I really, really, don't want to think about this or say it. But playing 'see no evil' with what the Bushies and their neocon enablers like Joe Lieberman are doing with Iran is just not an option.
I went ballistic when I read that the Senate had voted 97-0 to approve Joe Lieberman's non-binding resolution that Iran is really, really naughty and deserves to be spanked. I'm kidding because I'm terrified! Here's
what it really said (via
firedoglake).
The amendment states that “the murder of members of the United States Armed Forces by a foreign government or its agents is an intolerable act of hostility
against the United States,” and demands the government of Iran “take immediate action” to end all forms of support it is providing to Iraqi militias and insurgents. The amendment also mandates a regular report on Iran’s anti-coalition activity in Iraq.
Of course, there's no such amendment regarding Saudi Arabia, which is responsible
for most of the foreign support for the insurgency. Why would there be? They already let us have access to their oil.
Technically, the resolution says nothing about military action. Realistically, it is non-binding. But in terms of the KKKarl Rove frame that engendered it? It's the authorization for making war on Iran, if the Democrats don't wise up - and soon.
Let's face it. The phrase "the war on terror" was never challenged by the Democrats until it had become a part of the mass media echo chamber. I understand that the media would have crucified any Democrat that stood up and said "Hey! You can't make war on a feeling or a tactic! Terrorism cannot be beaten by military action!" In fact, they did so, when John Kerry
said as much during his Presidential campaign.
But now, it looks like the Bush Administration is ready to build another case for another war on another country that did not attack us. How will they do it? By declaring a portion of that government's country....
terrorists.
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is moving toward blacklisting Iran's
Revolutionary Guard Corps as a "terrorist" organization, subjecting at least part of the entity to financial sanctions in a new move against the Islamic republic, a U.S. official said Tuesday.
A decision has been made in principle to name elements of the corps a "specially designated global terrorist" group, but internal discussions continue over whether it should cover the entire unit or only its main military wing, the Al-Quds force, the official said.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because a decision, which must be approved by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has not yet been made. It was not immediately clear when the designation, first disclosed by The Washington Post, would be made public.
Uh-huh. Like the decision was "not yet made" to invade Iraq until Saddam just wouldn't let the inspectors in, right? (Oh yeah. He DID let the inspectors in and they found no WMD, so Bush pulled them out and invaded because he wanted to. I forgot.)
The decision is made, at least in some circles. Cheney, the neocons and the Zionists are allied in an Axis of Evil, as it were, and they are trying desperately to get Bush to bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran (as John McCain so memorably sang on the campaign trail). And because the Senate Democrats as a group have bought into the frame that the only acceptable response to terrorism is war, they are seemingly bound by their own words to support this invasion.
I say "seemingly", because there is a way out. The Democrats may not want to take the best way, which is of course to challenge the Bush-Rovian doctrine of pre-emptive war (called part of Bush's lasting legacy by Rove in his farewell speech). I really, REALLY want them to do this, because we need to move towards a modern foreign policy that deals with the true challenges of globalization, not keep on with the old Cold War formulation of proxy wars with hostile nations.
BUT - if the Democrats really can't find their spines, they can say this:
"What's the plan, George? We won't give you any money for this war unless you show us the plan."
Instantly the frame breaks. War is chaos without a plan. All the Democrats have to do is point to Iraq and the Invisible War, Afghanistan, to show how terribly the heedless prosecution of war will turn out. And needless to say, invading Iran simply cannot be done successfully. So there is no plan, and thus, there will be no war with Iran.
I will be calling my Senators and telling them that the American people will not accept war with Iran under any circumstances whatsoever. I hope you - and millions of Americans - will do the same. Let's hope it stiffens their spines...or at least, wises them up.
