Secret Plan to Keep Iraq Under US Control

[Ed Ziomek]

antisthenes and all others, I agree.

Let me expand on your quote... "Theirs is an endless focus on tactics inside Iraq, with no consideration of our strategy to face threats beyond Iraq's borders. "

I have been feeling for the longest time that the violence and the threats and the fear mongering... the whole point is to prolong the unstable, rather than solve ANY problem.

The whole point, and points, and reasons (i.e., WMDs, regime change, freedom and democracy) is to maintain the problems, because the problems serve a wonderful purpose, the presence of America in this critical part of the world. 10 years, 20 years, forever.

The whole point seems to be to maintain the problems, giving false excuses to stay.

[Antisthenes]

true that
short sighted profits for the creations of our imaginations, the corporations.

a myriad of complex self fulfilling prophecies in play each with their own twisted agenda.

[WorldDesigner]

Why is Bush affraid to leave Iraq - affraid of loosing? Loosing what? I thought they already won. Are the playing some kind of game? That is crap, just another excuse to stay. So, can only hope Obama gets elected.

[SDR]

The administration has just shifted position. The new phrase is "time horizon" -- a point in the future when troops can begin to be withdrawn. (As one pundit said, "horizons tend to move away as you approach them. . .")

Ae they trying to minimize the differences between their position and Obama's, in advance of the fall election ?

SDR

[WorldDesigner]

Has it now gone from operation "Desert Storm", to operation "Chasing a Mirage in the Desert"?

[SDR]

Bush is still stressing increased drilling for oil in North America, despite the futility of that strategy increasing America's oil supply anytime soon -- and a worldwide shortage of drilling rigs apparently would mean even more delays.

Al Gore should join forces with Amory Lovins; together they just might be able to persuade Americans of the possibilities of the energy alternatives that are waiting in the wings, and the urgency of embracing them. Lovins, of the Rocky Mountain Institute, has mountains of evidence that we can get plenty of energy, and pay less for it than we do for oil. Lovins has worked for oil companies for twenty years, and seems to know whereof he speaks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amory_Lovins

SDR

[WorldDesigner]

Heck man, has been a long time now America has known that this alternative energy stuff is possible, using energy of sun etc to resolve the problem. The truth is that the oil dependency is keeping pockets full, guarantees the succession of pro oil presidents, and is creating a circle of dependency dude. With soo much lobby power of those industrial giants, those family run oil businesses and all....so is more a political issue and lack of will to change, then of what is possible.

[SDR]

So when the lyin'est president in 100 years says (in last year's State of the Union) that we have to get off of our dependency on oil, he means just the opposite. . .

That's why I hate to hear him claim that we won't bomb Iran, and that we'll think about leaving Iraq.


SDR

[Richard Haut]

toss a coin - Armaggedon or a return to some sort of normality ..........

the crazies have made a mess of running the asylum.

if normality does return, I have the uncomfortable feeling that later generations will hear about this era and say "wow, they were dumb !"

the good news, such as it is, is that the crazies have a limited timescale for their agenda (four to seven months). If they fail, then they can scuttle back into their holes and pretend that they never supported the Neo-Cons. But those few months could seem to be very very long.

[SDR]

Jared Diamond's fascinating "Collapse: how societies choose to succeed or fail" gives ample evidence for previous episodes of "last tree syndrome." Easter Island is the prototype of heedless self-termination, with clans on opposite sides of the island competing for the last fuel and building resources and the final warfare.

SDR

[WorldDesigner]

When it all boils down to push comes to shove, all they really care about is filling their pockets, keeing the oil pumps flowing, keeping their power structures, and the status quo. Don't believe em, they might change their mind tomorrow on Iran and Iraq. And what good is drilling for more oil man, if by the time they get it gas is at $500 a barrel. Just another last minute political move to bolster their campaigns. Politicians are good at that. Like any game, they play their moves so as to maximize their political gain. Heck, that is what politics is all about.

[Richard Haut]

a very interesting statistic published in the Israeli press .........

46% of Americans "believe the United States should do nothing" if Israel attacks Iran (Rasmussen US national telephone survey, published in Haaretz).

[Antisthenes]

did congress pass the law to force them to use it or loose it
because the oil giants are setting on tons of domestic oil wells and not using them

there is no need to drill new ones or open protected lands if these companies refuse to use what they already have. so did they take it away from them yet and who would dare to use them in this political climate? maybe hugo chavez would help

[Ed Ziomek]

Taking a breather here, great comments again and again.

What role do we play anymore, in any positions taking place?

Are we back to the 1914 scenario, like Rich mentioned two years ago, where the ordinary people were the cannon fodder of the political machines… Austrian, English, Russian, et al?

Do we have any say at all, in anything, including the election?
I mean, even Barack doesn’t believe in Iraq, BUTTTTT he believes in Afghanistan?!?

Why do we keep trying to change 10,000 years of tribal cultures, flawed as they are, into virtual USA flag-waving, Christian, ballet dancing Boy Scout servants of the West? Endless war, sure, works for me?

Now here is a truly American Hero, how can I sign up???

T. Boone Pickens, Amarillo, Texas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2bOug1d20c

not to be confused with...
Slim Pickens, Dr. Strangelove…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ynY5NvYsZY

and another timely blast from the past…Dr. Strangelove

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSKkZCxbNdw

Did we learn any lessons from VietNam? No.
Country Joe and the Fish, Woodstock…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0jxHB3E710

[Antisthenes]

sometimes you can't clean up the mess you made and have to let it clean you up