Heard in the news that Obama can never reason with Iran.
Posted By: Sunflower on 2009-02-14
In Reply to:
Maybe you all might know this, but this is news to my ears. During most of President of Iran Ahmadinejad's speeches he always states this:
0, Almighty God, all men and women are Your creatures and You have ordained their guidance and salvation. Bestow upon humanity that thirsts for justice, the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers and among those who strive for his return and his cause.
Who is this human being promised to all?
Their new messiah. The way this new messiah appears is by getting rid of little Satan and big Satan. Iran muslims,(I was told there are 2 type of muslims) believe when messiah appears, there has to be a lot of blood shed.
WHO IS THE LITTLE SATAN AND BIG SATAN?:
Israel's role is first of all to protect itself, but also to alert others to the danger of militant Islam. They intend to go after Israel, but for them Israel is merely the "little Satan," one stepping stone on the march to world domination. For Ahmadinejad's Iran, Europe is a "middle-sized Satan" and the United States is the "great Satan."
So, how can you reason and do talks with president Iran when he thinks this way and muslims think this way? It is not all muslims that do, but this one particular type. How can you reason with Ahmadinejad when United States in his eyes is Satan? He wants us dead so this new messiah will come to them.
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Heard in the news that Obama can never reason with Iran.
Maybe you all might know this, but this is news to my ears. During most of President of Iran Ahmadinejad's speeches he always states this:
0, Almighty God, all men and women are Your creatures and You have ordained their guidance and salvation. Bestow upon humanity that thirsts for justice, the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers and among those who strive for his return and his cause.
Who is this human being promised to all?
Their new messiah. The way this new messiah appears is by getting rid of little Satan and big Satan. Iran muslims,(I was told there are 2 type of muslims) believe when messiah appears, there has to be a lot of blood shed.
WHO IS THE LITTLE SATAN AND BIG SATAN?:
Israel's role is first of all to protect itself, but also to alert others to the danger of militant Islam. They intend to go after Israel, but for them Israel is merely the "little Satan," one stepping stone on the march to world domination. For Ahmadinejad's Iran, Europe is a "middle-sized Satan" and the United States is the "great Satan."
So, how can you reason and do talks with president Iran when he thinks this way and muslims think this way? It is not all muslims that do, but this one particular type. How can you reason with Ahmadinejad when United States in his eyes is Satan? He wants us dead so this new messiah will come to them.
Didn't Bush call him a Tyrant?
Maybe Fox News is #1 for a reason
Could it be that Americans are more conservative than liberal? I mean, I doubt liberal Americans are tuning in to Fox for shock value. I personally believe Fox News is pretty balanced. Yes, it may lean more conservative, but they always equal out their guests on many of the shows such as Neil Cavuto, Shepherd Smith, Hannity and Colmes. There is balance there. Maybe conservative guests come off as getting more air because they are better debators and not always spouting talking points like the liberals do. If one liberal says some phrase at 8:00 in the morning on the Today Show in reply to a topic then you could almost bet that Democratic pundits will spout the same line the rest of the day. I've even heard talk show hosts do montages of multiple Democratic pundits within a 24-hour period, and it's scary how they all say the exact same thing. If you remember Pee-Wee's Playhouse where he had a word of the day. Democrats seem to have a word of the day too. I'm not saying that Republicans don't do that too at times, but it seems much more prevalent with Democrats.
Now there's the best reason I've heard yet to vote
Waa, I'm Muslim, nobody likes meWaa, I have terrorist associations so nobody will vote for meWaa, I wanna take everyone's money and redistribute it evenly (that's like restarting Monopoly because you're losing)
Then, when I win, we can have a big pity party!!!!
I also heard that on the news, that there
are more people going there to possibly dig up more dirt on her. I think that she will drop out soon.
Thanks for that. As soon as I heard the news,
I tried to think of that saying. All I could remember was the last paragraph.
Yes, I realize you heard that on your news....
There is enough blame of this country's problems to go around for all politicians sitting on their fat wallets and fat egos, with the exception of Ron Paul, who refuses to take the bait.
If you think Obama is the answer to our problem though, then you will be one running around hollering, "Whatever will we do, whatever will we do without the government!!!!!!!!
I'd rather do without government. Hasn't done a thing for me.
I agree. Heard so much from news
that most future presidents take a honeymoon period. Economy must be major chaos, like we did not know before.
I heard on the news day before yesterday...sm
that Obama got a video from the second in command of AL Quada (I don't know how that is spelled.). He warned him about sending troops to Afganistan. Also is said to have called him the "N" word. Did anyone hear what Obama's reaction to this message was? I never did hear anything else.
Heard a comedian talk about Fox News
said Everytime I watch Fox News, my house leans to the right!
Heard it on the news this morning, then googled it...
there is a lot of information on the net about it.
FANTASTIC!! Best news I've heard all day. (nm)
x
unfortunately I heard news show hosts this morning already
calling out Charlie Gibson to accuse him of asking her difficult questions. ??What country do we live in??
Watch for him to get fired now too, this woman loves to fire people who are not for her.
Good. I hadn't heard the news yet that he's finally
going up for trial. I've listened to all the stations but haven't heard it yet. It's about time. There's plenty that crowd needs to be held responsible for. However, this post was not about Bush is was about the messiah. How convenient for you to switch the subject.
Iran warns US. Israel Livini Blasts O's Iran plan
Iran warns US.
http://www.startribune.com/world/33937339.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Israel concerned about ties with new US administration.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=060dd72c-c876-4e0d-b39f-c835c26b256c
And we have to worry about our own economy. Afraid to find out what is next.
I've heard Chatty Cathy in several places on news.
No original thoughts.
Obama to create Iran outreach post...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/19/obama-will-create-iran-outreach-position/
Iran playing rope-a-dope with Obama...when will he learn?
So today we get these "conciliatory" advances from Ahmadinejad regarding their nuke program. Only someone living in fairyland will fail to recognize this old ploy from Iran for exactly what it is. Like Iran's invested $billions in their nukes and they're just going to throw it all away.
If Ahmadinejad can show that Washington is "negotiating" with him, he will shore up the position of his highly unpopular party for the elections in June. He can say "Look - for years we've taken it to America, and now they're coming our way."
It will also undercut the democratic opposition in Iran if Washington has any truck with this deceitful regime, which has never been any more trustworthy than the most psychopathic liar that you've ever known in your life. It will only give them more time to continue to work on their nukes, and will also undercut Israel.
Rope-a-dope is one thing, BO, but even Mohammad Ali's punch-stupid opponents weren't this easy. Your kumbaya fantasies are incredibly naive, and frighteningly dangerous.
Israel, looks like you'll have to do the job again.
Obama admin. skeptical of Iran's election results.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/13/official-obama-administration-skeptical-irans-election-results/
U.S. officials are casting doubt over the results of Iran's election, in which the government declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner Saturday.
U.S. analysts find it "not credible" that challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi would have lost the balloting in his hometown or that a third candidate, Mehdi Karoubi, would have received less than 1 percent of the total vote, a senior U.S. officials told FOX News.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini apparently has released a statement calling the results "final" and hailing the election as a legitimization of the regime and its elections.
Turnout appears to have reached 82 percent, an all-time high. But when asked if the turnout figures should be considered suspect, given the "not credible" counts for Mousavi and Karoubi, the official said: "Oh, it has to be [considered suspect]."
There are already reports of violence outside Mousavi's campaign headquarters, and of huge demonstrations for both sides in central Tehran, with Mousavi trying to make his way to the one in his behalf. Even if widespread violence occurs, analysts see no prospect that this event would lead to a full-scale attempt at revolution or the toppling of the regime.
The dominant view among Obama administration officials, though not uncontested, is that the regime will look so bad as a result of whipping up Iranian hopes for democracy and then squelching them that the regime may feel compelled to show some conciliatory response to President Obama's gestures of engagement.
obama's reason
Integrity. Belief in his own vision for the future. Distaste for repub tactics of dividing Americans over issues such as anti-choice, pro-choice, gay rights, etc.
For the same reason Obama won't go somewhere...
not scripted. Neither one wants to be trapped, and if you look, there are a lot more hunters looking to foul her up than him. He should do it BEFORE she did anyway, HE is the #1 on the ticket. Good grief.
My reason for not voting for Obama...
he is going to raise DH and my taxes. Yes, we make a very good living through having a good work ethic, not living above our means and working for everything that we have. We have never had to rely on the gov't to give us a handout and we don't expect one. We put ourselves through school with loans that we paid back, we pay for our own health insurance, we paid for daycare when the kids were little, we didn't expect the gov't to give us a thing; we were taught early on that you work hard to achieve your goals and we have. I don't need a president telling my DH and I that we have to "spread our wealth" around to those less fortunate than us. WE decide who to give our money to and when. There will be on incentive to work hard if Obama is elected; laziness will be rewarded. We shouldn't be bailing out big corporations at all, nor should we bail out every homeowner who bought more than they could afford and now expect help. While there are some circumstances that do merit help such as medical reasons or job loss, most are due to financial irresponsibility on the homeowners part. The American Dream is out there if you work for it, but Obama will make sure if you acheive it you must carry someone on your back who doesn't deserve it.
Did you hear the real reason why Obama
not our country, but for his kids to have much more than he had. He wanted his kids and ours to have a better life. Sure, nothing wrong with that, but it was not for you or me, economy, "where is my check in the mail?", keeping our country safe, and among many other things.
And I'm worried about Obama finding a reason to declare...sm
martial law once he's in office, and creating his own dictatorship. Works both ways.
I still say Bush will be glad to be well out of it come January 20, 2009.
But watch....Bush will get blamed for everything that goes wrong for the next four years anyway
so many attack - no real reason AND no positive info on Obama
The more McCain/Palin's ratings are going up, the more the democrats are panicking, and the attacks about Palin are becoming more vicious - AND nobody is posting anything positive about Obama, like "I'm really excited about his health care plan or his energy plan or his housing fix plan or 100 other reasons we should be voting for someone. No, nothing positive about him...AND I'm not even hearing anything negative against McCain's plan. It's just vicious rumors, lies, and conjectures about Sarah Palin. Let's see. I've heard she hunts, she's for killing innocent soldiers and civilians in Iraq, she has a tanning bed, her daughter's pregnant, she didn't answer questions the way you would answer them (which in all fairness to her the interview was a bait & trap situation - especially when half the country was asking "what part is he asking her about?"). So for all those who say she didn't get it, neither did half the country (but those must be the people who cling to their guns and religion). Let's see...what else. She's selling her baby on e-bay, the father of her daughter's baby is skum, she believes in God, etc, etc. Oh yes, the best one was someone didn't like her because she is pretty and was in a beauty pagent (although I can't decide whether that is the best or that someone believes she was selling her baby on e-bay). Yet you refuse to list any of her good qualities like she cut out pork spending, she balanced the budget, she stands up to the big guy, she gave refunds to all Alaskan citizens who paid too much in money to the oil executives, she's smart about energy and she's for drilling here in the states (which will cut our gas and oil prices in half), and the numerous other good things she has done. I've heard she's not experienced (but you won't admit that neither is Obama). Then of course when someone posts something positive about her you jump down their backs and are just really nasty. And then what kind of comments do I hear about McCain? He doesn't use the computer (someone was actually complaining about him not sending out emails himself on September 11th), and someone else was making fun of him because he doesn't comb his hair. I hear that and think that there are people who have small minds. He can't do either because he was beaten without mercy and he can't lift his arms up to do these activities (and you have the audacity to make fun of him for that?) But you know what? At least he can still put his hand over his heart when the pledge of allegience is being said and the national anthem is being played.
You know, if your going to say something negative about someone at least have a comeback with something negative that is halfway intelligent and counter it with something positive from the candidate you support.
And for petes sake, use John McCain's real name, not the phony acronyms you like to use. He was in a POW camp for five years beaten til near death every day. He's earned the respect to at least call him by his real name. Whether or not you hate him so much, he is not Bush and he is not more of the same. His policies and voting record proves differently. You can't say he voted the same as Bush because Bush doesn't vote. Anything that's been voted on that you want to blame Bush for you need to take a look at the democrat congress. Their the ones voting, and its the democrats who have stopped the impeachment hearing for Bush. Why???? McCain's policies, health care plan, his reform plan, his economy plan, and everything else about what he will do when he becomes president is different than what Bush has done. Bush is Bush, McCain is McCain. If anyone is to be compared to Bush it would be Obama because the people who are directing Bush are also the same group that is directing Obama.
So, can we please be civilized adults, and come up with hard facts before accusing one candidate of something that is obviously false. Stick to issues and no rumors.
And that statement is ridiculous, Iran and Iraq enemies, remember the Iran-Iraq war? Iraq would jus
nm
just as i hope African American's aren't voting for Obama for that reason!
NM (i suppose that means "no more"? or something) im still a bit new to the board!
what I heard Obama say -
I heard Obama say that if you were making OVER 250,000 you would get higher taxes, if you were making between 200,000 and 250,000 then your taxes would not change, and if you were making under 200,000 then you would be seeing tax cuts, with the highest being for the middle class (which would be where the 100,000 comes in).
This is old news and I believe it was Obama's
campaign that released the thesis so I don't really know if they were the ones trying to suppress it to begin with - but I don't know.
I guess my question is - what part of it did you think was racist? I know a couple of phrases from it have been quoted out of context, especially in mass e-mails.
Obama (1st chair) first said he heard ...
Wright say things that were controversial in the church. Then he denied it. Then he said he did, then he said he didn't.
Joe Biden's son is a professional lobbyist. He has gotten huge earmarks for his father's constituents. Do we really want to go there?
Have NEVER heard Obama speak to this
++
I heard Obama talking
about that bill. I cannot remember what he said was on it that he did not like, but I remember he said that those babies are protected without it. That it is already a law that they have to get medical attention if they survived the abortion.
He knew that was the case when he voted, so that was not the issue, and it would not subject them to being left to die.
I heard tonight that Obama
was planning on asking Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State. Remembering back to the primary days, I'm not sure I think this is a good idea. For that matter, I'm not even sure it's true; just something I heard, nothing official.
I'm having a rough night and feel there's another hospitalization for me looming in my very near future, so I might not be able to post on here for a while for feedback from you on this. (To some on this board, go ahead and flame away.) Good thing they have TV sets in the hospital, though, so I can at least keep up with the news. LOL.
Anyway, take care.
Anyone heard about Obama's bill...
for children 18-24 to do mandatory military time. I heard this, but don't know if it is true or not...
A little more unsettling news about Obama...
I read that Madeline Albright (of Clinton Administration fame) is one of his top security and foreign relations advisors. The same Madeline Albright who was instrumental in the sanctions against Iraq (yes, Clinton wanted to get rid of him too). I wondered where Obama was getting his idea about "sanctions" and an "international coalition" against Iran (after he had to back down on his 'I would talk to Ahmadinejad face to face with no rules' remark...loose quote). That is very unsettling to me. Most people have forgotten how many Iraqi civilians died as a result of those sanctions because any food going into the country Hussein kept for himself and his party...over a million people died, half of those children. That is 500,000 children. That is a death toll MUCH greater than the entire Iraq war has caused....so if you are a body counter, it would serve you well to remember that. And that same Madeline Albright, when asked if it was worth it, replied, basically, "We think the price is worth it." She later apologized for the remark; however, here she is again hawking sanctions and Obama is on the train. Sanctions don't work. Didn't work in Iraq, won't work in Iran. Much "food" for thought.
Yeah, that was on the news. Obama almost
nm
I believe the Obama has just responded in the news....sm
and "me" is right.
Obama is for Obama. Period.
He won't suspend his campaign. He wants the debate to go on.
At least McCain has class and leadership in this area.
Obama is...well....just for Obama
I heard that the gutless wonderment of what is Obama...sm
had the kids video up on his website....and then took it down.....
wonder why.....
The only time I've heard Obama
talk about religion where it concerns POLICY is with the abortion issue. In the 3rd debate he said he was pro-choice because he felt it was a moral issue, guided by religion, lack of religion, or whatever. To me this means he is (unlike McCain) inclusive of the beliefs of ALL the people, not just some or those who have the same religious beliefs.
Good for Fox News...they refused to run an ad against Obama...
put together by a private citizen (not the McCain campaign), the same guy who was behind the swift boat ads against Kerry. They could have run it and they chose not to. Good for them! I admit, there is cause for concern about Obama's connection to Ayers, but that kind of ad where it is mean accusation and innuendo with no real proof shouldn't be run, in my opinion. Good for them for stepping up.
Old news -- instead of trash-talking Obama
I haven't heard any initiatives out of him yet! Just the trash-talking!
Don't need FOX news; I can read Obama's perversion
nm
Funny, haven't heard of any crowds of 100,000+ like Obama.
xx
I have heard Obama say that every American will have health insurance
and while that is a lovely thought, it is not a realistic one. Look what happened with children in Hawaii. People began dropping their own private insurance in favor of the public insurance and caused the system to fail. Unfortunately, health care is expensive and cannot be guaranteed by the government without a price. I think that it is a nice plan, but will ultimately fail because we have a lot of lazy people who think that Obama is going to be their goose that laid the golden eggs. It's as if some people here (and it is the deep south) believe that if they vote for Obama, he is going to ensure that everyone drives a Cadillac and eats lobster. It is silly and unfortunate. These people are still living in FEMA trailers. Did you know some people actually steal them? Now--don't get me wrong, I am sure that there are some hard luck stories of people with health problems and such that cannot get out of their FEMA trailers, but the vast majority of them are just lazy. It has been three years.. but I digress. I think that radical government change happens very slowly and Obama is ushering it in. My opinion. Feel free to disagree, but I feel that these programs are stepping stones. Oh--and TriCare is the military plan.
gee, one-sided U.S. news coverage...go figure....it's how Obama
Ever heard of Barack Hussein Obama before he started running?
that argument doesn't play out either! and she's the VP not the president!
I'm a woman, and supported Hillary 'til I heard Obama
I don't pick a candidate by their gender, their color, their name, their religion, or anything else. I pick a candidate by their intelligence, ability to lead, and one whom the rest of the world will be more likely to listen & relate to. After the last 4 years, I've watched big companies get TAX BREAKS and INCENTIVES for shipping our work overseas. I work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, and I'm close to needing section-8 housing and food stamps because my pay won't get me much in this country, anymore. Ever notice that just about EVERYTHING you buy these days is made in China? Yet try and find those same products made in the USA. Impossible. So no, I want a candidate that I can look up to and be proud of, not one like Dubya, who's made me embarrased to be an American for the past 8 years.
OBAMA WON!!! Despite Faux News attempts to thwart the success WE DID IT
very good news and what a relief
Funny i heard the exact same line from the Obama campaign spokespeople...
this morning. Almost word for word. I would think being endorsed by an outfit under investigation for voter fraud in 10-12 and more states every day would not be a good thing...but that's just me.
Well as far as voter fraud my friend...so far it is all ACORN all the time, and ACORN is not registering Republicans. For a supposedly "neutral" voter organization....kinda tells the tale, don't you think?
I heard 1 time during this entire cycle about possible Republican voter fraud and that was on the part of 1 man. This is a coordinated, organized effort to steal an election.
Excuse me...in Ohio they registered and voted in a single day so there HAVE been votes cast. And when law enforcement investigates or indicts on voter fraud...they are pretty sure fraud occurred. ACORN has even owned up to the fact that yes, there will be fraud, but they can't monitor the people they hired (felons on work release in one state) and can't check every registration.
Obama DOES have a relationship with them. He spoke at their convention last year. He worked with them on Project Vote and helped train the folks going out to register.
Give him a pass, I don't care. Just don't call people cowardly or hate filled because they aren't on the Obama train. That makes you look hate-filled and cowardly...same thing you accuse others of.
This is the reason we are in Iraq and it's the same reason I didn't vote for him in 2000: Didn't
his own personal reasons.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050620/why_george_went_to_war.php
The Downing Street memos have brought into focus an essential question: on what basis did President George W. Bush decide to invade Iraq? The memos are a government-level confirmation of what has been long believed by so many: that the administration was hell-bent on invading Iraq and was simply looking for justification, valid or not.
Despite such mounting evidence, Bush resolutely maintains total denial. In fact, when a British reporter asked the president recently about the Downing Street documents, Bush painted himself as a reluctant warrior. "Both of us didn't want to use our military," he said, answering for himself and British Prime Minister Blair. "Nobody wants to commit military into combat. It's the last option."
Yet there's evidence that Bush not only deliberately relied on false intelligence to justify an attack, but that he would have willingly used any excuse at all to invade Iraq. And that he was obsessed with the notion well before 9/11—indeed, even before he became president in early 2001.
In interviews I conducted last fall, a well-known journalist, biographer and Bush family friend who worked for a time with Bush on a ghostwritten memoir said that an Iraq war was always on Bush's brain.
"He was thinking about invading Iraq in 1999," said author and Houston Chronicle journalist Mickey Herskowitz. "It was on his mind. He said, 'One of the keys to being seen as a great leader is to be seen as a commander-in-chief.' And he said, 'My father had all this political capital built up when he drove the Iraqis out of Kuwait and he wasted it.' He went on, 'If I have a chance to invade…, if I had that much capital, I'm not going to waste it. I'm going to get everything passed that I want to get passed and I'm going to have a successful presidency.'"
Bush apparently accepted a view that Herskowitz, with his long experience of writing books with top Republicans, says was a common sentiment: that no president could be considered truly successful without one military "win" under his belt. Leading Republicans had long been enthralled by the effect of the minuscule Falklands War on British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's popularity, and ridiculed Democrats such as Jimmy Carter who were reluctant to use American force. Indeed, both Reagan and Bush's father successfully prosecuted limited invasions (Grenada, Panama and the Gulf War) without miring the United States in endless conflicts.
Herskowitz's revelations illuminate Bush's personal motivation for invading Iraq and, more importantly, his general inclination to use war to advance his domestic political ends. Furthermore, they establish that this thinking predated 9/11, predated his election to the presidency and predated his appointment of leading neoconservatives who had their own, separate, more complex geopolitical rationale for supporting an invasion.
Conversations With Bush The Candidate
Herskowitz—a longtime Houston newspaper columnist—has ghostwritten or co-authored autobiographies of a broad spectrum of famous people, including Reagan adviser Michael Deaver, Mickey Mantle, Dan Rather and Nixon cabinet secretary John B. Connally. Bush's 1999 comments to Herskowitz were made over the course of as many as 20 sessions together. Eventually, campaign staffers—expressing concern about things Bush had told the author that were included in the manuscript—pulled the project, and Bush campaign officials came to Herskowitz's house and took his original tapes and notes. Bush communications director Karen Hughes then assumed responsibility for the project, which was published in highly sanitized form as A Charge to Keep.
The revelations about Bush's attitude toward Iraq emerged during two taped sessions I held with Herskowitz. These conversations covered a variety of matters, including the journalist's continued closeness with the Bush family and fondness for Bush Senior—who clearly trusted Herskowitz enough to arrange for him to pen a subsequent authorized biography of Bush's grandfather, written and published in 2003.
I conducted those interviews last fall and published an article based on them during the final heated days of the 2004 campaign. Herskowitz's taped insights were verified to the satisfaction of editors at the Houston Chronicle, yet the story failed to gain broad mainstream coverage, primarily because news organization executives expressed concern about introducing such potent news so close to the election. Editors told me they worried about a huge backlash from the White House and charges of an "October Surprise."
Debating The Timeline For War
But today, as public doubts over the Iraq invasion grow, and with the Downing Street papers adding substance to those doubts, the Herskowitz interviews assume singular importance by providing profound insight into what motivated Bush—personally—in the days and weeks following 9/11. Those interviews introduce us to a George W. Bush, who, until 9/11, had no means for becoming "a great president"—because he had no easy path to war. Once handed the national tragedy of 9/11, Bush realized that the Afghanistan campaign and the covert war against terrorist organizations would not satisfy his ambitions for greatness. Thus, Bush shifted focus from Al Qaeda, perpetrator of the attacks on New York and Washington. Instead, he concentrated on ensuring his place in American history by going after a globally reviled and easily targeted state run by a ruthless dictator.
The Herskowitz interviews add an important dimension to our understanding of this presidency, especially in combination with further evidence that Bush's focus on Iraq was motivated by something other than credible intelligence. In their published accounts of the period between 9/11 and the March 2003 invasion, former White House Counterterrorism Coordinator Richard Clarke and journalist Bob Woodward both describe a president single-mindedly obsessed with Iraq. The first anecdote takes place the day after the World Trade Center collapsed, in the Situation Room of the White House. The witness is Richard Clarke, and the situation is captured in his book, Against All Enemies.
On September 12th, I left the Video Conferencing Center and there, wandering alone around the Situation Room, was the President. He looked like he wanted something to do. He grabbed a few of us and closed the door to the conference room. "Look," he told us, "I know you have a lot to do and all…but I want you, as soon as you can, to go back over everything, everything. See if Saddam did this. See if he's linked in any way…"
I was once again taken aback, incredulous, and it showed. "But, Mr. President, Al Qaeda did this."
"I know, I know, but…see if Saddam was involved. Just look. I want to know any shred…" …
"Look into Iraq, Saddam," the President said testily and left us. Lisa Gordon-Hagerty stared after him with her mouth hanging open.
Similarly, Bob Woodward, in a CBS News 60 Minutes interview about his book, Bush At War, captures a moment, on November 21, 2001, where the president expresses an acute sense of urgency that it is time to secretly plan the war with Iraq. Again, we know there was nothing in the way of credible intelligence to precipitate the president's actions.
Woodward: "President Bush, after a National Security Council meeting, takes Don Rumsfeld aside, collars him physically and takes him into a little cubbyhole room and closes the door and says, 'What have you got in terms of plans for Iraq? What is the status of the war plan? I want you to get on it. I want you to keep it secret.'"
Wallace (voiceover): Woodward says immediately after that, Rumsfeld told Gen. Tommy Franks to develop a war plan to invade Iraq and remove Saddam—and that Rumsfeld gave Franks a blank check.
Woodward: "Rumsfeld and Franks work out a deal essentially where Franks can spend any money he needs. And so he starts building runways and pipelines and doing all the necessary preparations in Kuwait specifically to make war possible."
Bush wanted a war so that he could build the political capital necessary to achieve his domestic agenda and become, in his mind, "a great president." Blair and the members of his cabinet, unaware of the Herskowitz conversations, placed Bush's decision to mount an invasion in or about July of 2002. But for Bush, the question that summer was not whether, it was only how and when. The most important question, why, was left for later.
Eventually, there would be a succession of answers to that question: weapons of mass destruction, links to Al Qaeda, the promotion of democracy, the domino theory of the Middle East. But none of them have been as convincing as the reason George W. Bush gave way back in the summer of 1999.
Iran....
But, governments do speak for their people in diplomatic circles and at the United Nations, regional conferences with other nations where they live, etc.
It is not possible for other countries to differentiate between the people of Iran and the government leaders. They deal with the leaders.
You know, we were fed a line in this country as far as back the first George Bush administration back in 1988-1992 that the people of Iraq did not support Hussein and that he would be overthrown by internal forces. That did not happen. We went in there 3 years ago to free the Iraqi people and it is now a huge mess that has cost thousands of lives, mostly Iraqi, and cost an unbelievable amount of money. Now Iran is making more noise. They hated the Shah because of his close ties to the West, so they put in a lunatic Islamic cleric and turned the country into a religious state. Islam teaches brotherhood and tolerance, so why are the leaders of this religious state so full of hate and spite?
Frankly, I think we should completely withdraw from the Middle East, including Israel. We should deport all Middle Easterners from this this country and from our American territories. We should quit buying your oil and anything else you produce. Leave us alone and we'll return the favor.
I think it is apparent that democracy is not possible in Arab Islamic countries. It works in other Muslim countries, like Turkey and some other places, but obviously the Middle East is not evolved enough to be able to tolerate other people's viewpoints and value systems. Until that happens, there can be no democracy.
Iran
• AP photographer: Gunmen fire on Iran protesters, killing one
I hope the link works! If not, sorry!
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