Comments for The Terror Master: Bush Orders Covert 'Surge' Against Iran, with Dem Support at http://www.chris-floyd.com , comment 1 to 13 out of 13 comments http://www.chris-floyd.com Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:55:56 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7775 [quote]If the ruling elite were monolithic, banger would be correct.[/quote] It would take more than that. On many subjects, the "ruling elite" are monolithic. Banger isn't here to divine truth. Banger is here to rend holes in fabric, to put loopholes in a tax code. Banger is here to dissemble under the guise of questioning. Banger is here to propagandize. Banger reminds me of John Kerry. Ostensibly a "Democrat," ostensibly "opposing" empire and Bush/Cheney, ostensibly asking "innocent" questions that bear tenuous and insignificant relation to the words penned by Mr Floyd. Then when exposed as a liar, he claims to be unfairly attacked like Kerry was "swift-boated." The big difference is that the "swift-boaters" distorted John Kerry's behavior to a political end. Here, Banger is doing the distorting. There is no realistic scenario under which Banger's theories could hold weight or water. The only scenario is one in which some sort of malignant robot is in charge. In other words, juvenile science fiction. - Evan Rhood Fri, 09 May 2008 15:08:04 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7768 ..."rivers of blood and mountains of treasure" - sure agree with you and enjoy your style! - marie Fri, 09 May 2008 02:24:10 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7743 Banger's mis-statement of what Mr Floyd has been saying "for several years" seems predicated on Banger's mis-perception of how the US Government works, and what is the purpose of "war" from the perspective of those who play the Imperial Game. I think Grandma Jefferson's trying to help Banger on this subject. Should be interesting to see where Banger takes this one -- how much farther afield from Mr Floyd's essay, how much more distance can be put between Banger's read on Mr Floyd's words, and the plain statements made by the words themselves. - Evan Rhood Tue, 06 May 2008 21:29:11 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7741 ref Andrew Cockburn : “Secret Bush "Finding" Widens War on Iran - Democrats Okay Funds for Covert Ops” => "Widens War" (?) ...what War? . . .the War of Words? “Six weeks ago, President Bush signed a secret ‘finding’ authorizing a covert offensive against the Iranian regime that, according to those familiar with its contents... covers actions across a huge geographic area – from Lebanon to Afghanistan – but is also far more sweeping in the type of actions permitted under its guidelines – up to and including the assassination of targeted officials.” “This widened scope clears the way, for example, [for example? is this an opinion?] for full support for the military arm of Mujahedin-e Khalq, the cultish Iranian opposition group... Similarly, covert funds can now flow without restriction to Jundullah... the militant Sunni group in Iranian Baluchistan – just across the Afghan border... Other elements that will benefit from U.S. largesse and advice [more opinion?] include Iranian Kurdish nationalists, as well the Ahwazi arabs of south west Iran. Further afield, operations against Iran's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon will be stepped up, along with efforts to destabilize the Syrian regime.” “All this costs money, which in turn must be authorized by Congress... An initial outlay of $300 million to finance implementation of ‘the finding’ has been swiftly approved [again, no references provided] with bipartisan support... ” Mr. Cockburn cites no sources ~ and it is difficult to tell when he is reporting (anything other than hearsay), or expressing his opinion. Were he known as a right wingnut blogger, we would write him off as just another sabre-rattler in the faux news / Talking Points echo chamber. As he appears to present himself more as a left wingnut blogger, Mr. Cockburn here, in my opinion: comes off as either an inadequate 'journalist' (of a damn important story), or as a naive dupe in this Administration's relentless campaign to represent IRAN as a reasonable war-making cause célèbre, without any real casus belli ~ other than the fact that IRAN is a regional rival to the US, the Sunni Arab States, and ISRAEL ~ rather than being our most effective, Shi'ite ally against criminal, Sunni extremists = al-Qaeda. - MonsieurGonzo Tue, 06 May 2008 16:35:42 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7731 The new moon lines up with a few holidays this summer... D-Day anniverary in June Fourth of July Labor Day Lining up the press aftermath with a peak of nationalist sentiment gives the courtiers their best possible perch to blunt the outrage of the rest of humanity. - malcontent Mon, 05 May 2008 16:01:15 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7726 Phillip nailed it thus: "I think they believe they can force their elite opponents into line with a fait acompli." Yeah, the signatories of the PNAC have been yelling for the invasion of Iran for many years, and, since they now comprise the current junta running the government, they're determined to achieve this second step in their plan to conquer the entire middle east. The idea that the bankers & multinational corporations would not permit the upset of "already fragile markets and cause an international panic" is laughable, since we're talking about the people currently engineering global famine and rioting by controlling critical commodities, as a way to recoup their solar system-sized losses in their ponzi scheme derivatives game, which continues to collapse. Banger incredulouly asked, "...the militarists who seek chaos and the ability to seize money, women, and slaves by armed force have the upper hand now--is that what you are saying?" Why YES! They DO, which has been the case for a number of years now, although evidently unnoticed by some. I don't pretend to know how the junta intends to fund the coming warcrime, if they even bother themselves with such trifling matters as money wrung from a bankrupt nation and prostrate people, but only a blind man would believe they have not determined on it, and have moved everything into place to launch it. And I don't see anyone doing anything to stop this, as the MSM whores catapult the toxic hailstorm of recycled anti-Iraq propaganda to assure the idiot citizens' compliance with it. I wish I could believe otherwise, because war with Iran will be the final disaster, the coup de grace to this nation, and perhaps the world. But I don't, because I know we have moved beyond any sane political situation that would be subject to reason or "normal" political group pressures, alliances, opposition, blackmail, or commercial interactions. The little anthill of DC political machinations is Nero, playing the lyre while Rome burned, having started the fire himself. - Grandma Jefferson Mon, 05 May 2008 02:27:26 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7724 Banger wrote above [quote]If bankers/multi-national corporations do hold the whip hand in the world why would they upset the already fragile markets and cause an international panic? You would have to argue that the militarists [...] have the upper hand now--is that what you are saying? For the Iran invasion scenario to be credible you would have to show that the money guys don't have veto power over that operation--I say they do, for now[/quote] If the ruling elite were monolithic, banger would be correct. They are, however, riven with factions -- as are their opponents. The Bush/Cheney faction are especially dangerous because of 1) their control of the machinery of the state, 2) their utter conviction that history will absolve them of everything, 3) their apocalyptic millenarianism, and that 4) they believe that once US forces are committed in theater, there will be widespread reluctance to oppose them for fear of 'not supporting our troops'. I think they believe they can force their elite opponents into line with a [i]fait acompli[/i]. Thus all the effort being spent in selling Iran as the main enemy, and the many covert operations seeking to create Tonkin-style provocations or outright false-flag operations that can serve as [i]causus belli[/i]. (Given the lengthy presence of US covert operatives on Iranian territory, I wonder just how much of the Iranian equipment that shows up in Iraq is not facilitated - if not planted - by US personnel.) - PhillipAllen Sun, 04 May 2008 18:32:30 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7723 Invasion is out of the question, but lobbing missiles and targeted assassinations are not. However, given that even the Abkhazians are shooting down Georgian drones, it think it is safe to assume the Iranians probably have efficient self-defense. Also, there could be retaliation against US interests in Baku which it can ill afford and I believe that the Russians would react as well. It's sorta their turf around there... - nur al-cubicle Sun, 04 May 2008 18:23:06 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7718 Predictions of an Iran invasion have been coming on these pages and others for years. Nothing has happened. If bankers/multi-national corporations do hold the whip hand in the world why would they upset the already fragile markets and cause an international panic? You would have to argue that the militarists who seek chaos and the ability to seize money, women, and slaves by armed force have the upper hand now--is that what you are saying? For the Iran invasion scenario to be credible you would have to show that the money guys don't have veto power over that operation--I say they do, for now. My guess is that the consensus is to keep up pressure on Iran through low-intensity conflict and isolation largely to make sure that hard-liners in Iran stay in power and Iran keeps being an "enemy" and serves as a scapegoat for the stalemate in Iraq. The argument on how Iran is killing Americans is propaganda to build up an enemy which is required in our system--actually it is probably Saudi money (which largely funds the Sunni insurgents including "Al-qaida") that is the main source of American casualties. - banger Sun, 04 May 2008 14:54:17 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7716 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3868063.ece - scott douglas Sun, 04 May 2008 10:33:38 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7714 There are several new moons till novembre.Other manuvers will be underway,amoung them will be ensuring that nearly all armed forces will be overseas-rather than based where their objections too a 'pres for duration 'declaration from george paraquyle,could leave him with his head on a pike. Security in the homeland?-I'm sure blackwater will be most helpful.So the war could drag on for years after the armies are cut to cat crap. - Todd Millions Sat, 03 May 2008 21:59:19 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7713 You're brilliant, Chris. May your light shine forever. On the other hand, you and I both know that predicting what Bush will do next is easy: Just look at his available options, put yourself in his shoes, and pick the most stupidly vicious, cynical, self-serving and destructive option anyone in his position could possibly choose -- and that's exactly what Bush will do next. Administrators of foreign intelligence agencies (think Vladimir Putin, among others) must have an absolute ball with our president. Anyone easily predicted is likewise easily led. - jimmythem Sat, 03 May 2008 21:49:38 +0100 http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1500/135/#comment-7711 I read the Cockburn piece you quote, Chris, and desperately Googled-my-thumbs-off trying to find out how long is the sailing time from San Diego to Qatar. Well. It actually does not matter. I know the bombs will drop, soon, when the moon is new. And the Marines may be on the way for the follow-up escalation. War is coming. The hideous arrogance of these would-be Kaisers blunts my mind. But thank the Gods - it spurns our Spirits to Resistance! Keep it up, Brother... - scott douglas Sat, 03 May 2008 21:13:26 +0100