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Fox Attacks: Iran
"Fox Attacks: Iran" is a bold effort to provide Americans with a different view of our policy toward Iran than the one Fox News keeps pushing on us. While Fox beats the drums for war, Robert Greenwald has produced documentary evidence that unmasks the 'coverage' for what it is: propaganda to get Americans ready for a Bush administration attack on yet another Middle Eastern nation. Robert has done something remarkable. He has used his extraordinary media skills to make a short video - only three minutes - to educate the American people, using the Internet as a way to connect us.
The issue here is pretty simple. The war in Iraq, which Bush misled us into, has been a disaster. It caused us, and the Iraqi people, a great deal of suffering: more than 3,700 American casualties, more than 70,000 Iraqi casualties, 2 million Iraqis displaced within Iraq by violence fear, and another 2 million Iraqis living as refugees in Syria and Jordan. It has cost our nation a great deal of money, money which could have been better used in educating our children, providing health care to every American, rebuilding our bridges and infrastructure, and helping us move toward a new green economy.
And, ironically, it has made us less safe from the very serious problem of international terrorism.
Osama bin Laden is alive and well and, according to the National Intelligence Estimate, Al Quada is growing stronger throughout the world.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban is reemerging as a powerful adversary, using terrorist skills they learned in Iraq, and the situation there is becoming more difficult. One of the reasons for the reemergence of the Taliban is, in my view, that in order to fight the war in Iraq, the Bush administration has diverted military, intelligence and reconstruction resources away from Afghanistan.
In the midst of all this, the United States, because of Bush's actions, is held in lower regard by the international community than at any time in the modern history of our country.
And, now, there are increasing rumblings that Bush and Cheney are thinking of waging an attack on Iran. They are considering the possibility of bombing Iran's nuclear facilities, and are also considering the possibility of cross-border raids into Iraqi territory.
I believe that the American people understand that with all our problems in Iraq and Afghanistan, and with our active duty military and National Guard significantly over-extended, the last thing in the world that we want is a war in Iran. That is why I introduced S. Con Res. 13 - which would express the sense of Congress that the president should not initiate military action against Iran without first obtaining authorization from Congress.
A war with Iran, combined with what's going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, would be an horrendous disaster. Here's what Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor, wrote recently: "An attack on Iran would be an act of political folly, setting in motion a progressive upheaval in world affairs."
A major military action against Iraq would almost certainly unleash a lengthy war with the Muslim world which would significantly increase the threat of attacks against the U.S. and our allies, as well as compound difficulties for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It would also strengthen President Ahmadinejad's position in Iran against the moderates there.
It would further isolate us with regard to world affairs.
It would likely dramatically increase the cost of oil, and throw the world economy into a recession.
And, if President Bush embarks on military action against Iran without consulting with Congress, it is likely to create a constitutional crisis in the United States.
Nonetheless, Fox News continues to beat the drums for war, war, war, against Iran.
Every American should watch Robert Greenwald's short video, for it shows us that the current Fox drumbeat for war is almost exactly the same as what Fox did, and most of the American media did, in the days before we invaded Iraq.
We know that most of what we were told then in that very loud and determined campaign about the dangers of Iraq turned out to be false. We need to be very, very careful that we don't follow another loud and determined campaign into another disastrous war.
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Agree.
"3,700 American casualties, more than 70,000 Iraqi casualties"
You mean DEATHS. The "casualty" (that's a nice sanitized word) rate is much higher.
Plus, that doesn't count the number of American mercenaries and "contractors" who have died.
I agree that Mr. Bush is using "sympathetic" media to stir the pot re: Iran. Given what we know about how this administration operates, why haven't the leaders in the House and the Senate been more direct and forceful in pushing for cutting off the funding for the current Iraq war and the possibility of Impeachment. Fox News and the administration are what they are; but the people sent a clear message in the last election and Congress has disregarded it. Everyone seems more intent on protecting their job than providing the leadership (complete with the courage to act) we need.
Senator I know you can't bring up impeachment charges in the senate, but don't you think you should be doing a hellava lot more than crying about FOX news. You know this is a criminal administration but you seem willing to wait it out. Do your job!! Investigate, inforce the laws, Get angry!! Preaching to the choir will do nothing. If your not part of the solution, then your part of the problem.
Minor correction necessary about 2/3rds of the way down:
A major military action against >>Iraq
Please, Senator Sanders, go to the source of the coming war with Iran: work, now, to impeach Cheney.
There won't be any help from the networks; CNN is now cheerleading for war with Iran as enthusiastically as they did for Iraq. It's obscene to hear the same Bush talking points presented as fact, and see the same slick War-As-Ent
Senator, the fact that Cheney remains in office is the most terrifying part of this nightmare. How is this possible? What in God's name is it going to take to impeach Cheney? Do it. Now.
Thank you for this. Whatever can be done to prevent our crazy leaders from attacking Iran must be done now....for all the reasons you state... I fear the Democrats are not up to the job and we will be railroaded into another disasterous war.
" ... the Bush administration has diverted military, intelligence and reconstruction resources away from Afghanista
No matter what we do in Afghanistan, I don't think anything is going to help get rid of the Taliban and those there fighting against us. It's been true throughout Afghanistan's history that invaders/occupiers (and that's what we are) have always been tossed out, sometimes garcefully and most of the time violently. It happend to the British and the Russians and most likely will happen to us. How to fight these Taliban thugs? I have no idea but occuyping a country where the people come to resent us is not the answer.
Also, I thought this post from June 28, 2007 by Amitai Etzioni was relevant to the Iran situation:
http://www
"A third scenario, which might be named after Vice President Cheney, involves a United States military strike against the nuclear facilities in Iran as the United States "folds" in Iraq. It would cause many civilian casualties because some of the nuclear sites are located in highly populated areas. It would further inflame the already widespread anti-American sentiments in region and in the world. It would weaken the governments in the region that are viewed as closest to the United States, especially Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan. The likelihood that it would succeed in significantly setting back the Iranian nuclear program is small, given that the program is widely dispersed and well protected by mountains of cement and placed inside mountains. That is, such a strike may well further promote the notion that United States days as a superpower are over."
Kucinich is a peace candidate. In fact his campaign slgan is, "Strength through peace"! He is the only candidate who voted against authorizing the war, (and in actuality wants to end it), and to introduce articles of impeachment! I can't understand why no one on the left pays attention to him.
Because Kucinich can't win the nomination. I've said it many times before. Kuckinich has been the brunt of media jokes about his stature and if he were 6 feet tall he'd be a front-runner by now. In politics unfortunately, size does matter.
Sad, but true.
As someone who lived in Cleveland during Kucinichs' only job as an executive politician (Mayor in late 70's) I can tell you why few people take him seriously.
Give some specifics, please. Links and such. This is just your opinion. From what I can see he took a step up from Mayor to the House, voted in by the same folks you claim would have run him out on a rail. Interesting way to go with a failure, sending him to DC. Over and over again. He's been in the House for ages.
Specifics please.
I'm about as far left as the road takes you....
Dennis Kucinich is the best candidate "for the people," but the worst for corporate America...
That's why he doesn't have a chance....
A "worldly" ignorant society, coupled by a narcissism that has been almost unequaled in world history controlled by a sophisticated propaganda system fused to a completely corrupt political system is yielding its product:
Imperialism with nuclear weapons...
Say goodbye, dear people....
sierra
Unfortunately you are spot on with your assessment. I'm afraid our worst days are still in front of us !
FIXd news is simply catapulting the propaganda as instructed by bush and his minions. They are very good at this sort of thing, and the dems have so far been very bad at proving the alternate/
The Iran war by king george Jr brought to you by FIX news, right wing wacko radio and sponsored by your tax dollars.
Quote: It would likely dramatically increase the cost of oil, and throw the world economy into a recession.
So is this a bad thing for the greedy bastards who want more wealth and power? Their favorite phrase, "too much is not enough", could also apply to war.
It isn't a bad thing for the greedy bastards, but it's a bad thing for us. I can't afford to spend any more money on gas or food, and I don't trust my job to be recession-proof.
Do you?
from "Carl Levin reveals the Democrats' Iraq "strategy" " by Glenn Greenwald
http://www
"An article by former CIA officer Robert Baer in this week's Time Magazine http://www
Reports that the Bush Administration will put Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the terrorism list can be read in one of two ways: it's either more bluster or, ominously, a wind-up for a strike on Iran. Officials I talk to in Washington vote for a hit on the IRGC, maybe within the next six months. . . ."
"And, ironically as always, a bombing campaign against Iran would do more to strengthen that government than anything else we could do."
Why does Congress continually put trust into such a failed administration which has repeatedly lied to it and the American people? If Murdoch's Republican propaganda network shills it, you can bet it's a disaster in the making.
http://www
Cynicaloptimist question: "Why does Congress continually put trust into such a failed administration which has repeatedly lied to it and the American people?"
Answer: Because they are all one and the same, both parties. They're all oil prostitutes, hell bent on maintaining The United States of Empire via the corporate media.
You think Bush is bad? Everyone on capital hill is in awe of his accomplishments and are wetting themselves over the idea of carrying his torch.
Welcome to fascist America. It ain't about you and me.
99% of FOX News viewers think it is reporting the news.
And 100% of the looney left think they are not. Which one are you?
I think you mean anyone with an IQ over 100.
The owners of mainstream media, not only Fox, are obsessed with the security of Israel.
Everyone knows that Israel secretly built nuclear weapons in the 1960's while claiming the work was for peaceful use of nuclear energy. Today Israel is believed to possess between 200 and 400 nukes. Does anybody here know how they are targeted?
However much Iran protests, and despite the lack of evidence that it is building "the bomb", Israeli politicians are convinced that since Israel cheated, so will Iran.
The solution is not a preemptive attack on Iran followed by all-out conflagration, but a nuclear-free Middle East, starting with Israel.
I find little I agree with here but I really do agree with you on this. How on earth can we demand a nuclear free Iran when Israel has nuclear weapons. However, because Florida is such an important election state, I don't think you will have a democrat candidate who would dare propose that. I know that no republican would propose it.
Geez! Can I rephrase your statement please? How on earth can we demand a nuclear free Iran whe the U.S. has thousands of them ready and loaded?
good ol' double standards, the world over...
We need not only "...a nuclear-free Middle East, but,....A NUCLEAR FREE WORLD!
To believe that this country (US) can impose any sanctions on any other country in the world and stifle "scientific research" or development of weapons to defend themselves is absolutely ludicrous.
Iran is a signer of the NNPT; and was observing the inspections protocols.
Isreal does/has not ever allowed NNPT inspection
The Bush administration declared N. Korea, a part of the Axis of Evil early on; has had to eat its own non-diplomacy and turn around and relive the agreements we made in the early '90s to trade, "oil for compliance" which now N.Korea has willingly revisited also......
Like I said above and keep repeating in any comments:
In the age of nuclear weapons, we either talk to each other or we all die!
Including Israel, United States, Russia (have you been following THAT story) Iran, GB, Canada, ad infinitum.
sierra
Hi cognate, we're sending u in to pry those nukes out of their hands. Good luck, and shoot only when fired upon.
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