Thelma and Louise Imperialism

The Nation: Reckless Bush Putting U.S. On Edge Over Iran

(The Nation)  This column was written by Tom Engelhardt.

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Let me make an argument about the possibility that a regime-change-style, shock-and-awe air assault might someday be launched on Iranian nuclear facilities and associated targets — based on no insider knowledge, just the logic of George and Dick's Thelma and Louise-style imperialism.

Of course, we all know at least half the story by now. Is there anybody in official Washington — other than our President, Vice President, the Vice President's secretive imperial staff, assorted neocon supporters, and associated right-wing think tanks — who isn't sweating blood, popping pills, and wondering what in the world to do about our delusional leaders?

Senators, House members, former top officials and high military types are now crawling out of the Washington woodwork to offer the kinds of dire warnings that, not so long ago, would have been confined to the distant peripheries of political argument.

After all, to anyone not delusional — which leaves out you-know-who and his Vice President — a massive air assault on Iran, surely involving staggeringly powerful bunker-busting missiles, would seem to be an act of madness. It would be immensely destructive to Iran (and yet almost surely a rallying point for its fundamentalist regime); bloody in its repercussions for US soldiers in Iraq; imperiling to US allies in the region; and, for the global economy, a potential energy catastrophe. A series of explosive events could unravel the oil heartlands of the planet, making the Administration's last several years in Iraq little more than an hors d'oeuvre before a banquet of catastrophe.
You don't have to rely on me for this. In his confirmation hearings, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates offered his own bloodcurdling scenario for the aftermath of such an assault:

"...[While] Iran cannot attack us directly militarily, I think that their capacity to potentially close off the Persian Gulf to all exports of oil, their potential to unleash a significant wave of terror both in the — well, in the Middle East and in Europe and even here in this country is very real... Their ability to get Hezbollah to further destabilize Lebanon I think is very real. So I think that while their ability to retaliate against us in a conventional military way is quite limited, they have the capacity to do all of the things, and perhaps more, that I just described."

Fatwa Time
The possibility of an attack on Iran has long been on the horizon. You'd have to start back before the invasion of Iraq in 2003, when, as Newsweek reminded us, one quip of the bolder neocons was: "Everyone wants to go to Baghdad. Real men want to go to Tehran." You'd have to go back to January 2005, when reporter Seymour Hersh, in a New Yorker piece , "The Coming Wars," wrote, "In my interviews, I was repeatedly told that the next strategic target was Iran."


You'd have to go back to August 2005 when, in the American Conservative magazine, former CIA official Philip Giraldi warned: "In Washington it is hardly a secret that the same people in and around the Administration who brought you Iraq are preparing to do the same for Iran" — possibly involving an "unprovoked nuclear attack" on that country. A contingency plan was, he claimed, being drawn up in the Pentagon, "acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney's office."

You'd have to check out a second Hersh piece from April 2006 in which he reported that, increasingly, insiders believed the President's goal was not simply aborting the Iranian nuclear program, but Iraq-style "regime change," and that, against Pentagon opposition, "the nuclear option" — the possibility of using a "bunker-buster tactical nuclear weapon" — had made it into initial Iran planning. You'd have to check out the work of former UN arms inspector Scott Ritter, who recently published a book whose title says it all: Target Iran.

These men — some classic conservatives — are now, if anything, even more passionately convinced that the Administration is headed for the Iranian cliff, possibly as early as this Spring.

But it took more than their work for so much of official Washington to panic. It took the Administration's decision to send the USS John C. Stennis, a second aircraft carrier task force into the Persian Gulf (with hints that a third could follow); it took the announcement of what Juan Cole has termed George Bush's " fatwa," allowing the US military to take out Iranian agents anywhere in Iraq; it took the detention by US forces of various Iranian officials in Iraq and the invasion of an Iranian office in Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan; it took the President's announcement of a decision to emplace Patriot anti-missile systems in the smaller Gulf states; it took a sudden, massive, eerily familiar ratcheting up of Administration rhetoric about Iran and Iranian influence in Iraq and the cherry-picked intelligence to go with it.; it took the refusal of officials like John Negroponte to say whether they believed the Administration already had the right to whack Iran without returning to Congress for permission; it took reports about the readying of new bases in Bulgaria and Romania for a future Iranian air campaign; it took rumors that the Pentagon's latest strike plan against Iran includes "more than 2,300 'high value' targets."

[mbcsmith]

Another liberal rag propaganda piece.

[hsinco-2009]

Sound thinking and reasoning in my book.

[scott4261]

Ya know...I keep on hoping I will wake up and this whole presidency, from the Florida fiasco to 9/11 to the war to the *** of the poor - all of it - I keep hoping I will wake up from this BAD DREAM that never seems to end! These guys are pure evil and I just pray that our country and the world survive until they are out of office. Then, maybe - just maybe - we can save both.

[scott4261]

Ya know...I keep on hoping I will wake up and this whole presidency, from the Florida fiasco to 9/11 to the war to the s c r e w i n g of the poor - all of it - I keep hoping I will wake up from this BAD DREAM that never seems to end! These guys are pure evil and I just pray that our country and the world survive until they are out of office. Then, maybe - just maybe - we can save both.

[the_mirror]

Tom E.

Thanks for an intriging piece of "Journalism Creationalism". I just coined that phrase "I feel like you, now". It made my head spin, and the only thought that kept resurfacing in my mind was in Disney's Lion King - Whoopi's hyena making Cheech Marin and "Ed" shutter at the words "Mufassa". "oohh hoooo, say it again"-"Moofaasssa".

Probably 7/8 of the LIBS will consider this the news of the day. Amazing as it seems you and most media have "embraced defeat".

[migrainegram]

Thelma & Louise? Heck no...

It's anything but. Try Lucy & Ethel, Laverne & Shirley, Wally & the Beav, Mutt & Jeff, Laurel & Hardy, Fred & Barney. Nothing but slap-stick comedy, from George & Richard.

Truly, this is prime fodder for a made for TV movie or a documentary highlighting the Legacy of Bart & Homer Simpson.

[migrainegram]

Each of them should have to submit to psychological evaluations.

One can only cry "wolf, wolf" so many times. Eventually no one will believe them or come running.

JUST CRY "WOLF!"
A BIG BIG WOLF!
JUST CRY "WOLF!"
ALL THE FOLKS WILL COME A-RUNNING.
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS CRY "WOLF!"

[bluestardad]

If you like the Bush Surge this is for you!

http://www.carlosmencia.com/content/videos.php?id=66

[fascistusa]

The Elite run America.

Do you even realize what is going on?

It's a BIG MONEY GRAB. Get it all while they can. Fire sale.

War is BIG MONEY. Corporations are BIG MONEY.

It's GRAB EVERYTHING WHILE YOU CAN TIME FOR THE ELITE WITH OUR COUNTRY!!!!!!

[goldesprit]

Six stars for this article.

We have Bush, Cheny, and each underling that still thinks loyalty to money will fix all--to restrain and punish for what are war crimes, even if it turns out to take years to persue them, after they have resigned or been thrown out of office.

It was mildly reported last year when Rumps-feld
sold his tammiflu stock for 5 MILLION DOLLARS --prior to some info coming out in the press that there might be a problem with it. The press lagrely let him slide--for the hell of it.

Cheny thinks Victory is when Halliburton (and hence himself) makes more war money...pertiod.
I suspect he say as much to his cronies in private--ask those talking about this Libby fellow!

Bush and Cheny say that they get "faulty information" from underlings at FBI and CIA and NSA and probably as they gaze into their self prepared--alphabet soup when they aren't feeling well which is most of the time.

The immediate underlings--(you know who you are!) need to get off board the sinking ship and be true patriots. Do it now.

The next ploy Bush will use is that he is sorry for choosing bad underlings (like previous scape goats)--and that is why we should support "Another Brand New Plan"...to escalate a dying war.

[traveler4too]

What ever happened to the good old days when a leader actually led his troops in battle? Perhaps if Georgie boy was walking the streets of Baghdad and his daughters were there, he might do things a little differently.

[taddles-2009]

"It's anything but. Try Lucy & Ethel, Laverne & Shirley, Wally & the Beav, Mutt & Jeff, Laurel & Hardy, Fred & Barney. Nothing but slap-stick comedy, from George & Richard.

Posted by migrainegram at 04:17 PM : Feb 17, 2007"

You didn't just post this....how dare you compare our President and Vice President to Laurel and Hardy, to Fred and Barney. Have you no shame, have you no respect!?! We owe these people our deepest respect and admiration. It is the highest insult to compare these fine upstanding icons of our country to Shooter and the Shrub. ;o)

[taddles-2009]

"Probably 7/8 of the LIBS will consider this the news of the day. Amazing as it seems you and most media have "embraced defeat".
Posted by The_Mirror at 03:36 PM : Feb 17, 2007"

Actually embracing de-feet requires you to drop trou, bend over and grab your ankles...oh wait that is what you meant.

[pchukar]

If Cheney and Bush move to attack Iran in any manner, there should be a standing order to remove them from their military posts of authority. Their military intentions will be proof their delusional states have made them unfit for office. They must be stopped BEFORE any preemptive attack by the U.S. occurs. Bush and Cheney have enough blood of innocent people on their hands and souls, no more!

[pchukar]

If Cheney and Bush move to attack Iran in any manner, there should be a standing order to remove them from their military posts of authority. Their military intentions will be proof their delusional states have made them unfit for office. They must be stopped BEFORE any preemptive attack by the U.S. occurs. Bush and Cheney have enough blood of innocent people on their hands and souls, no more!

[pchukar]

If Cheney and Bush move to attack Iran in any manner, there should be a standing order to remove them from their military posts of authority. Their military intentions will be proof their delusional states have made them unfit for office. They must be stopped BEFORE any preemptive attack by the U.S. occurs. Bush and Cheney have enough blood of innocent people on their hands and souls, no more!

[pchukar]

If Cheney and Bush move to attack Iran in any manner, there should be a standing order to remove them from their military posts of authority. Their military intentions will be proof their delusional states have made them unfit for office. They must be stopped BEFORE any preemptive attack by the U.S. occurs. Bush and Cheney have enough blood of innocent people on their hands and souls, no more!

[pchukar]

If Cheney and Bush move to attack Iran in any manner, there should be a standing order to remove them from their military posts of authority. Their military intentions will be proof their delusional states have made them unfit for office. They must be stopped BEFORE any preemptive attack by the U.S. occurs. Bush and Cheney have enough blood of innocent people on their hands and souls, no more!

[itchyb-2009]

"The message to the Iranian people is that your leaders are making decisions that are isolating you in the world, thereby denying you a brighter future." Bush press conference 2/15/07

You just need to change Iranian to American, George, and you might see the light.

[perception5]

The Nation magazine......the most vile and Provada type magazine in America today.......... if you want to be "contaminated" with liberal lies and hate then read this magazine.......

[itchyb-2009]

perception5 - Just stick to FOX news. That's where it's all truth all the time...NOT Everytime O'Reily opens his mouth it spews out nothing but half-truths, at best, and outright lies, most of the time.

[crater7]

perception5; If you would, please point out which part of this article is a lie.
The only difference between Thelma and Louise, and the current administration is, Thelma and Louise took out themselfs. This administration will take out this country, or sell out this country to the highest bidder.

[knyghtwolf]

I thought that Thelma & Louise was just a movie? There is a difference in reality here. The bush administration is anti-american & pro-corprate america totalitarianism. Next question, please.

[skyk-2009]

The Nation magazine......the most vile and Provada type magazine in America today.......... if you want to be "contaminated" with liberal lies and hate then read this magazine.......
Posted by perception5 at 07:43 AM : Feb 18, 2007


ROFLMAO Okay now all you non believers line up on your right for the Kool Aid! ROFLMAO It's hard to determine who's more nuts these days, the Dictator who is holding our Troops hostage against the Will of the People or those who continue to support his insanity! LMAO

[grumpas]

perception5: I realize that the Nation Magazine is hard for you foaming at the mouth mad dog conservative's to bear! Anyone who says what you don't want to hear is instantly labeled 'liberal' and 'Liberal hate'! Most of you have been spoon fed the right wing Republican propaganda coming out of Fox News for so long you have no clue what is going on in this country! The only thing people like you are able to digest is the hate that comes out of Rush Limbaugh's mouth! So, why don't you crawl back under your rock and pull it over you so us liberal's won't contaminate you! You will be doing everyone a favor!

[perception5]

"In Washington it is hardly a secret that the same people in and around the Administration who brought you Iraq are preparing to do the same for Iran"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does that mean that Clinton appointee George Tenet is coming back to tell our President like he did for Iraq.........that "Mr. President it's a slam dunk that IRAN has WMD's??????

Does everyone remember that slogan......?? maybe not because our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack doesn't use that slogan........ they do still use the following slogans:
"Mission Accomplished"
"Stay the Course"
...... can any liberal Dems explain that for us all??????

[charlesdjohn]

Let me see if I understand all of this correctly!

Muslims simply love Christians! That is why Christianity is illegal in Saudi Arabia, with the exception of foreign military bases.

Muslim doctrine respects religious freedoms! That is why everyone who is a non-muslim must be converted or killed.

George W. Bush started the war and terrorists are simply trying to defend themselves and their Allah given rights from us American Infidels! Wake up and smell the coffee, this ***** has been going on for nearly 2000 years and it isn't going to stop any time soon because the muslims don't want it to. For them to stop the violence would go against their religious beliefs.

According to the Democrats we should outlaw all firearms in the U.S. so that we can live peacefully and safely! Hitler and the Nazi Party said the same ***** before taking over. It worked so well in Canada, a peace loving people before the gun ban, that violent crime went way up and the general populace can't defend themselves.

The war was started by rich people trying to get richer! These rich people must have been the very same people who planned and carried out the Twin Tower destruction. They are also responsible for the Iranian Hostages in the 70's, the bombing of the marine barracks in Beirut, etcetera. Now I remember! I also read about some rich war mongers in and around the middle east during the fall of Jerusalem and the Crusades from 1095 to 1291.

[bm6005]

Bush II and Cheney...Dip and Stick!