If You Liked the Iraq War, You'll Love the Iran War

If you liked the war in Iraq, you probably love the idea of going to war with Iran.
Why? It's the same agenda from the exact same people who took us into Iraq just over a decade ago.
The warhawks on the right keep crying that we need a "better deal." They say that this deal will help Iran to support terrorism in the Middle East - and that ultimately this will enable Iran as a regional power and destabilize the region.
And even if Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon - the right wing is ready to whip up any sort of weaponized boogieman to sell their case.
This time it's "Electromagnetic Pulse" weaponry, or EMP weapons, that the warhawks in Congress want you to be scared of. If you're not already scared of the nuclear bomb. But in 2002 and 2003 - it was a simpler time - it was just months after 9/11 and Americans were primed to be scared and ready to go to war just to feel safe.
All the administration had to talk about then were some vague - and non-existent - "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq. And they even had the exact same beat to the war drums.
Take a look at Netanyahu testifying to Congress in 2002 about why the United States needs to invade Iraq.
Riiiiight. So Iraq and Iran were sponsoring terrorism - weren't listening to the international community - and both were hotbeds of anti-American sentiments.
And as you saw at the end of that clip - even back in 2002 - Netanyahu and the war zealots on the right in the country were stoking the same vague, but visceral, fears about both Iraq and Iran. But George W. Bush and his administration found an easier way to stoke vague and visceral fears.
Remember when they declared that Iraq and Iran make up two-thirds of the so-called "Axis of Evil".
During Netanyahu's testimony on invading Iraq back in 2002 - he claimed that it's not a matter of IF there needed to be a regime change in Iraq and Iran. But for Bibi and Bush, it was only a question of WHEN and HOW that regime would change.
And what great things were we supposed to expect to happen when we invaded Iraq and toppled Saddam? According to Bibi in 2002 - we would see vague and immediate good things - including a natural change in regime in Iran.
The thing is: we listened to him then. We invaded Iraq. The regime changed. We didn't find any weapons of mass destruction. And there was no sudden eruption of democratic regime changes. And there was no movement towards peace in the region.
What did happen? Well, for one thing, many of the Ba'ath party members that we ousted during the invasion - they became what we know now as ISIS in the wake of a destabilized Iraq. Bibi and the Bush administration and the Republican establishment were all completely wrong about Iraq.
Does that really mean we should ignore their frightened screams about Iran? Yes - because they're beating the EXACT SAME war drums as before. And the fevered pitch of the drums is just as out of tune with reality as ever before.
Iran isn't a rogue nation. If Iran truly disregarded international law and the international community - like the war hawks scream that they do - they wouldn't have approached the negotiating table to begin with.
Keep in mind that this isn't a deal between the US and Iran - this is a binding international agreement negotiated between 6 countries, ratified by the United Nations, and supported by the strictest inspection regime ever devised.
And if this deal fails - it won't be Iran that has gone rogue from the international community. It will be the United States and Israel.
It's only been 13 years since Netanyahu fantasized on the floor of Congress about all the good things that would happen if we invaded Iraq and toppled Saddam. It's recent enough for people to remember what actually happened and how they really feel about it.
And if you liked the Iraq war - you're going to love what the Republicans want to do with Iran.
Comments


Thom basically posited at the beginning of the show that journalists have become like comedians--they want politicians of the opposite party in office because it gives them something to do.

Unlike the United States, Israel, and Iraq under Saddam Hussein, Iran has NOT invaded any other country. Sure, they provive some financial and military equipment support for their firends in other countries, but so does the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and nearly every other country in that region. What at mess!
The US presently has at least ten thousand US military and civilian personnel stationed on ships that are "bottled up" in the Persian Gulf (i.e. "sitting ducks" for Iran's mountain-based anti-ship missiles). They would do doubt be among the first victims of a war with Iran (possibly triggered by an Israeli air attack on Iran). The fact that so many of our members of Congress appear to be willing to sacrifice the lives of those ship-based personnel for their own political/financial gain is SHOCKING!
I think Russia, China and Pakistan will have something to say if Repugs try to invade Iran - something the Oil Barons, Banksters and Neocons are wetting their pants just thinking about. Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran along with Kazakhstan & Turkmenistan are working giant pipeline cooperation deals which will bypass & subvert American pipeline pipe dreams, starting with their famous and god almighty screw-up the Trans-Afghanistan pipeline corridor. Supposed to be another "cake-walk" in Afghan, didn't turn out that way. Was good at promoting the Drug Trade though. Since the Afghan pipeline war started they have risen from 10% to 90% of the world illicit opiate trade. Bravo America. Banksters and Weapons Dealers love the two way cash flow that comes with the Drug trade. A consolation prize for Friends of America.
For those who doubt the power of the Israeli lobby in US politics,
watch carefully how the Iran vote plays out.
On the other hand, we only need 1/3 in either house to win the day.
Many Amercan soldier's lives at stake.
ct

Well said, Thom ! I have listened carefully to the arguements of those opposed to the agreement. Those who say, "We could have negotiated a better deal" live in a perpetual fantasyland that the U.S. can act unilaterally and every other country will obediently follow us. Dream on.

Oh boy! What's not to love?
These American warmongers are the real terrorists.

If this country can't afford to replace crumbling bridges, and fully fund programs like Meals on Wheels, then we sure as hell can't afford to fund Netanyahu's continuing occupation of other people's lands, preemptive wars that kill mostly the innocent poor, and only result in the extreme enrichment of a few.
Bush/Cheney's bank crash and trillions on the Iraq war lead directly to justification for austerity ...... basically an economic war immorally imposed by the extremely wealthy on the vast majority of United States citizens....time to revolt.

Daily Kos Warning 8/8/2015;
New York Senator Chuck Schumer has taken us one step closer to war by opposing President Obama’s monumental diplomatic agreement to peacefully prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
This is scary stuff. Schumer is very powerful--in fact, he is in line to become the next Democratic leader of the U.S. Senate. His opposition to diplomacy could sway other key Democratic senators to join him.
We need 34 senators to support the Iran deal in order to prevent it from collapsing, and right now only 13 have announced their support.
If we want to stop another war, we need to say loud and clear right now what we think of Schumer’s horrendous decision.

Schumer is a shmuck. He will be a disaster if he takes the lead after Senator Reid. One day the whold world is going to pay back America for all the war and misery caused by the likes of people like Schumer and the GOP. We could be a peaceful nation with many perks but not with the politicians we have now. We need major change and we need it soon. No more endless wars for the profiteers. If we don't revolt and demand change it will only continue to get worse. Vote Sanders to start, then hit the streets.
I didn't listen to much of the "debate" but I did hear the Donald say something that I am amazed is not drawing more comment. It went something like "I donate to lots of politicians - I give them money and they do what I tell them to do - I gave to Hillary and told her to come to my wedding - she did". It seems that is an admission of bribery (not necessarily the Hillary part but the rest?) - can you say crime?? The Supreme Court says money is speech as long as there is no Quid pro Quo. Wonder what they would say about the Donald's statement?