en-us http://www.intensedebate.com/users/652020 Comments by retiretheempire http://original.antiwar.com/kessel-klohendler/2009/10/07/finally-taking-off-their-gloves/#IDComment37799187 I don't buy this argument. If israel decides not to concede any territory in these so-called "peace talks", Obama will do nothing. I've seen this upside down logic with regards to israel getting special treatment too many times. "what seems like an israeli victory is actually a defeat for them! just wait and see." Well, given the past history of israel perpetually getting away with everything at the expense of everyone else, I won't hold my breath. Thu, 8 Oct 2009 08:03:15 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/kessel-klohendler/2009/10/07/finally-taking-off-their-gloves/#IDComment37799187 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/10/06/senate-passes-636-billion-military-bill/#IDComment37595900 McCain's faux pretense of opposing wasteful military spending is laughable at best - to Mccain, $634 billion is a prudent military budget, but $2.5 billion for C-17s? Why that's just reckless spending! Wed, 7 Oct 2009 09:42:11 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/10/06/senate-passes-636-billion-military-bill/#IDComment37595900 http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2009/10/06/us-foreign-policy-rudyard-kipling/#IDComment37594744 one wonders, were our "leaders" ever in touch with reality, or were they born with a mythical faith and love for the infallible and righteous U.S. Government? Wed, 7 Oct 2009 09:24:43 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2009/10/06/us-foreign-policy-rudyard-kipling/#IDComment37594744 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/30/west-poised-to-make-demands-and-press-for-sanctions-in-iran-talks/#IDComment36743414 Iran's offer will have no effect on the west's israel-centric "negotiators". The issue is not how much enriched uranium Iran makes, but that it has the ability to make any at all. They will settle for nothing less than the total de-nuclearization of iran - that has been and always will be their ultimate goal. Thu, 1 Oct 2009 17:30:21 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/30/west-poised-to-make-demands-and-press-for-sanctions-in-iran-talks/#IDComment36743414 http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2009/09/29/our-intelligence-and-theirs/#IDComment36581658 Perhaps we should just start referring to our war-crazed class of Iran-haters as the pro-israel "left" and the pro-israel "right". After all if they really are THAT pro-israel, they should wear the label like a badge of honor and stop pretending there is any other reason for their ranting about Iran's nuclear program than their "Israel-first" agenda. Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:01:24 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2009/09/29/our-intelligence-and-theirs/#IDComment36581658 http://original.antiwar.com/porter/2009/09/28/fears-of-blame-for-defeat-shadow-afghan-war-meetings/#IDComment36520925 This is the mess Obama has stupidly created for himself with his "Team of Rivals". More like a Team of Chaos, with every chicken hawk, interventionist and political animal scrambling to avoid being called a whimp by Republican jerks and neocons who start needless wars and then pass the blame onto a weak-kneed Democrat. Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:08:16 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/porter/2009/09/28/fears-of-blame-for-defeat-shadow-afghan-war-meetings/#IDComment36520925 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/27/mi6-saudis-will-let-israel-bomb-iran-nuclear-site/#IDComment36321276 sounds like nonsense to me - why would MI6 leak that if it were really true? Moreover, I don't think the Saudis want to have a torrent of iranian missiles raining down on them in retaliation. Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:07:22 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/27/mi6-saudis-will-let-israel-bomb-iran-nuclear-site/#IDComment36321276 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/25/obama-admits-public-tiring-of-afghan-war/#IDComment35996669 I'm not sure who's President, is it McChrystal or Obama? Whoever it is, the word is out on the street - Obama's for sale to the loudest, most demanding and obnoxious bidder! Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:40:06 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/25/obama-admits-public-tiring-of-afghan-war/#IDComment35996669 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/24/netanyahu-leads-call-for-harsh-moves-against-iran/#IDComment35941989 The rationale is that "we say so" so do it. The pro-Israel faction used it's clout to get a UN Resolution passed that says there are "unresolved questions" about your civilian nuke program so freeze everything. While technically a legal action, it is highly unusual to demand a nation that is totally in compliance with IAEA inspectors and regulations completely halt it's nuclear activities over a few unresolved discrepancies. But when Israel is involved, the normal rules simply do not apply. Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:38:36 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/24/netanyahu-leads-call-for-harsh-moves-against-iran/#IDComment35941989 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/21/afghan-police-adding-us-troops-wont-solve-anything/#IDComment35835908 It's funny how the Afghan police are worried that the regular Afghan on the street might wake up and realize the truth - that his country is under occupation by a foreign power. Speaks volumes about their legitimacy. Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:13:19 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/21/afghan-police-adding-us-troops-wont-solve-anything/#IDComment35835908 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/23/russia-leaves-door-open-for-iran-sanctions/#IDComment35807220 yup. It's the old Russian double-cross. Iran is and always was just a bargaining chip, a card Russia can play in it's dealings with the U.S., to be sold in exchange for a big enough pay off. In this case, the pay off seems to be the scrapping of the missile shield. In my worst cynical nightmares, Obama's current foreign policy strategy centers entirely around punishing Iran on Israel's behalf, hence the whole reason for his reversal on policy regarding the missile shield. Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:44:17 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/23/russia-leaves-door-open-for-iran-sanctions/#IDComment35807220 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/20/officials-concede-no-specific-information-about-any-plots-related-to-arrest/#IDComment35324832 Don't forget the smoking gun evidence that they seized from the house: backpacks and cellphones, the calling card signature of the backpack train bomber. Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:09:48 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/20/officials-concede-no-specific-information-about-any-plots-related-to-arrest/#IDComment35324832 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/18/clinton-time-running-out-for-iran/#IDComment35066381 Funny that they never explain how Iran is supposed to prove they are not interested in nukes. Especially when the CIA itself isn't able to convince them of that. Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:19:00 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/18/clinton-time-running-out-for-iran/#IDComment35066381 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2009/09/17/civility-2007-style-hanging-george-bush/#IDComment35065776 that's a good point - the orchestrators of the current crop of "anti-government" protestors are basically on the corporate media's payroll. What's funny is the way people like Beck are worshipped like rock stars by their gullible followers, who express brand loyalty to Fox News and haze CNN. It's like the line between politics and entertainment has become completely blurred. Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:02:38 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2009/09/17/civility-2007-style-hanging-george-bush/#IDComment35065776 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2009/09/17/civility-2007-style-hanging-george-bush/#IDComment35016876 what is highly irksome about the current "anti-government" protestors is that they suddenly get up in arms over supposed death panels and Nazi-ism, yet had no reaction to the same government that tortured, lied, scrapped rights and started illegal wars under Bush. Why is health care reform - a subject that is actually being debated in Congress quite forcefully - the line in the sand that's suddenly got all these former authority worshippers declaring the government has gone too far, whereas the Patriot Act and the Iraq war, which were rubber stamped thru congress without barely a peep of protest, A-OK? In my opinion the current crop of "anti-government" activists are a hypocritical and pathetic lot indeed. Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:01:10 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2009/09/17/civility-2007-style-hanging-george-bush/#IDComment35016876 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/17/obama-changes-course-on-missile-shield/#IDComment35006383 indeed, Russians would not be fooled by some cheap ploy to conceal a new stealthier version of a ballistic missile defense SYSTEM, system being the optimum word. Without a frontline radar "listening" post like the one they were planning to put into Czech Republic, detection of a nuclear launch in Russia won't happen quick enough to interecept a missile during launch phase. And that was the whole purpose of this proposed US system, to intercept on LAUNCH, not to specifically protect european territory from incoming missiles, as do Patriot missiles or the Patriot knock-off Arrow system of Israel. Amazingly, this seems to be a genuine reversal of Bushonian policy. The relevant defense contractors involved must be pretty pissed with Obama :) Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:00:13 +0000 http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/17/obama-changes-course-on-missile-shield/#IDComment35006383 http://original.antiwar.com/roberts/2009/09/06/us-hypocrisy-astonishes/#IDComment33574428 It's real unfortunate how many in the public respond to this type of propaganda from Mr. Gates. It convinces me that Mr. Gates' little outburst was a choreographed charade meant only for domestic comsumption. And of course to intimidate the media. When bandwagon members of the public express indignation at the AP for doing their job by reporting what's actually happening in the war zones, we should express our own indignation at the government for the outrageous hypocrisy and perfidy they show by condemning those who expose the consequences of their crimes. Otherwise daring independent journalists will succumb to this type of pressure in a heartbeat and who could blame them. Mon, 7 Sep 2009 19:55:17 +0000 http://original.antiwar.com/roberts/2009/09/06/us-hypocrisy-astonishes/#IDComment33574428