Apocalypse Now
“We are in the midst of recovering right now from a constitutional crisis where you had the executive trump the other branches of government,” Eaton said. “Thank god” Congress changed hands in November, he said, giving us “a chance to unsort and figure out how to get out from under this.”
Eaton lamented that so many service members believe that conservatives “are good for the military.” “That is rarely the case. And we have got to get a message through to every soldier, every family member, every friend of soldier,” that the Bush administration and its allies in Congress have “absolutely been the worst thing that’s happened to the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps.” Retired Army Maj. Gen Paul Eaton, who was in charge of training the Iraqi military from 2003 to 2004, in a recent appearance on HBO's Bill Maher Show, Think Progress, 3-10-07
Hard Rain Journal 3-30-07: A Call to Conscience and Common Sense from Gen. Wes Clark, and an Update on the War OF, BY and FOR Terrorism
By Richard Power
In 2002 and 2003, during the ramp up to the invasion and occupation of Iraq, I wrote that although it was immoral (i.e., in violation of the principles of just war) and illegal (i.e., in violation of the UN Charter), it was something even worse, it was stupid. For the last two years, I have been writing that a preemptive, unilateral attack on Iran would be something worse than stupid, it would be insane.
Yes, the danger of a regional war in the Middle East, or even all out World War, is high. No one is doing more to prevent this potential catastrophe than retired Gen. Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander, who like Al Gore, has grasped that there is something more important than the business of politics as usual.
Gen. Clark has established www.stopiranwar.com and is working with VoteVets.org in leading an effort to thwart the Bush-Cheney regime's plans to launch a preemptive, unilateral attack on Iran. His courage and clarity of mind are a welcome alternative to the babbling of the political establishment and the US mainstream news media -- particularly on this complex and treacherous national security issue.
Gen. Clark and VoteVets.org are urging concerned citizens to view their latest video blog (click here), and then sign their petition demanding serious diplomacy instead of frivolous war. I also exhort you to do so.
In the video, Gen. Clark and Securing America blogger Reg join with Iraq war veteran Jon Soltz in articulating how wrong it is to assume that military conflict with Iran would benefit Israel in any real way.
Watching this Internet video of Clark discussing the national security of the USA and Israel with a young blogger and a young Iraq war veteran, I was reminded of President Dwight Eisenhower, who warned of the threat from an unchecked "military-industrial complex."
In a striking way, Clark has taken to the hills and is leading the resistance to the grim outcome of this society's failure to act on Eisenhower's prophetic warning.
Here is a brief excerpt from the transcript:
Reg: There's been a debate about whether striking Iran is good for Israel.
Jon Soltz: Well Reg, you know, obviously I served in Iraq. I served in Iraq as an American soldier, but also as a, as a Jewish-American. I wanted to join the Army. I went to Israel when I was sixteen, and I was very, you know, motivated by the fact that everybody serves. And even when I went to Iraq, I still, actually it's on my dog tags here "Jewish," and it's, it's, it's obviously a concern that I have. But I actually, I think, agree with General Clark, and I'll let him elaborate, that striking, I can't say it any clearer, that striking Iran will- is detrimental to Israel's security. And I'd like to ask General Clark his, his perspective on it from the strategic standpoint.
General Wesley Clark: Well, I wouldn't say that you never can use military force, but I can't see the circumstances right now where it would benefit Israel. It's far better if we can persuade Iran not to acquire nuclear weapons, and do it with all the positive incentives that are out there. We need to be shaping a new vision for the, for the region, and people in the region have to feel differently about each other. And the United States really is the power that can help bridge the gaps of mistrust if we ourselves have new vision. So, I think that I wouldn't say 'never' on military force in cases like this, because every President has said that he will fight to preserve the safety and security of the State of Israel. But I do think that in this case we got to lead with dialog and diplomacy and shaping a new vision. So, I don't see the, I don't see the talk on the striking in Iran right now as being productive. I think it's a distraction from what we need to be focusing on.
Under the delusional direction of the Bush-Cheney regime the war against terrorism has become a war in, of and by terrorism.
Consider Zbigniew Brzezinski's insightful remarks:
The events of 9/11 could have resulted in a truly global solidarity against extremism and terrorism. A global alliance of moderates, including Muslim ones, engaged in a deliberate campaign both to extirpate the specific terrorist networks and to terminate the political conflicts that spawn terrorism would have been more productive than a demagogically proclaimed and largely solitary U.S. "war on terror" against "Islamo-fascism." Only a confidently determined and reasonable America can promote genuine international security which then leaves no political space for terrorism.
Where is the U.S. leader ready to say, "Enough of this hysteria, stop this paranoia"? Even in the face of future terrorist attacks, the likelihood of which cannot be denied, let us show some sense. Let us be true to our traditions. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Terrorized by 'War on Terror': How a Three-Word Mantra Has Undermined America, Washington Post, 3-25-07
Please heed the call of Gen. Wesley Clark. Please take a few moments to view the video and sign the petition. Please lend your voice to the roar of conscience and common sense. I also urge you to click on the link to Zbigniew Brzezinski's Washington Post op-ed piece. It is also of great importance.
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Words of Power #33: A Quarter-Century Ago, Jimmy Carter Warned of This Grim Period, His Prophetic Call was Not Heeded
Hard Rain Journal 2-22-07: Corporatist News Media Still Shields Bush-Cheney from the Savage Truth on Plame, Iraq, Iran, Al Qaeda and Walter Reed
Hard Rain Journal 2-21-07: This is Madness -- Bush-Cheney Target Saddam and then the Iranians -- Both Sworn Enemies of Al Qaeda, Meanwhile...
Hard Rain Journal 2-16-07: What Happens When a Whole Nation is Dragged into Room 101? Remember, 2+2=4
Hard Rain Journal 2-2-07: Forget about 2008, the Fate of the Republic could be Decided in the Next Six Months
Hard Rain Journal 1-19-07: The Hard Rain Falls Between PNAC and the PATRIOT Act, but the US News Media Sees, Hears, Speaks No Evil
GS(3) Thunderbolt 1-11-07: Do You Understand What He Really Said Last Night? These People Opened the Gates of Hell, Now They Want to Drag Everyone In
Words of Power #31: Ghosts of Christmas Past (Katrina) and Future (Iran)
Richard Power is the founder of GS(3) Intelligence and Words of Power. His work focuses on the inter-related issues of security, sustainability and spirit, and how to overcome the challenges of terrorism, cyber crime, global warming, health emergencies, natural disasters, etc. You can reach him via e-mail: richardpower@wordsofpower.net. For more information, go to www.wordsofpower.net
Iraq, Iran, Terrorism, Wesley Clark, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Seymour Hersh,Jon Stolz, www.stopiranwar.com, Israek, Jimmy Carter, Nancy Pelosi, Bush, Cheney, Paul Eaton, Richard Power, Words of Power
