[BRIGADE] PJB: Petraeus Points to War With Iran
Published: Fri, 04/11/08
"Courtesy of Congress, Bush thus has a blank check for war on Iran.
And the signs are growing that he intends to fill it in and cash
it..."
Brigade, this president and congress are out of control. Neither
phone calls, faxes, nor the election in November will reign them
in. The only thing left for us patriots across the USA is massive
civil disobedience - i.e. a protest march. As Ron Paul calls it, a
peaceful Revolution.
Read Pat's column below, then make plans for the Revolution March
in DC this summer -- be there!
For the Cause, Linda
http://www.revolutionmarch.com
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Petraeus Points to War With Iran
By Patrick J. Buchanan
Friday, April 11, 2008
The neocons may yet get their war on Iran.
Ever since President Nouri al-Maliki ordered the attacks in Basra
on the Mahdi Army, Gen. David Petraeus has been laying the
predicate for U.S. air strikes on Iran and a wider war in the
Middle East.
Iran, Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee, has
"fueled the recent violence in a particularly damaging way through
its lethal support of the special groups."
These "special groups" are "funded, trained, armed and directed by
Iran's Quds Force with help from Lebanese Hezbollah. It was these
groups that launched Iranian rockets and mortar rounds at Iraq's
seat of government (the Green Zone) ... causing loss of innocent
life and fear in the capital."
Is the Iranian government aware of this -- and behind it?
"President Ahmadinejad and other Iranian leaders" promised to end
their "support for the special groups," said the general, but the
"nefarious activities of the Quds force have continued."
Are Iranians then murdering Americans, asked Joe Lieberman:
"Is it fair to say that the Iranian-backed special groups in Iraq
are responsible for the murder of hundreds of American soldiers and
thousands of Iraqi soldiers and civilians?"
"It certainly is. ... That is correct," said Petraeus.
The following day, Petraeus told the House Armed Services
Committee, "Unchecked, the 'special groups' pose the greatest
long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq."
Translation: The United States is now fighting the proxies of Iran
for the future of Iraq.
The general's testimony is forcing Bush's hand, for consider the
question it logically raises: If the Quds Force and Hezbollah, both
designated as terrorist organizations, are arming, training and
directing "special groups" to "murder" Americans, and rocket and
mortar the Green Zone to kill our diplomats, and they now represent
the No. 1 threat to a free Iraq, why has Bush failed to neutralize
these base camps of terror and aggression?
Hence, be not surprised if President Bush appears before the TV
cameras, one day soon, to declare:
"My commanding general in Iraq, David Petraeus, has told me that
Iran, with the knowledge of President Ahmadinejad, has become a
privileged sanctuary for two terrorist organizations -- Hezbollah
and the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard -- to train,
arm and direct terrorist attacks on U.S. and coalition forces,
despite repeated promises to halt this murderous practice.
"I have therefore directed U.S. air and naval forces to begin air
strikes on these base camps of terror. Our attacks will continue
until the Iranian attacks cease."
Because of the failures of a Democratic Congress elected to end the
war, Bush can now make a compelling case that he would be acting
fully within his authority as commander in chief.
In early 2007, Nancy Pelosi pulled down a resolution that would
have denied Bush the authority to attack Iran without congressional
approval. In September, both Houses passed the Kyl-Lieberman
resolution designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist
organization.
Courtesy of Congress, Bush thus has a blank check for war on Iran.
And the signs are growing that he intends to fill it in and cash it.
Israel has been hurling invective at Iran and conducting security
drills to prepare its population for rocket barrages worse than
those Hezbollah delivered in the Lebanon War.
Adm. William "Fox" Fallon, the Central Command head who opposed war
with Iran, has been removed. Hamas and Hezbollah have been stocking
up on Qassam and Katyusha rockets.
Vice President Cheney has lately toured Arab capitals.
And President Ahmadinejad just made international headlines by
declaring that Tehran will begin installing 6,000 advanced
centrifuges to accelerate Iran's enrichment of uranium.
This is Bush's last chance to strike and, when Iran responds, to
effect its nuclear castration. Are Bush and Cheney likely to pass
up this last chance to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities and effect
the election of John McCain? For any attack on Iran's "terrorist
bases" would rally the GOP and drive a wedge between Obama and
Hillary.
Indeed, Sen. Clinton, who voted to declare Iran's Revolutionary
Guard a terrorist organization, could hardly denounce Bush for
ordering air strikes on the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, when
Petraeus testified, in her presence, that it is behind the serial
murder of U.S. soldiers.
The Iranians may sense what is afoot. For Tehran helped broker the
truce in the Maliki-Sadr clash in Basra, and has called for a halt
to the mortar and rocket attacks on the Green Zone.
With a friendly regime in Baghdad that rolled out the red carpet
for Ahmadinejad, Iran has nothing to gain by war. Already, it is
the big winner from the U.S. wars that took down Tehran's Taliban
enemies, decimated its al-Qaida enemies and destroyed its Sunni
enemies, Saddam and his Baath Party.
No, it is not Iran that wants a war with the United States. It is
the United States that has reasons to want a short, sharp war with
Iran.
SOURCE: http://buchanan.org/blog/?p=978