Iran: Why am I Still Worried?
Mr. Bush claims that rumors of plans to attack Iran are 'baseless gossip.' So why am I still worried?
Five years ago we established Artists United to Win Without War because of concern about the veracity of Mr. Bush's claims about Iraq. We were alarmed at the hawkish tirades from Washington portending a clear intention to launch an unprovoked attack against a nation that had done us no harm. And we were appalled at the bellicose ranting of the mainstream media that acted as Bush's megaphone, drowning out the few lonely voices trying to add a touch of reason to the mix. So we released a call for restraint, signed by celebrities, military officers, diplomats and foreign service professionals, asking him to honor our country's historic opposition to a "first strike" and to support the UN inspection teams checking to see if Saddam was actually hiding WMD.
The media, of course, ignored the professionals on our list and attacked the upstart celebrities in an attempt to divert the discussion away from whether we were being told the truth to whether actors have a right to an opinion.
I'm worried today because the "thousands of lives" we warned might be lost in Iraq became hundreds of thousands. The millions of dollars we worried might be wasted became hundreds of billions. The international respect we feared might be damaged has instead been shredded. And the elected representatives we felt had shirked their duty have not yet shouldered it.
In our naiveté, we did not know that our Constitution and Bill of Rights would be sundered and America would become a nation of torturers.
So I'm worried because the same media that turned Saddam into Hitler despite the fact that he had no meaningful army and no weapons of mass destruction, now confers the title on the hapless tool Ahmadinejad, who has no power over Iran's military and little political standing in his own country, except that rejuvenated by the blundering president of Columbia University.
I'm worried because although General John Abizaid, former chief of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), doesn't believe "the Iranians intend to attack us," saying, "Iran is not a suicide nation," he is now retired.
It's reassuring that Admiral William Fallon, the current head of CENTCOM, refused to send a third naval carrier task force to the Persian Gulf because it would signal a preparation for war. He's said to have vowed there would be no war against Iran on his watch and implied he would quit first.
But I worry that Mr. Bush doesn't care what military leaders say when Mr. Cheney sets his mind to doing something. General Shinseki, General Zinni and General Batiste opposed his policies in Iraq. They're now gone, as is much of Iraq.
It helps when Mohammed ElBaradei, Nobel-Prize-winning Director General of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, says "I don't see Iran, today, to be a clear and present danger. And our conclusion here is supported by every intelligence assessment I've seen that even if Iran has ambitions to develop nuclear weapons [which it denies], it's still three to eight years away from that. We need to continue to do robust verification. But we do not need to hype the issue. What we need right now is to encourage the moderates in Iran."
But Mr. Bush bugged UN offices before the vote on Iraq, pressured our allies, and had Colin Powell sell his soul for a green light to "shock and awe." Powell is now sorry, but gone. Mr. Bush remains and he's never made a mistake.
So I'm worried. Despite the disaster in Iraq, the neocons remain in full-throated war cry.
I worry when I learn that Defense Secretary Gates' Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coalition Affairs can publicly say "I hate all Iranians" and keep her job.
I worry when Mr. Bush's choice for Ambassador to the UN, cashiered against his boss's wishes, runs around calling for the bombing of Iran and, where have we heard this before, "regime change."
I worry that Mr. Bush could give 45 minutes of his day to Norman Podhoretz, the Grand Poobah of neoconservative ideology -- which gave us the war in Iraq -- to lobby for an attack on Iran.
I worry that despite Bush's dismissal, it's not just "baseless gossip."
I worry because a humiliating lack of public support seems to mean nothing to Mr. Bush and those propelling him.
I worry because I see the arrogance of a cult intent on fulfilling its mission before they lose what they seem to believe is a God-given opportunity.
And I worry because too many Americans, once again, seem content to sit on their hands, unwilling to believe this man could do something so stupid.
Mike Farrell, author of Just Call Me Mike - A Journey to Actor and Activist was co-founder of Artists United to Win Without War.
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Mike, what I am concerned is that your concerns, which I share entirely, are at a level which the administration knows how to manipulate 1. a fanatical group of followers and 2. an apathetic American people who gravitate in denial and is only concern on being materially happy, no matter the costs.
"And I worry because too many Americans, once again, seem content to sit on their hands, unwilling to believe this man could do something so stupid."
Other than writing and calling Congress, what the hell else can we do? I have no doubt whatsoever that Bush/Cheney are more than willing/able to do something that stupid. Hello? Iraq???
I've been writing to members of Congress and the media for 7 years, just like zillions of other people - a whole lotta good it's done.
THE ZIONIST BOMB
DeWayne writes
Now Iran according to the UN-IAEA (Int'l-Atomic-Energy-Agency) says after extensive investigation and man-hours there is no proof Iran has produced anything more than 3%-grade enriched-uranium suitable for Power-Plants only, not the 90%-grade Pakistan used for Atomic Bombs. Iran is a member of IAEA and so far as I understand, Pakistan neither besides selling to N.Korea this technology and materials.
Apollo says:
The authority of the IAEA only covers nuclear sites that are declared, not sites that are suspected or hidden. As a revolutionary regime with regional and global ambitions the mullahs can't achieve their aims without being a nuclear power. The Bush administration is dead certain that Iran is developing the bomb and believes it knows the whereabouts of its hidden nuke sites. It is a very dangerous situation and unless Iran abandons its radical ideology and aims-now made more difficult by the anti-occupation coalition forming in Iraq with their help-the disaster of Iran may soon be added to that of Iraq.
By the way DeWayne, don't make a fool of yourself by comparing Israel to Iran. Israel is a moral democracy with a government accountable to its peaceloving civilized people with a stockpile of nukes to deter aggression from its hostile neighbors. Iran has an illegitimate regime that oppresses its people with proven operational ties to Al Qaida and other extremist groups. In short, no one needs to worry about the Zionist Bomb, it won't be used to blow us away.
Don't be so sure, Israel will not be comtemplative if their interests are challenged even by the US.
Will American voters ever gag on the extremist views of the Bush administration? After WW2 , the world survived daily nuclear threat despite the oppositional political ideas of the USSR and the West. Those years, in retrospect, were years of great Western prosperity and freedom, years of human and enviromental rights, labor legislation to protect both Western unions and workers jobs.
It is now clear that with the death of Communism and the check it provided to the overweening grasping of the Capitalist system, there is no longer a safe place between those opposites where ordinary people can carve a balanced life. The standard of living once negotiated by unions which trickled over to non-union workers has disappeared along with the manufacturing base that drove the Western economy since FDR's New Deal. All gone.
The Bush, GOP mentality that again requires polar opposites eg we're good vs. they're evil needs perpetual ennemies and war. Not even at the height of the Coldwar did Americans lose basic constitutional rights, and in the Coldwar, the USSR was a real threat that counterbalanced the power of the Western world.
Under Bush, the American electorate has been constantly distracted from the destruction of its economy,and made too fearful to notice that their pockets are being picked as their tax dollars flood out to Halliburton and Blackwater etc.
Who would have figured that when Bush decided to "take big government and drown it in the bathtub", he intended to do it by diverting U.S. Government/taxpayer funds to his cronies in the private sector. Privatized war with the tax payers picking up the tab...how brilliant is that?
Why do Americans, the left in particular, dismiss Bush as too dumb to be responsible for what happens on his watch. It's like Bush was born with a permanent "get out of jail free" card in the monopoly game of life.
Capitalism and Communism are opposites.Both totalitarian states. There's only freedom in the balance between polar opposites.
To equate Iran with the USSR at its height is insane. Wake up America, you're being robbed.
I share your concerns as expressed in your post. What gets me is how easily the media are manipulated by the White House. While Bush/Cheney are fomenting fear about Iran, they never mention the fact that Saudi Arabia is providing money, arms and ammunition to the Sunnis in Iraq. Why is it a terrible thing for Iran to do but not Saudi Arabia? The media let the Bush administration decide what the issues are and hardly ever report on the transgressions of Saudi Arabia. My plea to the media: STOP LETTING THE WHITE HOUSE DECIDE WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.
IMO it's always been about Iran since 9/11. Afghanistan went really well (at first), the Taliban were toppled in a matter of weeks. This bolstered Bush's confidence and set the stage for Iraq which was supposed to be a cakewalk. Afghanistan: eastern flank. Iraq: western flank. Iran is where the oil is and it's where the majority of support for organized terrorism is. Afghanistan and Iraq were necessary pieces to the puzzle. But Iran was the plan.
So it's ok if Iran, a globally active terrorist state, builds it's nuclear weapons. You can assure us they wont blow Israel off the map or take out New York City?
Somehow I don't feel assured. Love you acting, not confident with your political analysis. I'm sure you felt the Clintons handled Bin Laden right too....right up until he blew up the twin towers.
Sometimes you have to use force to protect yourself. No one really believes Iran is going to use nukes for only peaceful purposes....it's time to stop pretending and offer us something besides fantasy.
The left in Europe has failed us. Iran is spinning up the material to make the nukes and you folks on the left still have your head in the sand. Germany, Russia, and China now support the Iranian nuclear weapons program.
The US or Israel will have to blow it up if we are to avoid a nuclear war in the middle east.
You are speaking in the abstract just like morelikely did when Bush told US and the world Saddam was at the gates of the US to destroy us. The Persians, one of the most advanced civilizations are not stupid and if the immidiate neighbors are not concerned why should we? besides the US has Israel a nation that will eliminate the threat if they feel and know their nation is in danger.
By the way did you have the same concerns when India and Pakistan developed their nuclear arms?righ I thought so, they are not in our enemies list even thoug Pakistan was called a terrorist state and certainly is a farce of democracy.
Dear stevelagain:
Through mass-media, the honorable American people is being mind-controlled by a huge three-pronged industry, the military-financial-oil stablishment, which is behind the neo-con puppets & PNAC, and controls both Dem & Reps.
The final goals?
1- Prevent TOTAL collapse of dollar as global currency, through blocking oil from changing into euro. It'd destroy US financial house-of-cards and subsequently its economy, and make the 1929-Crash look like an innocent bruise in a picnic.
2- Prevent the raisal of HeartLand EurAsia as the new Dominant Power on earth: Joint China+Russia+India have resources, people and the will.
3- Prevent possible blackmail from natural resources owners, like 1973 Oil-Shocks, assuring access to such vital supplies, while the West fades slowly.
**********
In short words, prevent the fall of global american hegemony, refusing to accept the NEW REALITY produced by Digital Era:
World power has shifted from "weaponry" to "economy".
And, while America has debased her economic powers - outsourced industry, huge debts, collapsing dollar - she simultaneously lacks enough natural resources, dooming herself to a debacle.
Her only world class remaining asset is its military power, and she's using it to sustain hegemony, closing on to Russia's borders.
History says that no Empires in the past accepted natural decay, and never faded and fell peacefully. They all went to a final war, in a desperate grasp to hold hegemonic powers.
Appaling is the fact that now nukes are the front assets.
Francisco Almeida.
(Brazilian citizen, in Brazil).
**********
Comments welcomed: englishtaught@yahoo.com.br
p.s.: ( Only a media-brainwashed idiot doesn't realize that Iran knows that nuking someone would turn them into a huge car park... And that Iran obeys to Russia, and she will not allow Iran to get nukes...).
Well, at least you aren't denying that Iran is building nuclear weapons. You have failed of course, a liberals first stand in supporting Iranian nuclear weapons is to deny the fact that Iran is building them.
Iran has already stated that Israel would be destroyed in a first strike and that Iran would survive the Israeli nuclear second strike against Iran.
Do you get that? Iran has already STATED they can wipe Israel off the map with nuclear weapons and survive the weapons Israel unleashes on them.
Since you tried to call me a brainwashed Idiot for suggesting they would do what they say they can do....let me say this to you....only a BRAINWASHED Radicalized liberal Fool will listen to Iran talking about unleashing nuclear weapons and them.
Iran has already told you what they will do, how they can attack, how they will survive....why should we believe your propaganda and ignore what the Iranians themselves have already told us they will do?
Obviously, you are all worked up in a fearful lather, which proves that the Bush White House has been successful in fomenting fear to achieve its ideological aims. You're a good little poodle.
Personal attacks and smearing...it's what I expect from most here, like you. If you would abandon your radicalized hate that so warms you...someday you might actually be able to have a rational conversation about an important issue.
My answer to all this is simple really.
I am working on getting my medical degree, crossing my fingers that the country has 6 more years then I am getting the h@ll out out of here, before the country:
1. Financially Implodes when China calls in the debts it has bought
2. We get nuked by either the Russians or by our own govt. In order to declare martial law to keep the lid on things as we slide into a full bore great depression.
3. Oil hits 200 a gallon after we push the button on Iran and our economy simply freezes. We have have the countries in the middle east declare war on us and Europe, reading the writing on the wall joins them and declares us Rogue. WWIII ensuses.
4. We have a "slow" revolution, a series of firebombings of GOP offices maybe even hits on Repukes and the Govt declares a graduated martial law slowly bring it all up to full
status result the same - a full police state.
5. A trans Iranian-Iraqi Republic forms, hostile to USA and Oil goes through the roof to any country that has dealings with the U.S.
Result our Economy craps out, China steps in to take our place as the world's market.
Tkae my advice get out of the USA while you can...
By now it should be clear to every American that has an IQ, Bush, Cheney and his right wing republicans do as they d... well please and American citizens have NO INPUT to any of his decissions.
Just what about a dictatorship does Americans not understand, WE NOW HAVE A DICTATORIAL government, control by a group of people that control every policy that we have.
People that live under a dictatorship live, work and exist for the benefit of the person(s) in charge. They need some workers to keep their wealth and power.
Why would Bush and HIS administration say they are fighting the war against Iraq to give it democracy & freedom , when our dictators in charge of our country do not believe in democracy and freedom at home.
We are not fighting for WMD, Terrorist against our country, nuclear attack or to give Iraq democracy, WE ARE FIGHTING FOR OIL CORPORATIONS , FOR THE WEALTHY, FOR NO-BID CONTRACTS FOR CONTRACTORS AND WEALTH, POWER & CONTROL FOR THE PEOPLE RUNNING OUR COUNTRY..
Mr Farrell:
I too am worried about the US invading Iran. After all, we are losing two wars, why start a 3rd.
But I'm also worried that the so-called Democratic Party front runner, Hillary Clinton, gave Bush the go ahead to invade a nation that is not a threat to us.
We need fresh, new blood, not beholding to all corp's. and Israel. Hillary is not that person and it will be as follows: "Meet the old boss, same as the new boss." Americans know they are screwed, but here they are working 3 jobs, just to keep, "Food on their children" as the great intellectual "W" decreed. The American people are being thrown out with the trash and they know it. They have no recourse and they know that too. Iran will be bombed and we will be a bankrupted nation.
Some more things to worry about...the Iraq Occupation has pretty much dropped off the TV screen as an important topic...CNN's This Week At War has focused on other topics for the last few weeks...this morning it's the Malibu fire...and........
Where did Michael Ware disappear to? Has anyone else noticed his absence from any reporting on CNN.
In France they had a general strike last Thursday. It was a huge demonstration, a major win for labor unions all over France. The media covered it for a while but then they devoted MOST of their air time to President Sarkosy's divorce from his wife. Coincidence? I think not. Same here in the US, distract THEM with anything!
By now it should be clear to every American that has an IQ, Bush, Cheney and his right wing republicans do as they damn well please and American citizens have NO INPUT to any of their decissions in how this country is run.
Just what is there about a dictatorship does Americans not understand, WE NOW HAVE A DICTATORIAL government, run by a group of people that make and control every policy in which this nation functions.
People that live under a dictatorship , work and exist for the benefit of the person(s) in charge. The Deciders need some workers to kept their wealth and power.
Why would they be fighting a war aganist a nation to give it democracy & freedom , when our dictators in charge of this country does not believe in denicract which has been proven by the way they control and run our country.
We are not fighting for what Bush and the repubicans have said; WMD, Terrorist attacking our country, nuclear attack or to give them democracy, WE ARE FIGHTING TO STEAL THEIR OIL FOR THE OIL COMPANIES , THE WEALTHY AND NO-BID CONTRACTS FOR CORPORATIONS AND POWER FOR THE PEOPLE RUNNING OUR COUNTRY..
A more plausible reason that Valerie Plame was outed was because her Intel showed that Iran was not developing nuclear weapons. This, by the way, is another Cheney operation who is a paranoiac. Cheney stopped the CIAs efforts to get Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and went, instead, with his paranoiac belief that Saddam was behind 9/11. Presently, Cheney is obsessed with the paranoiac belief that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
The "war"? A misnomer, at best. It's an occupation. The word "war" is added so as to achieve "war powers". It's purely a diversion to allow for unlimited power and profit. Bush's "Republican Guard" has the world askew over semantics and greed. Nothing more, nothing less.
By now it should be clear to every American that has an IQ, Bush, Cheney and his right wing republicans do as they d... well please and American citizens have NO INPUT to any of his decissions.
Just what about a dictatorship does Americans not understand, WE NOW HAVE A DICTATORIAL government, control by a group of people that control every policy that we have.
People that live under a dictatorship live, work and exist for the benefit of the person(s) in charge. They need some workers to keep their wealth and power.
Why would Bush and HIS administration say they are fighting the war against Iraq to give it democracy & freedom , when our dictators in charge of our country do not believe in democracy and freedom at home.
We are not fighting for WMD, Terrorist against our country, nuclear attack or to give Iraq democracy, WE ARE FIGHTING FOR OIL CORPORATIONS , FOR THE WEALTHY, FOR NO-BID CONTRACTS FOR CONTRACTORS AND WEALTH, POWER & CONTROL FOR THE PEOPLE RUNNING OUR COUNTRY..
Thanks, Mike....fear and worries can deplete our energy supply, much as the Bush ignorance and their aggression against all who stand in their way. We do need to respond with "right action" as the Dalai Lama would proclaim.
I think if we had a community organizer like you and the Dalai Lama, with great charisma, who would call a long weekend of meditation and demonstration--Friday, Saturday and Sunday to focus on peace, love, openness and respect, this administration would become impotent and unable to carry out their plans for more war.
OK, you're worried.
So am I. So are a lot of people...just look at the recent 24% approval rating for the Chimp-in-chief.
But let me ask you a question. During the time between the SChip veto and the vote to over ride it, a lot of money was spent on advertising for it's approval.
The "NET" swung into action and millions of phone calls were made to representatives to get them to change their vote. The "leadership' in the house and senate both lobbied hard to change the vote.
By now, you know what happened. "We the People" lost again.
One more thing and then I have a question for you Mike.
As it stands now, it looks like we are going to have a choice between Hillary and Rudy for president. Seriously, are we this f**ked up a nation that these two are the best we can come up with?
But that's not my main question for you...here it is.
What would you recommend we do about it?
I'm serious. You've told us what you're afraid of and I agree that there are possibly millions of us that agree but...What can we do about it?
We effectively have no representation in Congress or the Senate. They are all beholden to Corporations, PACs and Lobbyists.
If "We the People" can't get SChip passed or stop the war or impeach the worst president in the history of our country ...then just exactly would you have us do?
I am afraid too Mike.
And I'm REALLY looking for an answer.
RobertP -- To the barricades you must go, enlisting your co-workers, neighbors and friends. Pick a well-travelled intersection in your town, and gather with signs. It's not against the law. Pick times when traffic will be heaviest, and show up. That's a start. You have no idea how good it will feel, and how many people will join you. And honk in support.