One would have thought, now that it’s become known that the US intelligence community is unanimous on the non-existence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program, that Cheney would give the order for Bush to dial down the rhetoric, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Even with the release of what appears to be a national security report that nullifies the case for war, Bush continues to push for armed conflict. Here, according to the “New York Times,” is what our President had to say when asked to explain his administration’s assertion that Iran had, or would soon have, nuclear weapons:
“Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous and Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon.”
So, if I’m understanding that correctly, no longer does a nation actually have to pose an immediate threat to the national security of the United States to warrant preemptive action. Now, it’s enough to just “have the knowledge necessary” to launch such an attack. It doesn’t matter that Iran abandoned its pursuit of nuclear weapons in 2003. All that matters is that Americans are afraid. Fear trumps logic, and dictates foreign policy.
6 Comments
Mark – if you haven’t done so and you have some time during the holidays to relax a bit, you should read “The Shock Doctrine” by Naomi Klein. This shit has been going on for a long time, has free-market capitalist roots, and exploits fear and shock to manipulate economic conditions to benefit the well-connected few. It sickens me that our president speaks this way; it sickens me more that American citizens put up with it. Just convinces me more than ever that the 2008 election will be the most important one of my lifetime.
Our economy needs war and oil. It’s convenient when we can get both at the same place.
War is Peace. Slavery is Freedom.
The fact that Iran is NOT working on developing an atomic bomb is proof that the United States must attack Iran to stop it from developing an atomic bomb.
Newspeak, Newthink.
I second the The Shock Doctrine comment.
Worth noting that the White House kept this this National Intelligence Estimate under wraps for almost one year. It’s not a new report.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39978
CIA analysts were apparently willing to go to jail if that