![]() ![]() |
![]() |
| |
|
Sane Officers Oppose CheneyPosted on Nov 15, 2007By Joe Conason The Pentagon has launched a preventive strike against a target that military chiefs presumably regard as one of the most active current threats to U.S. and world security—namely, the office of the vice president of the United States. Thrusting back hard against Vice President Dick Cheney’s warmongering, the head of U.S. forces in the Mideast declared that an attack on Iran “is not in the offing,” and more or less urged the vice president and his political allies to shut up. In a front-page interview published on Nov. 12 by the Financial Times, Admiral William Fallon, who heads the U.S. Central Command, spoke in diplomatic tones, as top military officers usually tend to do when they make strong political statements. Yet there was no mistaking the admiral’s message. While Iran certainly poses a “challenge,” he said, U.S. policymakers must engage Tehran to encourage changes in the regime’s behavior. But the Iranians won’t “come to their senses” while under threat of bombardment, invasion or worse. “None of this is helped by the stories that just keep going around and around and around that any day now there will be another war, which is just not where we want to go,” he said with a degree of exasperation. “It seems to me that we don’t need more problems. It astounds me that so many pundits and others are spending so much time yakking about this topic [of war against Iran].” Most of that bellicose speculation can be traced back to vice presidential circles, including the neoconservative ideologues (or as the admiral put it, the “pundits"), who popularized the notions that Iran is an imminent threat to the United States, Israel and the world and that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the next Hitler. Those themes certainly have a familiar ring; the last imminent threat was Iraq, and the last next Hitler was Saddam Hussein. Not content with the great success of their Mesopotamian misadventure, the same people have been urging action against Iran. Admiral Fallon’s remarks follow in the wake of recent statements by both President George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney. Not long ago, the president blurted a strange warning that if other nations wish to avert “World War III,” then they had best ensure that Iran never obtains “the knowledge” to construct nuclear weapons. “We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” growled the vice president, muttering about the “serious consequences” that the Iranians would suffer. Since nobody believes that Tehran will come close to acquiring a nuclear weapon before the Bush administration leaves office, the ominous comments were taken as signals that the White House is contemplating preemptive action. Those signals have emanated for years from the office of the vice president and those associated with him. More important, the nation’s military leaders seem determined to block any rush to war, no matter what the vice president may desire. The Joint Chiefs of Staff have reportedly expressed strong opposition to any military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, and little enthusiasm for even limited action against Iranian forces. Their reluctance stems from tactical concerns about the impact of conflict with Iran on U.S. forces in Iraq, and strategic worries over waging wars in three Muslim nations in the region simultaneously. For now, the influence of sane and sensible officers appears to be ascending. Only a few days before Admiral Fallon spoke out, an Associated Press dispatch noted that American officials are quietly reducing our force profile in the Gulf region—for instance, by withdrawing an aircraft carrier that was sent earlier this year to emphasize the American regional security commitment. As for President Bush, if his own words are to be believed, then he too has decided to pursue the diplomatic option rather than engage in reckless bombing. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has explicitly rejected the idea that the Senate authorized war last September by designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a “terrorist organization.” She went on to say “the president has also made very clear that he’s on a diplomatic path where Iran comes into focus.” If calmer counsel is prevailing, however, tensions are certain to rise again when the U.S. moves for United Nations sanctions against Tehran. It would not take much to provoke fire on either side, which is why rhetorical tone is so important. “You certainly don’t want to encourage any kind of a miscalculation or misstep by talk,” said Admiral Fallon, who seems to understand how swiftly foolish fantasies of war can be transformed into lethal realities. Joe Conason writes for the New York Observer. © 2007 Creators Syndicate Inc. Previous item: A Faith-Based Boondoggle Next item: Dodging the 'B' Word Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig.
By Joe Spenner, November 30, 2007 at 7:59 pm # BUSH AND CHENEY “MUST” BOTH BE IMMEDIATELY TESTED FOR BEING INCAPAPABLE OF SANE JUDGEMENT BECAUSE OF
By GP, November 20, 2007 at 7:57 am # As we teeter at the edge of an abyss of total insanity, a momentary word of relief has come from an unexpected source – a US military chieftain. IRAN IS NO THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES. People in the US have been dumbed-down and seduced to the point of believing everyone in the Middle East is crazy as well as a threat. They actually believe cave dwellers alone attacked us and that we can make ourselves less vulnerable by maiming and humiliating strangers. These folks have not done their homework. Then there exists in our own country super religious zealots – the extremist’s extremists - disingenuous and perverse little people who must, like lemmings, harbor a death wish, believing civilization deserves to be vaporized in a nuclear cloud as payback for our hedonism. Thankfully, there exists a different breed in mankind who believe that the human experience is sacred and mysteriously purposeful, understanding that we must face-off against that depraved juggernaut of the warmonger New World Order head-on. These proponents know life is a gift not to be squandered in fear or apathy. Diseased and twisted entities have been waxing for some time materializing on a powerful perch corporately and politically. They have become expert in appetite manipulation, information deprivation and terror mongering. Will they succeed to permanently bottle and enslave the last vestiges of beautiful rejoicing sanity by way of fear, propaganda, chemical application, electronic intrusion, and ultimately perhaps, breeding and culling? In what’s left of our nation, if enough sane people find the spirit to fight the noble fight to whatever end, enslavement of the masses by the New World Order will fail. If we choose not to locate this spirit, then a dark age falls upon us. This is our last chance to rescue freedom. If only a handful of individuals fight this fight, and their numbers are not adequate, those will be the only ones that will have been worth a damn in any event. Make your choice. But if we win, this will be an historic moment. The founding fathers risked their own necks for principles that are rare and dear, and they won. It’s our turn now to place our comfortable necks on the line. There really isn’t anything to lose, but everything to save – including our souls.
By Liam, November 19, 2007 at 6:57 am # When the basis of your belief is the coming Armageddon and you see a way of ushering the end times, why wouldn’t you take every opportunity to attack the godless heathen and do God’s good and holy work. After all, we have God on our side. Besides, we know the Iranians are warmongering unbelievers and evildoers who want nothing better than to annihalate us. Look at what they are doing to us with oil. Making us beg and grovel and taking away our profits. As someone once replied when asked if he knew any good indians, “only the dead ones”. (sorry don’t have the exact quote handy). So let’s just nuke em before they can nuke us. If that ushers in the end times then praise Jesus and pass the ammunition. As for Bush-Cheney, to hell with the constitutional parameters of the offices. They remind me of King John and the sherif of Knotingham. Where the hell is Robin Hood when you need him.
By S.C.C. / L.G.N.A., November 17, 2007 at 8:32 pm # OUR CURRENT SENTIMENT: “BRING ALL OF OUR TROOPS AROUND THE WORLD HOME NOW! LET THEM GUARD OUR BORDERS AND DEFEND THE BILL-OF-RIGHTS; BEFORE THE CITIZENRY HAS TO DO IT WITHOUT THEM"… Besides, we’re tired of having our women stripped searched (and even dieing) in our domestic airports while our borders remain wide-open and the Border Patrol guards are being imprisoned if they do their job. LIBERTY NOW, LIBERTY FOREVER...!!!
By Dennis, November 16, 2007 at 7:40 pm # Isn’t this guy tough [Cheney]? He never has been in a fight by himself, how hard is it to get somebody else to fight your battles. I say to the VP put on a uniform swear in a hole bunch of your neo-nuts and I’m sure that the Admiral would be willing to give your troops a free ride to the Iran shores whereby he could lead the invasion. I would love to be on a ship just off the coast as they land with a pair of binoculars to watch this group of heroes!
By Anonymous, November 16, 2007 at 12:01 pm # Admiral Fallon is in the military. The last time I checked those in the military take orders from the President and his appointees, not the other way around. Also, they don’t have access to all of the information like the President, so their view of things is much more limited than that of the President, especially in regards to diplomatic efforts. In other words, the good admiral should really stick to taking orders and not insert himself into geopolitics, if that’s indeed what he’s doing. It’s hard to say without seeing the full transcript of the interview. He may have been grossly taken out of context. In any case, the admiral isn’t saying that the Bush administration is wrong, but only confirmed that they weren’t preparing for any strikes on Iran. Further, Admiral Fallon also said the following which was conveniently left out of the analysis presented by the author of this article: “There has got to be some combination of strength and willingness to engage. How to come up with the right combination of that is the real trick.” In saying this, he admits that he doesn’t know what steps are necessary to strike the proper “balance” to achieve the desired results. That’s a far cry from denouncing the Bush administration for their approach.
By Tim Kelly, November 16, 2007 at 11:45 am # How is that the Iranian leader is a terrorist for stating Iran will defend itself but the U.S. is “ensuring diplomacy succeeds” by constantly threatening pre-emptive strikes against Iran? At the same time U.S. citizens claim to not be willing to negotiate with terrorists, the U.S. threatens to kill Iranian children. Iran is not threatening to wage war on anyone, but reiterates that it will defend itself. Iran has not invaded another country in 500 years. The U.S. was fully complicit in Iraq’s invasion of Iran in the 1980s. Who is the terrorist? The U.S. negotiated with North Korea after they showed they had nuclear weapons. The U.S. invaded Iraq after it was clear they did not have nuclear weapons. If I was Iran, I’d be trying to build a nuclear weapon as fast as possible, because the U.S. is threatening to kill their children.
By Barry Champlain, November 16, 2007 at 10:15 am # And when the inarticulate front man for Cheney reminds the Joint Chiefs et.al. that he’s the Commander-In-Chief (a.k.a., “The Decider"… all you ever had to hear about this presidency, to know what it’s all about), a bankrupted America will start its second futile, “preemptive” war in the Middle East. Multiples more will die, we’ll borrow even more money to pay off the defense industry and the private contractors… and loyal, legacy-minded Bushies will blame the latest disaster of historical proportions on a “Democrat” Congress (this time, rightfully so). And we are just sitting here, on our thumbs, watching the slo-mo zeppelin go down in flames.
By James, November 16, 2007 at 8:28 am # We will not invade Iran. Isreal will not invade Iran. I speculate Iran already has the atomic bomb. Our intelligence has been extremely poor and obviously so has others since we envisioned Iraq having WMD’s. The difference is Iraq is not like Iran. If a bomb can be built in 3 years (Manhattan Project) at a time when technology might be considered barbaric in todays standard why should anyone beleive that Iran does not have a bomb already. Lets face it the information is at your finger tips and Iran has had atomic power back in the days of the Sha. I think if Iran has manufactured 3000 centrifuses for its atomic power plant making pure grade uranium should be kids play. I might further speculate that if they dont that quite possibly they do when they purchased those cruise missiles from the black market days of the falling Soviet Union. Iran is a technological country. It has a booming GDP and thats with 30 years of trade sanctions. Isreal is not going to attempt to expand the violence they have endured or shelled out as the last failing in Lebanon proved there military is not what many think and its aggressor is getting quite resilient. The end result is devastation for all. The world does not need sabor waiving idiots pronouncing ALqeada is everywhere. Its all about oil pure and simple. The decoy is fear and we need to remember those famous words:” We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
By Winghunter, November 16, 2007 at 3:19 am # Some of you folks demonstrate a concentrated effort towards pure stupidity...especially Joey. A terrorist ‘president’ calls for our destruction yet you can’t quite grasp that “sabre-rattling” is certainly a form of diplomacy when dealing with the insane. If you have no idea who our self-declared enemy actually is, how the heck do you mindnumbingly offer what will persuade them to stop their nuclear ambitions!? You folks better grow up a little faster and run your mouths a little less.
By Bert, November 15, 2007 at 8:41 pm # I think it’s riotously funny that Abazaid AND Greenspan now line up with a guy named Jello Biafra,
By tenstring, November 15, 2007 at 5:39 pm # “The next Hitler”—I think we all know who that is.
By david, November 15, 2007 at 2:13 pm # If Cheney has to fire every officer above the rank of private to get his attack on Iran, then that is what he will do. It’s a foregone conclusion that Iran is the next neocon target. Hell, I can’t even plan a vacation. I REALLY don’t want to be in Mexico when the nukes start falling.
By Ed, November 15, 2007 at 11:46 am # I’m glad to see Admiral Fallon speak up. This administration is the most dangerous since Regan and more corrupt and more sinister than Nixon. A military coup (as mentioned by #113764 Wydia) would be an improvement over the current executive branch.
By thomas billis, November 15, 2007 at 10:06 am # There is a remedy.It is in the Constitution.It is called impeachment.The parts of the Constitution the Republicans are not decimating Speaker Nancy Pelosi is taking off the table.If there was ever a case for impeachment Dick Cheney is the poster boy.If he is not then lets make “1984"by George Orwell the new constitution and let us get on with constant warfare.George Bush has already started” newspeak”.Many of the terms he uses I have never heard before.
By Dave Nofmeister, November 15, 2007 at 9:34 am # I feel pretty bad for the military right now, with depleted money, no-one enlisting, fighting a crummy, unpopular war and potentially another war on the horizon. I really think that we need to consider diplomacy a bit more here, as the only alternative would be a World War II styled military buildup, and truly “getting involved” with the Middle East.
By Tim Kelly, November 15, 2007 at 7:45 am # “Only a few days before Admiral Fallon spoke out, an Associated Press dispatch noted that American officials are quietly reducing our force profile in the Gulf region—for instance, by withdrawing an aircraft carrier that was sent earlier this year to emphasize the American regional security commitment.” The article is incorrect. The Enterprise is being replaced by the Harry S. Truman. At approximately the same time the U.S. troop presence in Iraq will reach 175,000, there will be at least two aircraft attack carrier groups in the Persian Gulf area, with two others not far away. http://www.gonavy.jp/CVLocation.html I have never met a military person yet who will refuse orders, illegal or not. If Bush says bomb Iran, the U.S. military will bomb Iran (with lots of personalized messages written on the bombs for good photo-ops, those soldiers are such jokers, hah hah). Don’t forget to support the soldiers while they carry out illegal orders!
By samuel burke, November 15, 2007 at 5:49 am # truthdig used to be on of my first stop for the days news, now i rarely glimpse in here because they are just not keeping up with the events as they are transpiring. it is my belief that at this time in americas history it is all about who the next president is going to be, the neocons need either rudy giuliani or hilary in office to be able to continnue with business as usual. i think obama is too much of an unknown to them and edwards has already made his necons comment, both of these candidates in my opinion will need to escalate the anti neocon sentiment to a higher scale if they wish to garner the support of the american people. anti neocon,anti aipacs stranglehold on our politicians and press. it’s all about americas interests now.
By Tom Doff, November 15, 2007 at 4:12 am # This is a very significant event, that our sane military leaders are speaking up against the irrationality of the White House’s pushing for action against Iran. Based on recent precedent, what it means is that all sane members of the military will be fired or forced to resign, leaving us with a military as demented as our political ‘leadership’. Do you feel safer? If so, you should check to see where your mind has gone. Add Your Comment |
COMMENT TOOLS:
Hide comments
Show comments
Comment on this article