, i think they would feel safe.

[Philosoraptor]

3. A Greek tragedy, we are the audience.

[Ganja Ninja]

5. Every time the Bush cabal points a finger at Iran ...

to accuse them of meddling in Iraq we need to point a finger at Saudi Arabia and accuse them in kind.

[Bucky]

7. Your military analysis is right on the money... which is why there'll be no war with Iran

It's inherently dangerous to rattle sabers, even if you're just bluffing, as Bush and Cheney are. They have no army to fight Iran with. Iran knows this. They're safe.

[paparush]

8. This administration sought and was given tacit approval to use nukes

I don't think its beyond the realm of possibility that these lunatics will use tatical nukes in Iran.



Known in official Washington, as "Joint Publication 3-12", the new nuclear doctrine (Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations (http://zfacts.com/metaPage/lib/zFacts_2005_03_15_Joint_Nuclear_Operations.pdf) , (DJNO) (March 2005)) calls for "integrating conventional and nuclear attacks" under a unified and "integrated" Command and Control (C2).

It largely describes war planning as a management decision-making process, where military and strategic objectives are to be achieved, through a mix of instruments, with little concern for the resulting loss of human life.

Military planning focuses on "the most efficient use of force" , -i.e. an optimal arrangement of different weapons systems to achieve stated military goals. In this context, nuclear and conventional weapons are considered to be "part of the tool box", from which military commanders can pick and choose the instruments that they require in accordance with "evolving circumstances" in the war theater. (None of these weapons in the Pentagon's "tool box", including conventional bunker buster bombs, cluster bombs, mini-nukes, chemical and biological weapons are described as "weapons of mass destruction" when used by the United States of America and its coalition partners).

The stated objective is to:

"ensure the most efficient use of force and provide US leaders with a broader range of strike options to address immediate contingencies. Integration of conventional and nuclear forces is therefore crucial to the success of any comprehensive strategy. This integration will ensure optimal targeting, minimal collateral damage, and reduce the probability of escalation." (Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations p. JP 3-12-13)

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. The question is not 'are they safe?'

The question is, are WE safe?

I envision a scenario where these provocations wind up with an attack, or a Gulf of Tonkin attack, on our ships. We will, of course, retaliate with air and missile attacks against Iranian military targets. In response, Iran has a hundred thousand troops on their border w/i a week. Obviously, we could not face down such a force, not with our troops scattered across the country or holed up in Baghdad - they'd have the tactical advantage. And we couldn't allow them to overrun our forces. Faced with such overwhelming disparity of troop strength, we will forestall an attack with nukes, to wipe out their attack forces and to "remove the threat" of Iranian nuclear facilities.

Then all bets are off.

Bush and cheney are not bluffing, because they don't expect to use ground troops and invade. They think a nuke or two will decide things.

Bush and the neocons WANT a war. They WANT to use a nuke or two, to show that we mean business. They think that Iran would immediatly capitulate, because who would choose to stand in the face of such power? They think Iran will cave, because if the roles were reversed they know THEY would cave, being the bullying cowards they are, and they think everyone thinks the way they do. Calmer heads will not prevail, because calmer heads do not have their fingers on the button.

[Pacifist Patriot]

10. Obscene. Truly!