en-us http://www.intensedebate.com/users/606163 Comments by m70270 http://news.antiwar.com/2010/01/10/outrage-in-israel-as-us-envoy-mentions-revoking-loan-guarantee/#IDComment51513232 Here is a classic example from Members of the best Congress money can buy of the "tail wagging the dog." Can anyone show that the US receives any benefit whatsoever from our being held hostage to the dictates of Israel? I don't recall voting for any member of the Likud party. But look at the costs associated with this warped relationship. We give them billions in aid. We support them politically with an uncritical eye. We went to war in Iraq at their behest. They steal our commercial and military secrets. They are fighting vigorously for the US to war with Iran. But the other side of the ledger is blank...enumerating that they give us nothing but troubles in the world. SKM said the reason for 9/11 is America's total support for the Apartheid Israeli regime and their brutal treatment of the Palestinians. Its time for McCain and Likudist Lieberman to take a hike, perhaps they can run as a candidate in the Knesset. Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:49:21 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2010/01/10/outrage-in-israel-as-us-envoy-mentions-revoking-loan-guarantee/#IDComment51513232 http://news.antiwar.com/2010/01/04/clinton-yemen-war-a-global-threat/#IDComment50463062 Here again comes the contemporary "Iron Lady", how she can speak to the issues involving Yemen with a straight face is mind-numbing. These "hawks in dove feathers" lecture the world in behavioral manifestations, as they go, casually about, destroying the world. There are no words to properly portray what has become the most dangerous and peace shattering political hacks on the planet. While we lament and demonize the actions of Hitler, Stalin, Brezhnev, Mao, Pol Pot, Truman, Kissinger et al, George W. Bush and company, Thatcher, Blair, and the Clintons: were there a Nobel Prize given for the worst skunk at the lawn party, I would nominate all the illustrious aforementioned. Tue, 5 Jan 2010 14:54:05 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2010/01/04/clinton-yemen-war-a-global-threat/#IDComment50463062 http://original.antiwar.com/pilger/2009/12/30/2010-welcome-to-orwells-world/#IDComment49785546 Excellent analysis. The comment that Taliban attempted to solve the impasse over Osama bin Laden tweaked my interest. In 1987, a journalist known to me personally discovered Osama's redoubt near the Kandahar Aerodrome and provided the US a map of the precise location of his hideaway. Resultant inaction, and the reasons therefore by the Clinton government was pursued by the journalist who asked a simple question of those he had previously briefed. "Why was nothing done to apprehend Osama?" He was advised that, "I don't really know why." John Pilger is right. "This war is a fraud." This is a war over failed negotiations for construction of the Trans-Afghan-Pipeline that fell afoul of a competing oil company who had the audacity to underbid UNOCAL, prompting the Taliban therefore to give the US/Saudi consortium the boot. The elusive and wily Saudi cleric has provided the US with justification for continuing to prosecute war in Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world. Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:04:43 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/pilger/2009/12/30/2010-welcome-to-orwells-world/#IDComment49785546 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/12/30/obamas-new-years-resolutions/#IDComment49782609 Dr. Phil fpr president...his stunning erudition, combined with eloquent and insightful articulation, eludes the power brokers as manifest in "Foggy Bottom." Sadly, the Halls of Congress and the administration are staffed with carpet baggers and snake oil slaesman. What are the people to do??? Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:51:39 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/12/30/obamas-new-years-resolutions/#IDComment49782609 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/12/23/christians-united-for-war/#IDComment48899575 As I have come to expect from Dr. Phil Giraldi, a great but sobering article. A quick look back in history tells those with an open mind that America's wars have largely been based on fabrications. One of many examples though still controversial, is what did FDR and the US know about the impending attack on Pearl Harbor? My Great Uncle was Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet prior to Pearl Harbor and was uncerimoniously dumped due to his hectoring FDR that the US was provoking Japan towards war with a top-secret, 8-point plan drafted by Cdr. Wm. McCollum of Naval Intelligence,. The provocations which included oil embargoes put the Fleet at Pearl Harbor at great risk. When ignored by FDR, my uncle went to the press, but received scant attention. As a result he was fired and "the rest, as they say, is history." Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:27:45 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/12/23/christians-united-for-war/#IDComment48899575 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/12/20/mullen-warns-iran-becoming-non-responsive/#IDComment48336969 Why would any respectable and sovereign nation wish to deal with the hawks in dove feathers a.k.a., Obamites? These people are mad. The march of folly continues as preterxt, i.e.the "war on terror." At a cost of $57,077.60/minute for the surge, I think we can all see why empires fail, spending their way into economic ,and amoral oblivion. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:55:56 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/12/20/mullen-warns-iran-becoming-non-responsive/#IDComment48336969 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/12/16/no-fault-espionage/#IDComment47577706 Kudos to Dr. Phil Giraldi, As we have come to expect, his analysis is spot on! During the 1980s, I was involved in Foreign Military Sales (FMS), a program to assist allies of the US with the latest military hardware. One of our vendors, Recon Optical fell victim to Israeli spying which involved the theft of blueprints for a high-altitude, high resolution optical system attached to F4 Phantom jets. The Israelis insisted in placing their QA people in the Recon Optical plant as a condition of the contract. Subsequently, they stole the plans for the system and cancelled the contract. Elbit Corporation in Israel proceeded to build the system, and as Dr. Phil reiterates, undersold Recon Optical on the international marketplace. The result was economic evisceration of the firm who went bankrupt in the process. No relief from the US Government was forthcoming. With friends like these...who needs enemies? Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:40:18 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/12/16/no-fault-espionage/#IDComment47577706 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/12/15/us-to-simulate-iranian-attack/#IDComment47436128 These pro-war hawks in dove's feathers are out of their freakin mind! How can our leadership be so cavalier about an action that will kill thousands if not millions of innocent civilians, continue our path to insolvency, both economically and morally and make the US the international pariah? There seems no hope. The military contractors have Congress by their proverbial chestnuts while others have lost their backbone to oppose the ever-opportunistic lobbyists. Our republic has become a plutocrasy, great for Wall St., the pharmecueticals, insurance industry, the bankers, and the Military Industrial Complex, and their Siamese twin, Israel, but for world peace and neglected services for the people, it ranks with Nigeria. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:16:48 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/12/15/us-to-simulate-iranian-attack/#IDComment47436128 http://original.antiwar.com/porter/2009/12/15/us-silent-about-taliban-guarantee-offer-on-al-qaeda/#IDComment47417189 Clinton's comment that "we asked Mullah Omar to give up bin Laden before he went to Afghanistan after 9/11", is pure bovine skatology. Bin Laden was invited into Afghanistan in 1996 by the Northern Alliance, America's allies in the 2001 invasion. Furthermore, the Taliban made numerous overtures to both the Clinton and Bush administrations in an attempt to solve the impasse. The US chose to not negotiate with the Taliban though they asked for little in exchange. In addition, the US was informed by a journalist in 1997 as to the precise location of bin Laden and yet took no action. As a result, a perception exists and is deepening that the US used bin Laden as justification for positioning their forces closer to Central Asian energy deposits and therefore freeze out competition from Iran, China and Russia. Few believe that bin Laden is the reason we now occupy Afghanistan. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:37:52 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/porter/2009/12/15/us-silent-about-taliban-guarantee-offer-on-al-qaeda/#IDComment47417189 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/12/10/peace-doesnt-work-obama-informs-nobel-committee/#IDComment46762975 That the President was even considered for this lofty prize is thundering hypocrisy. Not a few scribes see this prize presented in OSLO, NATO Headquarters, as a political/budgetary plot for the subsistence and continuation of NATO. Obama's escalation, therefore fuels a continuation of war and NATO's continued presence and reason for existing. Origally mandated to counter Warsaw Pact aggression and or expansion, the question is...what the Hell is NATO doing in Afghanistan?? It may well be that the Europeans see NATO as a hedge against unbriddled American militarism. Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:29:18 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/12/10/peace-doesnt-work-obama-informs-nobel-committee/#IDComment46762975 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/12/09/no-sama-bin-laden/#IDComment46551307 Kudos to Dr. Phil Giraldi for his expert analysis. In my opinion, the US has not ever seriously wished to capture or kill Osama bin Laden. I base this on the fact that during one trip to Afghanistan during the Clinton Presidency, I was asked to keep on the lookout for Osama. As luck would have it, I learned where the shadowy, reclusive Saudi was living. Upon return to the states, I reported the precise location of Osama's redoubt, (along with a map). When no action was forthcoming, I queried those who had debriefed me upon my return to the US as to the why of this lack of action. Their answer was "we don't know." Osama, it appears, has been but a hunting license for the US and their grand quest to encircle energy reserves in Central Asia and the Caspian Basin, and to eventually build the Turkmenistan-via- Afghanistan-to Pakistan pipeline and the Arabian Sea. To freeze out all competition (read: Iran and Russia) the faux-quest to eradicate terrorism remains but pretext. Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:34:51 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/12/09/no-sama-bin-laden/#IDComment46551307 http://original.antiwar.com/huber/2009/11/24/dumb-and-dumber-wars/#IDComment44670937 Right on Jeff! I have an idea that might bring a halt to this constant and insane military stance and interventionism. Draft Members of Congress, administration officials to include the president, retired faux-warriors such as GW Bush, Dick (5-deferments) Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, "Condie" Rice, Geo. Tenet and a host of others who duped this country in search of war. War, not for national security, but war to enhance the bottom line of Corporate America, i.e., Haliburton, Perini Corp., KBR, Blackwater/XE, and the rest of the motly war-for-profit gang, a.k.a., the military industrial complex. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:37:10 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/huber/2009/11/24/dumb-and-dumber-wars/#IDComment44670937 http://original.antiwar.com/mcgovern/2009/11/20/should-obama-fire-gen-mcchrystal/#IDComment44160255 Ray McGovern's analysis is spot on! Perhaps a remedy against a perennial warfare state is to dismantle the "cluster-bomb economics" ploy currently in play by the military industrial complex. The Pentagon, and their family of weapons producers use sub-contractors in all 50 states to build weapons platforms so that Congress cannot cancel any appropriations in fear of putting people out of work all across the country. The country is a virtual hostage to those who reap riches building death and destruction. Our inverterbrate Congress also lacks the ba**s to take charge of the purse. The axiom that Congress has the power of the purse is pure nonsense. Campaign contributions are what make the U.S. empire go round. If, somehow, we could get a grip on the "cluster-bomb" approach to honestly fund worthwhile and necessary defense requirements, health care, infrastructure, education, etc., etc., would be paid for, and who knows, we might even post a budget surplus while eradicating our enormous debt. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:16:03 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/mcgovern/2009/11/20/should-obama-fire-gen-mcchrystal/#IDComment44160255 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/11/18/internet-under-siege/#IDComment43937804 Kudos to Dr. Phil Giraldi for his tireless vigilance. When the all out government attack on the Internet occurs...and it will occur, our feckless Congress and the administration will undoubtedly cite as justification...that they have to wage war against child pornographers. Who can argue against fighting the proliferation of child porn? Child porn, as WMD and the Tonkin Gulf incident, are virtually inclusive...propaganda all, and will most certainly be used as needed to silence critics of the empire and their insatiable encroachments. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:58:58 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/11/18/internet-under-siege/#IDComment43937804 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2009/11/09/the-itch-in-joe-liebermans-gitmo-finger/#IDComment42681179 Can there be a more sorry example of a Member of Congress than Senator sleezy Joe Lieberman. One can but only wonder why he does not run as a Likud member? What is wrong with the voters in Connecticutt? How can they possible vote for a kleptocrat in the pocket of the insurance and Israeli lobbies? He is such a sorry individual that there are no words to properly describe his disloyality to his constituents and his country. Joe, Tel-Aviv beckons, you are guaranteed a place in Israeli history as the most effective Israeli agent ever fielded. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:01:04 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2009/11/09/the-itch-in-joe-liebermans-gitmo-finger/#IDComment42681179 http://news.antiwar.com/?p=7096#IDComment42680634 There are those, in the "War Party", Congress, corporate America, and in the media, who wish with all their being that Major Hassan had received his marching orders from some Jihadist group. This provides further justification in their corporate, warped minds, to continue with our interventionist policies. These people are sick!! Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:53:38 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/?p=7096#IDComment42680634 http://original.antiwar.com/roberts/2009/11/06/the-evil-empire/#IDComment42349436 An informed and articulate analysis! The American public seems unaware that during the Summer of 2001, Pakistan's Secretary, Niaz Naik was informed by US officials (including Christina Rocca) that the "U.S. will attack Afghanistan before the snow flies in October." The venue was a conference on Afghanistan held in Berlin and sponsored by the U.N. A comment was made to the Taliban that had more to do with, as Paul Roberts says, natural gas and oil than anti-terrorism. The Taliban were threatened by U.S. official that "you either accept our carpet of gold or we will bury you under a carpet of bombs" The not so subtle reference was to Taliban's negotiating with Bridas, an energy giant of Argentina, while discontinuing negotiations with Unocal. This story was reported in detail by BBCs George Arney in September pf 2001. But as the "Downing Street Memos", this story was ignored by the so-called U.S. media establishment. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 16:22:11 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/roberts/2009/11/06/the-evil-empire/#IDComment42349436 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/11/04/a-manifesto-for-x-street/#IDComment42109334 Bravo; Dr. Phil Giraldi for president!!! Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:36:35 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/11/04/a-manifesto-for-x-street/#IDComment42109334 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/10/30/abdullah-poised-to-announce-runoff-election-boycott/#IDComment41285129 It makes little or no difference who is the president of a country under foreign occupation. Do we expect the world to honestly believe that a "runoff" is the key to a democratic institution? The current and future president of Afghanistan resides in Washington. And just a brief comment about Karzai's rival, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. Were he to persevere in a highly touted runoff, the next real president of Afghanistan would reside in Moscow or Tehran or perhaps Delhi or even all three. Abdullah has long ties to the former KGB and GRU and the contemporary incarnation, the FSV, supporting them during the Soviet occupation. He has also been on the receiving end of Iran's and India's largesse which facilitates much concern in Islamabad who fear the loss of "strategic depth" with a pro-Moscow-Tehran-Delhi nexus. He, like his then boss, Ahmad Shah Massoud was on the Soviet payroll all during the war with the USSR and is seen as Afghanistan's most notorious Quisling. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:35:02 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/10/30/abdullah-poised-to-announce-runoff-election-boycott/#IDComment41285129 http://original.antiwar.com/huber/2009/10/29/afpak-illegal-immoral-fattening/#IDComment41194991 Great article. Further to his commentary regards the use of snipers to whack the "bad guys", I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a Marine Corps officer involved in "Operation Phoenix." He told me that when new sniper/scouts arrived in country (Vietnam) with their new Remington M40 7.62mm scope-sighted rifles, he would escort them out in the "boonies" to whack suspected Viet Cong and or sympathizers and give the new arrivals a chance to "blood their new rifles." As it is today, the victims were fingered and sentenced to death by no more than word of mouth. This is justice American-style. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:52:37 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/huber/2009/10/29/afpak-illegal-immoral-fattening/#IDComment41194991