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Monday, June 30, 2008
A Virtual Declaration of War Against Iran
Posted by Michael Earl Patton
Photo courtesy of here.
Congress appears ready to escalate tensions over Iran. Most members of the House plan to demand that the president prohibit the export to Iran of petroleum products, inspect all vessels entering or leaving Iran, and prohibit most Iranian officials from leaving their country. It is impossible for Bush to accomplish this unless he imposes a military blockade against Iran, which would be tantamount to an act of war.
Although the House Resolution 362 states that nothing in the bill shall be construed as authorizing the use of force against Iran, it also
(3) demands that the President initiate an international effort to immediately and dramatically increase the economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Iran to verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment activities by, inter alia, prohibiting the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products; imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran; and prohibiting the international movement of all Iranian officials not involved in negotiating the suspension of Iran’s nuclear program;
The only way that this can be accomplished is through military force. Does one really think that Iran would allow the U.S. to inspect all “vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo” unless guns were aimed at them? And what’s this about not letting any Iranian officials travel abroad unless they were involved in involved in shutting down the nuclear program? It looks like even education and health officials would not be allowed to travel outside the country. And this for a program that the International Atomic Energy Agency says is only for generating electricity?
Iran, though it is rich in petroleum, does not have enough refineries and actually imports much of its gasoline and other petroleum products. A blockade of such products would greatly harm the Iranian economy.
Long-time readers of The Cincinnati Beacon know that I have been concerned about a possible U.S. attack on Iran, supposedly to delay the development of an Iranian atomic bomb. A year ago such an attack looked likely, but then the U.S. intelligence agencies issued a report declaring that Iran was not working on a nuclear bomb in any event and had not been working on one for several years.
To make Iran start work on an atomic bomb, an attack on their country would seem the most certain to produce results.
As I write this (Sunday) over half the members of the House of Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors —220 of the 435 representatives (click link for updated totals). In the Cincinnati area both Steve Chabot and Jean “Cowards Cut and Run” Schmidt are co-sponsors.
Only 32 of the 100 senators have signed on as co-sponsors on a similar Senate resolution so far. Neither Obama, McCain, or Clinton have signed on as of today; nor have the two Ohio senators, Voinovich and Brown.
Congress has recently approved continued funding for the occupation of both Iraq and Afghanistan for another year. Due to President Bush’s objections, a proposed timetable for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq was removed from the bill.
Perhaps these resolutions are mere posturing and Congress does not intend them to be put into effect. Perhaps. But we would be better served if Congress poured water on a smouldering fire and not gasoline.
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30 Jun 2008 at 12:00 pm | #
The ecomony is already a disaster there, and the Presidential elections over there are not fair off. This nutcase of a Preesident there is not very popular, because of the isolationist retoric, and he will probably not win re-election.
The majority of the people are very westernized, and dont like the religious zealots. One would think that a better way is for the people to vote him out, or some other actions they can take. We are funding groups that are the “resistence” already, but maybee this is for Israel. If we dont push where we can, Israel will take action. That is what everyone is afraid of.
There will be the 10.00 gas right there, not to mention a whole different war than the ones we have now.
Would not be good.
30 Jun 2008 at 02:14 pm | #
Guess what? Congress just passed to further fund the war in Iraq… Quit blaming it on bush, the democrats are funding the war and voted for the war at the start along with Bush. Democrats are a bunch of hypocrits and bigots as well.
30 Jun 2008 at 02:29 pm | #
According to veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, Congressional leaders agreed to a request from President AWOL last year to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran aimed at destabilizing Iran’s leadership. Hersh talks about it here. Hersh says Israel won’t attack Iran without our help.
JE is correct, this is a bipartisan empire.
30 Jun 2008 at 02:45 pm | #
luckily for us they are always accurate concerning other countries WMDs
30 Jun 2008 at 09:40 pm | #
Yes, JE , same game , different players.
Justin, I had seen that before and heard bits and pieces from Friends over there ( after they got back). It is a good thing actually, as I said, there are many, many people there whohave grown up, and still are very westernized. They have parties and such, wearing designer clothing and listening to music , dancing and such, but take great effort to hide them, as the Allah Police has a section whee all the do is try to find these things. If caught, judgement is quick and final.
The President of Iran is not popular, and it is because of the economy ( think ours is bad) and his radical policies. Of course Allah the 700 th is the one really in charge.
Besides obvious reasons, this is a good thing, as Israel will in the blink of an eye attack them if they have any notion of anything that challages their security. Think of the Bombing in Syria. The Mossad is one of the best Intelligence agencies in the world. Have to be. So they get any hint of something comming, they will go first, with or without consulting with us. They KNOW that we have no choice except to jump in. They may ask once, but they wont wait for more than an hour. If they think something is comming they are going to get there first. History shows that very clealy.
30 Jun 2008 at 10:45 pm | #
R, Iran had a secular and very democratic government in the early 50s. The US overthrew Mossedegh because he tried to renegotiate the oil deals with the UK. The UK said no, so Mossedegh nationalized the oil.
The US imposed a brutal dictator and was going to give him nuclear power. According to Hersh, Israel needs the US to go in because Iran has strong anti-aircraft defenses. Those need to be taken out by the marines before bombing can begin. Iran hasn’t attacked any other countires in over 200 years. Iran had a war with the US backed dictator from Iraq.
01 Jul 2008 at 09:16 am | #
Ummmmm does the iran/iraq war mean anything to you? after iraq initially attacked Iran attacked the hell out of iraq for about 6 years after they had regained all the land the initially lost.
01 Jul 2008 at 10:00 am | #
Ok you group of numb nutz...Did you read the War Bill all the way thru? Want to know why it was passed by the Democrats? Anyone read it?
Tacked on to the War Bill was over a Billion Dollars of Post Katrina cleanup and rebuilding efforts. THAT IS WHY IT WAS PASSED BY THE DEMOCRATS!!!
Now with that said, I just got back from the Mississippi and NOLA area. As far as I am concerned, they should have just saved the French Quarter, the NOLA business district, Keesler AFB, and taken one big bulldozer to the entire area. Every 5th house has been rebuilt, and then the houses around that house is just sitting there rotting. Can you imagine the smell of rotting wood in the heat and tropical temps? Their crime rate is unbelievable. There were at least 5 shootings a nite and at least 2 rapes. WE AE NOW 3 YEARS POST KATRINA. Think about taking Kenwood Mall and just letting it sit vacant for 3 years, or Beechmont Avenue or Colerain Avenue and let it sit vacant for 3 years and that is what you have there. Stores are just now opening. Lowes and Home Depot are just now having Grand Re-opening.
So complain all you want to about the War Bill- I think this damn war sucks and we need to just get out of this mess ASAP, but you need to read the entire bill to look at what the add ons were before you totally disregard it.
01 Jul 2008 at 11:35 am | #
Policy 19, ummm doesn’t the last sentence in my comment mention that war? Iran didn’t invade Iraq, they were attacked by the US backed dictator.
Homer, the Corporate Democrats voted for the war and always support continuing it. You can’t tell me that they can’t do anything about New Orleans without funding their bipartisan war. That is complete BS. The Demohawks love the war and I will continue to complain about it. Don’t pretend that they oppose this war, there simply isn’t evidence to support your opinion.
01 Jul 2008 at 05:05 pm | #
Iran attacked the hell of iraq after they had driven iraq out of iran. They had already regained their land and then they attacked again and again. Get it?
Simply being attacked first doesn’t mean you can then attack the other country at will for eternity.
01 Jul 2008 at 06:09 pm | #
people51, as I said, Iraq was backed by the US (the US gave them WMD’s) and attacked Iran. They fought a bloody war that was devastating to both countries. Iran hasn’t attacked Iraq for an eternity. Get it?
Tell that to the warmongers in Washington.
01 Jul 2008 at 08:33 pm | #
There is only one candidate from one of the two major parties that would end this.
Hint: He will vote against it as a congressman from Texas.
I pray for freedom, not power.
02 Jul 2008 at 02:55 pm | #
Over the past few years, people from Goldman Sachs have assumed control over large parts of the federal government. Over the next few they might just take over the whole darn thing.
Trivia Question for those whom hate corporations out there… Does Obama accept donations from corporations? He claims that he has not raised money this way but who knows who his biggest contributor was????
02 Jul 2008 at 10:44 pm | #
Justin et al,
Homer is right. There were so many things attached to the War Bill, that you have to really tear it apart to see that it the War was just a portion of the bill and not really 50% of the total funding of the entire bill.
I also know a soldier who just got back from Iraq and some of his friends. They told me that they were told by Iraqi’s that they DO NOT WANT US THERE ANYMORE. We have long over stayed our duty to them and they want us out.
Also Haliburton has most of the contracts. There are stories about the bad food being served to not only the enlisted but to officers, stolen mail and packages and the price of gasoline is .25 an imperial gallon!!! They were just shocked when they came back the middle of the June at the price of gasoline.
There is more pork added into the War bill than baked beans this holiday weekend. And I think that there is also a healthcare piece in there- mammograms for minorities was in there! Say what does that have to do with war?
We do not need to be in Iran, Iraq or anyplace other than fixing the infastructure of our own country. So Homer is more than right.
03 Jul 2008 at 07:01 am | #
FINALLY, (have been waiting since 1979), JUSTICE WILL COME TO THE IRAN VIA THE U.S. MILITARY. Hopefully after the 2 week air war destroying the buried nuc facilities, our soldiers will pour into and take control of this EVIL government. Let’s hope we are there 100 years ensuring the people of Iran freedom and the possibility of democratic rule and FREEDOM.
Can’t wait for the trials and execution of the leaders of the Iranian government. Hopefully it will be televised and shown in our schools.
As the Democratic Party and it’s leaders said in WWII - UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER is the only diplomatic offer to the Iranian murderous leaders - followed by quick trials and the Noose.
Hopefully people in Cincinnati will party in the streets when justice is brought to the murders of so many American serviemen and woman.
Keep your fingers crossed that Obama/Summer/Clinton/Hagel/Kerry etc don’t find a way to keep America from again being the world leader doing good in the world.
03 Jul 2008 at 10:31 am | #
The Democrats are in power and still refuse to stop the war. They have the power of the purse and even their presidential candidate will continue the corporate and military occupation. He says he’ll increase the Pentagon budget. That’s not ending the war.
Mark Tillar, I don’t think the U.S. Military delivers justice by bombing countries that aren’t a threat to us. How will the U.S. free people by taking control of their government for 100 years? The U.S. took over the democratically elected government of Iran and installed a brutal dictator (the Shah) in 1953. That wasn’t “doing good in the world”, that was violating international law.
The U.S. doesn’t even have legitimate elections and real freedom here. We have corrupt campaign finance and elaborate money laundering systems, gerrymandering, one party rule in most districts, extremely high ballot access barriers for independents and private partisan companies that secretly count our votes.
The U.S. and allied forces bombed civilians and committed war crimes in WWII.
03 Jul 2008 at 01:57 pm | #
All of the same contributors that gave money to bush are giving it to Obama even though obama would tell you he is getting the money from ordinary people....
Why do people pretend he isnt getting money from corporations? Obama is full of BS and its time for everyone to wake up and see through it!
03 Jul 2008 at 02:18 pm | #
Obama has accepted more than $213,000 from individuals who work for companies in the oil and gas industry and their spouses. (Why does he Lie and Say He does not accept this money?????)
Two of Obama’s bundlers are top executives at oil companies and are listed on his Web site as raising between $50,000 and $100,000 for the presidential hopeful.
Not to mention Goldman Sachs and the many other corporations that are taking over the federal government.
03 Jul 2008 at 02:45 pm | #
Donations from “ordinary” people… To Obama
Goldman Sachs $571,330
University of California $437,236
UBS AG $364,806
JPMorgan Chase & Co $362,207
Citigroup Inc $358,054
National Amusements Inc $320,750
Lehman Brothers $318,647
Google Inc $309,514
Harvard University $309,025
Sidley Austin LLP $294,245
Skadden, Arps et al $270,013
Time Warner $262,677
Morgan Stanley $259,876
Jones Day $250,725
Exelon Corp $236,211
University of Chicago $218,857
Wilmerhale LLP $218,680
Latham & Watkins $218,615
Microsoft Corp $209,242
Stanford University $195,262
03 Jul 2008 at 03:05 pm | #
JE, please provide your source.
03 Jul 2008 at 03:38 pm | #
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Sen. Obama has received over $160,000 from the oil and gas companies. Two major bundlers for his campaign—George Kaiser and Robert Cavnar – are oil company CEOs. Sen. Obama has accepted money from Exxon, Shell, BP, Chevron and just about every other major oil company.
03 Jul 2008 at 03:41 pm | #
Clinton has brought up Obama’s YES to Cheney VOTE several times during the televised debates. YET…the News People asking the debate questions never followup by asking Obama: WHY DID YOU VOTE FOR THE CHENEY ENERGY BILL?. They Never followup by asking: What IS the Cheney Energy Bill about?
It is by far One of the most IMPORTANT ISSUES of our time, but the “mainstream media” just doesn’t cover it. WHAT is the reason for the mainstream media’s SILENCE on an ISSUE so critically important to our future?
Yet… He doesnt want to drill now
03 Jul 2008 at 03:45 pm | #
Hillary Clinton;
Goldman Sachs $413,361 Morgan Stanley $362,700 Citigroup Inc $350,895 Lehman Brothers $241,870 JP Morgan Chase & Co $214,880 EMILY’s List $213,266 National Amusements Inc $210,010 Kirkland & Ellis $179,676 Greenberg Traurig Llp $177,800 Skadden, Arps et al $167,796 Merrill Lynch $165,042 Cablevision Systems $145,313 Time Warner $144,977 Microsoft Corp $143,459 Bear Stearns $141,835 Latham & Watkins $138,598 Patton Boggs $137,200 Ernst & Young $126,865 PricewaterhouseCoopers $121,939
Barack Obama:
Goldman Sachs $421,763 Ubs Ag $296,670 Lehman Brothers $250,630 National Amusements Inc $245,843 JP Morgan Chase & Co $243,848 Sidley Austin LLP $226,491 Citigroup Inc $221,578 Exelon Corp $221,517 Skadden, Arps Et Al $196,420 Jones Day $181,996 Harvard University $172,324 Citadel Investment Group $171,798 Time Warner $155,383 Morgan Stanley $155,196 Google Inc $152,802 University of California $143,029 Jenner & Block $136,565 Kirkland & Ellis $134,738 Wilmerhale Llp $119,245 Credit Suisse Group $118,250
John McCain:
Merrill Lynch $155,950 Citigroup Inc $153,362 Blank Rome LLP $141,401 Greenberg Traurig LLP $130,587 Goldman Sachs $85,252 Univision Communications $82,000 IDT Corp $79,250 Bank of New York Mellon $74,000 Bridgewater Assoc $72,100 MGM Mirage $70,400 Irvine Co Apartment Community $66,100 JP Morgan Chase & Co $65,485 Credit Suisse Group $65,000 Pinnacle West Capital $64,000 Lehman Brothers $63,450 Wachovia Corp $58,675 Cisco Systems $56,650 Morgan Stanley $55,701 Blackstone Group $47,950 MacAndrews & Forbes $45,000
03 Jul 2008 at 03:47 pm | #
Justin..... http://www.OpenSecrets.org
03 Jul 2008 at 03:50 pm | #
So the next time Obama says he doesn’t take “special interest” money, you know that he is a liar. The next time they rant and rave about “change”, you know what change you’ll get
03 Jul 2008 at 04:11 pm | #
Heres A Retake For EveryONE!
Goldman Sachs $571,330
University of California $466,410
UBS AG $364,556
JPMorgan Chase & Co $364,157
Citigroup Inc $360,304
National Amusements Inc $322,050
Lehman Brothers $319,147
Harvard University $315,624
Google Inc $309,714
Sidley Austin LLP $294,445
Skadden, Arps et al $278,163
Time Warner $264,977
Morgan Stanley $260,376
Jones Day $249,375
Exelon Corp $236,211
Latham & Watkins $220,865
Wilmerhale Llp $220,230
University of Chicago $219,707
Microsoft Corp $206,942
General Electric $206,579
03 Jul 2008 at 04:22 pm | #
Sen. Obama voted for the 2005 energy bill…
... Although Sen. Obama voted for the legislation, he has spoken as if he opposed it on the campaign trail, criticizing it repeatedly. At a presidential debate he said “You can look at how Dick Cheney did his energy policy...he met with oil and gas companies forty times, and that’s how they put together our energy policy.”
... Sen. Obama’s rhetoric blasting the policies of Vice President Cheney and energy lobbyists can be stirring. But Obama’s actions haven’t matched his words.
03 Jul 2008 at 04:44 pm | #
It appears to me instead of a 3cdc like we have here locally we will begin to have a F2B2 with our federal government… The cards all being played now who will be the 5/3 and the P and G but with Federal Money if Obama is elected!