en-us http://www.intensedebate.com/users/574278 Comments by BiancaSusak http://news.antiwar.com/2009/08/26/top-ayatollah-slams-iranian-dictatorship/#IDComment32231378 He has been "a has been" for a long, long time. It is not likely that he is influential, and has much following. What makes him "top" Ayatollah? Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:04:40 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/08/26/top-ayatollah-slams-iranian-dictatorship/#IDComment32231378 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/08/24/afghan-officials-promise-preliminary-election-results-tuesday/#IDComment31950607 To quote Antiwar.com, "We hear all kinds of malarkey about "national security," "democracy," "humanitarian intervention," and so forth, but the reality is quite different. " So why is Antiwar.com publishing articles that could have been written a year ago? Karzai needs to go, and will go one way or the other. He has too much local political power, and therefore not fully maleable. Another Musharraf. He will go, whether through "election" or through delegitimazing the vote. Since it was clear he was going to win, just like in Iran, all the opponents have to do --- even those with less then 1% of vote --- is claim victory! And the twitting of midless manipulated masses would do the rest. Why contribute to this? What is this knowledge of "fraud' based on? On thin air, as usual. The narrative has been written well in advance by the empire's willing enablers. For a secure rice bown. Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:21:52 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/08/24/afghan-officials-promise-preliminary-election-results-tuesday/#IDComment31950607 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/07/26/ahmadinejad-backs-off-cabinet-reshuffle-in-face-of-parliamentary-vote/#IDComment28546765 Well, well... The "reformers' are trying every trick in the book. What is distrubing with our press is the utter lack of requisite knowledge of the Iranian situation, are thus suspecitibility for official "narrative". You would think that after the years of Iran-fobia we would have a well informed press. Not so. The "reformists" are the oligarchs in the robes, while the "hardliners" are actuallu the reformers. Ahmedinejad is the first non-clerical appointee, and he needed to position himslef to the right of Ghingis Khan. If he did not, Rafsanjani, the Grey Shark, would have had him for breakfast. Wieh the billions in off=shore accounts, he bankrolled Mousavi's campaign, and the twittering crowd. Our jouranists fogot that this Gucci crowd of norhtern Tehran does not have any support in the countryside, where Ahmedinijad won, and won big. The game with the new appointee is just a game. Being derided as "pro Israel", it is cute to see Ahmedinejad stand by him, while the "reformists" Mousavi, Khatami or Rafsanjani did not do a thing to support him. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:00:39 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/07/26/ahmadinejad-backs-off-cabinet-reshuffle-in-face-of-parliamentary-vote/#IDComment28546765 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/07/26/clinton-seeks-to-calm-russia-after-biden-diatribe/#IDComment28521408 Unfortunatelly for all of us, Biden is not a problem. Problem is the restoration of Clinton administration. It seems that Obama's foreign policy has been taken over by the Clinton-era phylosophy and its practicioners. The ethiology of the phenomena is most likely rooted in the murky business of the bi-partsan elite that would have been more comfortable with Clinton. Since the voting public was not about to bless their choice, Obama had to do --- with restrictions. Clinton's foreign policy is based on the pillars of Zbignew Brzezinski's The Grand Chessboard, and its sequel, The Second Chance. It is based on the imperative of suffocating Russia, and China. The methods are rooted in the 19th century garrisoning of key geographic areas, such as Afghanistan, the key real estate for expansion in Central Asia, supporting exremists in Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan, as well as inside Russia's Caucases and China's Western borders. Therefore, Biden is just doing his job. Obama is looking bad, as his words and the deeds of his Administation are worlds apart. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:49:12 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/07/26/clinton-seeks-to-calm-russia-after-biden-diatribe/#IDComment28521408 http://original.antiwar.com/eland/2009/07/24/lessons-from-sudan-for-iraq/#IDComment28336316 In today's world, world powers prove their status by encouraging one side of the conflict, assuring it of a win. It is only when such power chooses to stay out, as it no longer considers the issue of great importance, or it becomes too expensive financially and politically, that the sides might find a way to solution. Once upon a time, small agricultural societies were more capable of compromise, as each could easily ruin the crop of the other. But those days were gone, once large state systems were imposed on previously loose relationships among neighboring people. State mechanisms became large enough to risk thousands of people and suffer great damage without a risk to themselves. A lesson is not simple. Bosnia's warring parties signed a treaty in Portugal before any shots were fired. That is when Bill Clinton whispered in the ear of Alia Izetbegovic, the leader of the muslim faction, convincing him of support. He withdrew the signature, and the rest is history. Do we really not understand why there is no solution to Israeli-Palestinian problem? I think the answer is obvious. Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:17:06 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/eland/2009/07/24/lessons-from-sudan-for-iraq/#IDComment28336316 http://original.antiwar.com/vlahos/2009/07/20/coin-meets-reality/#IDComment28115770 What? A major NATION BUILDING EFFORT? I did not know that 15 milion dollars to a contractor to develop BASES and other military infrastructure in Afghanistan counts as a NATION BUILDING EFFORT? Now I know why the money suddenly dissapeared and we had a "financial crisis", "crisis of liquiditiy" and such. The money was needed elsewhere. It seems that our earstwhile "Fed", which is as Federal as a Federal Express, or better said the owners of those private banks decided that the money is better spent digging in around the world in dusty outposts of the Empire, then to spent it on whining populace. So what if some kids are kicked out of their homes as they are foreclosed? So what if the families fall appart as one or more parents loose jobs? So what? For as long as their appetite for empirial outposts guides their decision making, the money will be taken away from the economy and plunged into the empire building. Now I know what "nation building" is all about. Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:06:04 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/vlahos/2009/07/20/coin-meets-reality/#IDComment28115770 http://original.antiwar.com/huber/2009/07/13/the-persian-ploy/#IDComment27263850 Why the Obama Administration shouldn't engage Iran, or why would it possibly need an excuse? Because the Obama Administration from the day he cut the deal with Clinton's to avoid chaos at the Democratic Convention, he cut the deal with the elites. The elites couldn't care less if Clinton or McCain were elected. Each one had the appropriate "mass" appeal, one as a "maverick" and a war hero, and another as a woman. Then came Obama. With his foreign policy firmly in Clinton camp, he can only find a better way to "articulate" to the foreign leaders and masses, that US means well. With that in mind, how hard is it to answer the question? As the author says, any use of weapons against any of the Iranian neighbors would "...virtually obliterate the entire Persian race in retaliation." Even this author has apparently no issue with the notion that anyone --- for whatever reason --- is entitled to the "obliteration of Iranian race". Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:42:14 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/huber/2009/07/13/the-persian-ploy/#IDComment27263850 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/07/10/yemens-problems-go-far-beyond-narrow-us-focus-on-terror/#IDComment26943291 This is a last thing Yemen needs; more attention by world's minders to fix all their problems, from terrorism and seccessionism, to water and farm crops. How about leaving it alone? Is there a hope that the imperial amibitions would leave just some corners of the world to live their lives without outside meddling? Once the all-knowing arms of the all knowing people lay their hands on any place, all that is left is a dusty imperial outposts, with Coke machines and ugly T-shirts. Perhaps, for all who would like to see this unusual place, do it before it disappears under the hands of the meddlers. The "secessionism" hardly applies to Yemen. Its central Government is a confederation of regions/tribes, and the amount of local freedom is high. Before British colonized Aden, the province of Hadramouth was independent. The concept of nation-state was not known, and what became South Yemen was hardly subject to rule from Sana'a. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:28:01 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/07/10/yemens-problems-go-far-beyond-narrow-us-focus-on-terror/#IDComment26943291 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/07/08/hands-off-honduras/#IDComment26864337 To run a referendum and form a constituent assemly is a threat to the oligarchs. The possibility that the voters will have influence over the fate of the country was a bit too much for them to bear. And if indeed the President was so unpopular, why not go ahead with the referendum? Latin American oligarchs are under threat, and have lost key battles in many countries. Honduras was not to be lost to the "populist" sentiments. How quaint. The right of people is suddenly "populist". It is clear that the two leaders of the coup are the students of the School of the Americas, the preeminent institution of higher learning for the enforcers of the oligarchy rule in Latin America. No, US does not want the President back, but should he choose to ditch plans for voters to get empowered.... How tiresome of those who bash the "populist" leaders for not producing the instant happiness. As if centuries of mismanagement and plunder can be righted in a few years. And the tangible benefits are well known, but not to the oligarch-financed 'free" press. What a joke! Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:25:39 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/07/08/hands-off-honduras/#IDComment26864337 http://original.antiwar.com/husson/2009/05/21/the-virtues-of-gorbachevism/#IDComment26858554 For a moment I enjoyed the article, as its insight is unique indeed. Until I came to the little matter of the "internal struggles inside the global oligarchy, international conflicts, civil wars...". And this is where the "virtue of Gorbachevism" parts company with the global oligarchs. I am convinced that they will not go for perestroyka, but will go for broke. And speaking of the global oligarchs... why do not we hear more of them? Most people in US think that Federal Reserve, or lovingly callled "The Fed", is as Federal as Federal Express. It creates money out of think air, so that our Government can borrow from them, while we, the taxpayer owe interest on the money they created in our name! Can London keep their bankers under control any more then US can? Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:12:13 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/husson/2009/05/21/the-virtues-of-gorbachevism/#IDComment26858554 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/07/08/ayatollah-khamenei-faces-long-term-challenge-of-discontent-among-clerics/#IDComment26796764 Much better sources of information can be found by reading up on M. K. Badhrakumar, an Indian diplomat with decades of service. What has been missed all along is the on going struggle between the arch-oligarchs within the clerical establishment and the population at large. Khamenei has an absoute advantage. Having nurtured to strength the new uncorruptible leadership under the first Ahmedinejad term, the real clean up of corruption is about to start. The allignment between the Ahmedinijad's right, and the religious progressive left is telling. Rafsanjani will retain his "Gucci crowd" of northern Tehran, but there is where the popularity of corrupt "reformers" ends. There will be no purges, as it goes against the grain of Iranian politics. But the gradual marginalization of the clerical oligarchs is expected. It just looks like they will not go quietly like Yeltsin did. They have billions in overseas investments, and will try to lay low and wait for the next chance at power grab. Thu, 9 Jul 2009 16:35:28 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/07/08/ayatollah-khamenei-faces-long-term-challenge-of-discontent-among-clerics/#IDComment26796764 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/06/30/junta-threatens-zelayas-arrest-if-he-returns-to-honduras/#IDComment26033562 Of course it is not a "coup"; taking a President out in his night gown into a plane, and nicely escorted to another country, is not so bad. However, calling it a "coup" would prevent US from giving "aid" to the "country", meaning of course providing all the necessary military and advisory support to the two coup leaders, the students of US run "School of the Americas". There, students are trained in how to take over governments, so what is the problem? Just true to their training, and to the masters who trained them. Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:34:49 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/06/30/junta-threatens-zelayas-arrest-if-he-returns-to-honduras/#IDComment26033562 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/06/24/stay-out-of-irans-evolutionary-process/#IDComment25480600 Finally. The chattering classes of our media do not know what they are talking about. It has been amply clear that Ahmedinejad won the election, and that has been clear for months before elections. His efforts to pry open the corruption at the Minstry of Oil is being rewarded. Iranians know that the corruption at the very top, the control of the Minister of Oil by the "shark:" Rafsanjani was the primary reason for the poor economy. All the while, the Western media accused Ahmedinejad for spending lavishly the oil money! Why did Rasfanjani, Khatami and Mousavi decide to stick their necks out? Because they know that their time is up. The corruption is being plugged. By creating the image for themselves in the West, they can move to their homes outside of the country, get posh jobs with think-tanks and, more importantly, continued funding by our Congress for "Iranian democracy". As they have stashed their wealth away, this will be just another way of making money. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:18:34 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/06/24/stay-out-of-irans-evolutionary-process/#IDComment25480600 http://original.antiwar.com/sahimi/2009/06/23/irans-election-drama/#IDComment25344847 This is a pure fantasy. People showing up at the doors, and the high drama! Given the composition of electorate in the vast Iranian country side, as well as the less affluent populace of the big cities, there was no way Ahmedinejad could loose! Why would any reputable media outlets tell a tale of Mousavi partisans. This is troubling, because it masks the real reason for the drama: the corrupt ayatollas are finding themselves in danger, as they loose little by little their honey-pots of corruption. To them, Ahmedinijad and the Leadership is the real danger. Since when has it become fashionable to support the minority, protecting its corrupt feifdoms? It is time to learn the REAL story behind. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:40:34 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/sahimi/2009/06/23/irans-election-drama/#IDComment25344847 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/06/23/iran-extends-election-probe-amid-growing-evidence/#IDComment25317504 All the caution has been thrown into the wind when it comes to reporting from Iran. Finding that more people voted in some voting districts (not towns, as reported), is nothing unusual. It is not that the vote exceeds the registered voters, it just exceeds the number of people voting in the same district in the previous election. Iranian voter can be registered elsewhere, but vote in the place of their current residence. Ahmedinejad was predicted a winner by every poll conducted before election, and by 2:1 margin. Extending the time for examination was an astute move. All it will do is to expose other color revolutionaries hidden deeply in the Rafsanjani's network. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:52:41 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/06/23/iran-extends-election-probe-amid-growing-evidence/#IDComment25317504 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/06/18/irans-guardian-council-offers-dialogue-with-candidates/#IDComment24715363 One cannot talk about Iran today, without mentioning the behind the scene grey eminence of Iranian politics, former President Rafsanjani. In Iran, there is an attempt at a coup, a coup of a tight knit corruption-enriched elite against the changes that the populist govenment of Ahmedinejad is trying to push through. This is why this "revolution" is mainly for the rich and by the rich. Rafsanjani took control of the Oil Ministry, good chunk of the "Bazaar", or the foreign trade, "privatized" a university that he now owns, and with big interests in financial sector and agricuture. Ahmedinejad finally pried open the control of the Oil Ministry, so that this massive bleeding of money into corruption channels stopped. Population of Teheran does not represent Iran. Supreme Leader, Ayatolla Khamenei is carefully biding his time. He does have all the aces in his hand, but he may have to wait till the real power behind this storm in the teacup sticks his neck out. So far, only the washed up politician Mousavi's neck is on the line. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:57:33 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/06/18/irans-guardian-council-offers-dialogue-with-candidates/#IDComment24715363