He wants Iran isolated and put upon a retarded path to progress so as to have their resources ready to invade at a future date as well. Look back at Iraq the past two decades…

China says otherwise. The Kissinger/Baker types dance the dance with China. China’s money runs our economy based on paper props and billionaire tax cuts.

The money calls the shots.

There’s another fascinating perspective to gain, some of the most recent CSpan programs have allowed a bit of insight. We’ll talk on that upstairs soon…

How is the US production of drones going? Will they be ready?

It would be sad if Israel miscalculates the resource requirement for human anihilation. Think of all those egos that will be let down.

There is much more to the Middle East than oil.

Bush blames Iran and Syria for Lebanon attack

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411440048&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

Um, well, Shirin, all depends on your definition of “attacking” or “invading” other countries. I think in terms of real politik Iran has been the ballerina to America’s bull in the china shop in that regards.
Iran is very deft in terms of intrigue…and they dam well should be, too. They’ve got 4k years experience with political and international intrigue. Thus, experience wise, they’re the masters to our novice/initiate.

“And as for Iran as the “number one state sponsor of terrorism”,”

Which I think is an interesting tie in with the first statement because short of being number one, Iran pursues it’s interests via proxies. I wouldn’t say they’re “number one” but they’re up there right with the US. They just happen to be better at it than we are.

“It is, in fact, highly debatable whether Hezbullah was ever a terrorist organization in any true sense of the word. I know a number of Israelis who were part of the occupation of Lebanon who are quite adamant in insisting that Hezbullah was and is not a terrorist group.”

I would consider the Hezzies a little difficult to define as a terrorist group, per se. Something about them smacks of religiosity/nationalism/poliitcal entity that cannot be compare to say Hamas whose goals/ambitions kinda evolved along with their lethality.
The funny thing about all this is that the PLO, a created and funded terrorist organization is now a respectable and desirable partner for peace…go figure.

Remember, a lot of words are being slung around, one nations proxies, are another nations terrorist.

Check out this link…

Reid’s Inner Circle Shifts Strategy On Iraq

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/09/20/reids-inner-circle-shift_n_65133.html

It would appear that even if they don’t have the votes they will keep bring bills up and letting the Presnut veto them.

A stalemate over funding though not much would certainly be better than just rolling over and give the bastards more money.

We’ll see….

My first impression is that what Maliki is up to is trying desperately to save his political ass.
—–
That was my take as well; but what’s up with the technocracy thing?

Maybe, getting the government away from the particular religious factions he’s opposed to, and into the hands of his own? Who might the scientists and engineers be? A cover title for folks who agree with him?

At his news conference, Maliki proposed forming a cabinet of technocrats and called for greater powers to push through his nominations, alluding to the influence that various political blocs had in naming the current administration. “Instead of the current number of cabinet ministers we could form a technocratic, smaller government,” Maliki said.”

For reference, a technocracy is an early 1930’s theory of government by scientists and engineers.

So, what is Maliki up to?
Thoughts anyone?

If you think I just made all this up, read Bob Altemeyer’s - The Authoritarians,
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/
which is a layman’s version of scientific facts backed by years of solid research. The whole book is downloadable for free with the author’s permission, with no personal information needed.

Read the book, then cross-reference the above with public knowledge about the Bush administration and their loyal followers, especially concerning the lead-up to the Iraq invasion, and then re-evaluate what you think are the odds of attacking Iran. There won’t be a crystal ball, but you’ll find the odds are significant. You’ll probably also find that logic will take a back seat in the mind of the decider.

Caution: keep a check on your own fear during the process, so you don’t become what you seek to understand.

Sadly, Cornyn et al. are playing to their base. I think I wrote somewhere here yesterday that on Matthews’ Hardball yesterday, he and his experts said that the Republicans are totally focused on pleasing that hardcore, hard-right base at the moment. Until the primaries are over. Then they’ll swing “left,” and begin supporting measures like Webb’s in order to appeal to the broader voting population.

And Salon’s Joan Walsh, the Hardball panelist, noted poignantly that in the meantime, month after month, until the primaries are past, soldiers will die. (And, I’m sure she would add, Iraqis too.)

This is why we pay them the big bucks!? John Cornyn [R-TX], who’s introducing this ridiculous resolution, is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. And this is what he feels is more important than giving troops serving multiple tours a rest?!

Let’s all contact Senator Cornyn and let him know what a jackass we think he is.

Like many here, I’ve read Mr. Clemons in the past and have enjoyed him. I don’t go there for this kinda stuff, though. And I don’t particularly feel reassured.

Has anyone been over to Pat Lang’s SST yet? There’s two excellent pieces on this. (Iran)

Col. Lang states, “IMO, the US has refused to accept the idea of sharing power in the Middle East with the Iranians. That lies at the heart of our problem with them. All other issues are more sympton than anything else.”

http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/

And in a comment there, Dr. Kiracofe posted this link. (Which I am bookmarking.)

http://www.basicint.org/update/iran070905.htm

http://www.basicint.org/index.htm

And for those that haven’t done so yet, you may wish to sign this.

http://www.stopiranwar.com/