Twelfth Bough

i run my own damn think tank

Archive for September 3rd, 2008

What is the statute of limitations on premeditated war?

Sep 3

Posted by Marlena in Bush/Cheney, Iran, Israel, McCain/Palin, Media, Military, NATO, Nuclear Weapons, Stupidity | No Comments

It’s always hard to tell information from disinformation these days, but this must have sounded like some wild conspiracy theory back in the day. I’m sure more than a few people brushed it off as crazy talk. Four years later, only a complete fool would fail to notice how diligently the neocons have been pursuing these very plans despite various setbacks.

October 10, 2004: “This time, friends, I have some very important news for all of you. Unlike the usual silly gossip that goes on around the White House, intermingled with loud praying, this is really news. We are about to embark on another war! Yes, it has been decided and carefully planned. Who are we going to war with? Iran. Background here: (I am taking this from a paper which I have to return)

Thesis: Iran hates the United States and Israel. Iran has atomic weapons and missiles (the Shahab, courtesy of North Korean/Russian technicians) It can easily reach Tel Aviv. It can also reach US troop concentrations in Iraq. Israel is scared shitless. Their pressure groups have leaned on the White House, with a great deal of assistance from Cheney and the Neocons. The actual plan is this: The U.S. has no troops available for an Iranian adventure and the Israelis would rather not lose any warm bodies so…it has been firmly decided that both Israel and the U.S. will launch a surprise attack against 1., Iranian missile sites, 2. Iranian nuclear facilities and 3. the leadership of Iran located in and around Tehran.

How will this be done? By aircraft attack using U.S. developed “smart bombs” and the so-called “bunker-buster” bombs designed to destroy underground reinforced concrete facilities .We just sent these to Israel. Because of the political ramifications, the Israelis will conduct the main strikes, supported by U.S. aircraft as needed. The aim will be to wipe out any vestige of nuclear weaponry, its delivery system and all the Iranian leaders capable of starting any attacks on Israel (mostly Tel Aviv…too many fellow Muslims in Jerusalem.)

Since it would be a problem for Israeli Air Force units to fly round trip from Israel, the solution will be to launch these attacks from U.S. aircraft carriers located in the Persian Gulf area. As I write, the super carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) is now in the Persian Gulf along with the so-called Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) [31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) (SOC)] which consists of:: USS Essex (LHD 2) USS Juneau (LPD 10) USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) USS Mobile Bay (CG 53USS Hopper (DDG 70) USS Preble (DDG 88)

The initial attacks will be an early-morning surprise attack launched to coincide with religious services in Tehran’s Muslim mosques with the idea of catching not only the leading Mullahs inside but a large number of their congregations as well. One attack will concentrate on these religious centers and the other will hit both the underground nuclear facilities and identified (courtesy of U.S. satellite shots) missile launching sites.

The U.S. will supply observation and radio surveillance aircraft with radar-jamming capacities operating out of Turkey and Italy. The entire attack is scheduled to last no more than one hour with at least three waves of Israeli aircraft utilized. No warning will be given to the Iranians and no declaration of war. The possible deaths of foreign diplomats in the attacks has been discussed and accepted as part of the price. This attack has the full support of the President who wants it launched before the elections. He can then make a speech to the American people stating that the evil Iranian nuclear weaponry has been destroyed by the Israelis with the full cooperation of his government as part of his heroic war against terrorists. Believe me, that speech has already been written and I have seen a copy of it.

The brass here feels that this will have a tremendous impact on the American people, just before the elections. No U.S. ground troops will be used; Bush will stress that this is a joint U.S.-Israeli anti-terrorist project. Part of the speech deals with ongoing Shiite Iranian physical support of their Shiite brethren in Iraq and that by knocking out the Iranian nuclear weaponry, at the same time, they are protecting GIs from ongoing guerrilla warfare.

The brass is literally rubbing it’s hands and drooling over what they see as Bush’s Final Victory. I have seen a negative report copy from someone in the Pentagon [who is not going to get promoted] that says if the Iranians get wind of this little game, they might strike first and they might also realize that large numbers of vulnerable American troops are concentrated inside Iraqi cities, prime targets for a nuclear tactical attack. These people are literally insane and I really hope you don’t delete this. Something really has to be done to stop these maniacs before we all die of radiation sickness!”

Obviously, some things have changed and others have not. But at the current time, just before the 2008 election, certain elements of this old plan have been since confirmed or are currently being executed.

1. Cheney is now visiting Georgia, and he will also visit Azerbaijain, Ukraine and Italy.
2. Italy may be more important now that Turkey appears to have swung Russia’s way.
3. An armada of US and NATO vessels has assembled in the Persion Gulf and in the Black Sea.
4. Georgia was intended to be a launching pad for Israeli strikes on Iran.

On the other hand…

5. Tremendous hand-wringing is taking place in Europe over how to handle the rift between Russia and the US/UK/Israel/NATO.
6. Obviously, the Iranians have gotten wind of the plan and won’t be sitting there on their thumbs while all this goes down.
7. Lots and lots and lots of people are onto Israel now, an enormous change since 2004.
8. Putin is smarter than the neocons.

Meanwhile, the American people have been absolutely bombarded with distractions, of late the ridiculous Sarah Palin. (Aha, maybe that’s why Rove thinks she was a brilliant choice.)

The breathtaking cynicism, the utter disregard for innocent human life and the environment, the willingness to lie and manipulate the American people, the sheer premeditation — just evil. Pure evil. May God deliver us from these evil people. Every last one of them.

UPDATE: Justin Raimondo has the latest version of this twisted plan, in which the US has been reluctantly forced to do the job ‘the right way’ (limited) as a result of the Georgian fiasco rather than let the insane Israelis nuke Iranian cities.

The Bush Administration, neocons and Israel have been tactically planning the attack on Iran for four years, and strategic planning goes back much, much further than that. They, and they alone, are responsible for whatever hell they might unleash on the world, in addition to the hell they have already created. Please understand. It will not be Iran’s fault, or Russia’s, or Saddam, or Osama, or the Arabs, Democrats, or liberals, or brown people. No. These groups may be guilty of their own crimes, but Bush, Cheney, the entire bunch of neocons, and Israel are GUILTY OF PREMEDITATED CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

Fundie dreams may become nightmares

Sep 3

Posted by Marlena in Israel, McCain/Palin, Politics | 2 Comments

Lots and lots of speculating about Palin and whether or not she can last as VP pick. Now that we know the religious right picked her, this was clearly aimed at the base and the base alone. Here is the smoking gun: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?pid=352178.

So, they’re filling up the coffers. She remains under withering attack, and one can only imagine the victim-warrior narrative being used to motivate and shake down the base for every spare nickel.

The fundies have been used this way many times before, but to this date they can’t get no satisfaction from the GOP. They’re kind of like the Israelis that way. No matter how many wingnut judges or gutted science curriculums you throw their way, it’s never enough. They still feel threatened. So just imagine how excited they must be to have one of their very own on the ticket.

Now, just imagine how they will feel if, after sending many millions of dollars to the GOP because of Palin, she gets dumped. Oh dear. And on top of that, who would replace her? It’s like some sort of betrayal, don’t you think? A set-up, perhaps, to get the fundies last monies before they break up with the GOP forever. The fundies are so high maintenance anyway. Good riddance.

Perhaps this is why Karl Rove thinks it’s a ‘brilliant’ decision, though he can’t come right out and explain why or that would ruin all the fun.

Should this all come to pass, we will see who really calls teh shots around here. Beware the fallacy of insufficient cynicism. Things are bad. Very, very bad. No more effing around.

UPDATE: Brilliantly written details here, fully conveying the gasping, pearl-clutching horror of it all. Blow after blow after blow.

The Governor cancelled her busy schedule today allegedly to prepare her acceptance speech, but insiders report that she is now consumed in dealings with powerful Republicans who want to oust her.
…Initially, many conservatives were thrilled with McCain’s selection because Governor Palin is a devout evangelical Christian, a pro-life politician and a prominent gun enthusiast with a membership in the National Rifle Association (NRA). However, the mood of many of the party’s faithful is changing with the emergence of new and troubling reports about hitherto obscure details lurking in her background.
…Many Republican conservatives attending the St. Paul convention are aghast that Governor Palin’s daughter might not have become pregnant had she been able to obtain appropriate counseling.
…Even Governor Palin’s personal image is causing her problems. Earlier this morning, Republican eyebrows were raised when a photograph emerged of Governor Palin wearing disco attire featuring a micro-mini-skirt and a breathtakingly low-cut décolleté as she steadied herself on a bar while teetering on shiny, black patent leather platforms fitted with vertiginous stiletto heels that could have been purchased at Victoria’s Secret.

Let’s hear it for the ‘hitherto obscure details lurking in the background’. Priceless. Maybe the GOP/fundie marriage can be saved after all, though that would require throwing Mrs. Palin under the bus together. A human sacrifice.