America (thinks it) Owns The World

If Iran makes the right choice, America will encourage a peaceful relationship between Iran and Iraq. Iran makes the wrong choice, America will act to protect our interests, and our troops, and our Iraqi partners. - Bush speech to the nation following the latest Petraeus / Crocker dog and pony show.

Petraeus Points to War With Iran

The article continues below the fold:

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.

American citizens are not holding our government responsible for war crimes (e.g. google "Fallujah collective punishment"), at least in part, because we believe we have earned the "right" through blood and treasure to "own" Iraq.

There is no honorable exit from Iraq as long as we have dishonorable, dishonest beliefs about our goals there.

The spin is "when the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down." The TRUTH is "when we have installed a pro-American government, we will let them fight on our behalf." And, BTW, if we don't like the government (as shown by our example in Fallujah) we will annihilate it, and everyone who supports it.

This does not bode well for us when the Iraqi national government is embracing relations with Iran even as our President rattles sabers about Iranian "interference" in the Iraqi government and Bunka Dick Darth Cheney the Vice President travels the middle east to rally for support for another war. Once again, we "own" Iran, and unless they go along with our aim to install a proxy in Iraq they, too, are "the enemy".

Since the neocons in control of our government have stockpiled tons of money through other illegal acts they have no fear of the economic disaster a war with Iran would inevitably cause. An attack, either by our other proxy (Israel) or American forces themselves before the November elections should not be unexpected. What will "take us completely by surprise" is the unavoidable escalation, complete with an increase in American casualties in the middle east and worldwide economic collapse.

Appendix 1: War Crimes Committed in Fallujah

Willful killing, or causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, Torture or inhumane treatment, Unlawful wanton destruction or appropriation of property

Depriving a prisoner of war of a fair trial, Killing a surrendered combatant

Deportation of inhabitants of occupied territory

The question is, "what were the local militias, which our press conveniently refers to as 'insurgents', 'resisting'?" The answer is, "American occupation." Their relationship with local government was good.

Appendix II: Duration of US Wars and "Police Actions"

Source: "HistoryGuy" (Reprinted with permission).

Vietnam War--August, 1964 to April, 1975= 116 months (American involvement began in the late 1950s, but major U.S. combat forces began taking part in large unit combat in 1964)

American Revolution--April, 1775 to September, 1783= 100 months

Afghanistan-- October, 2001 to Present (as of March, 2008)= 77 months

Iraq War--March, 2003 to Present (as of March, 2008)= 60 months

U.S. Civil War--April, 1861 to April, 1865= 48 months

World War II--December, 1941 to September, 1945= 45 months

World War I--April, 1917 to November, 1918= 19 months

Korean War-- June, 1950 to July, 1953= 37 months

War of 1812--June, 1812 to February, 1815= 32 months

U.S.-Mexican War-- May, 1846 to February, 1848= 21 months

Spanish-American War--April, 1898 to August, 1898= 5 months

Gulf War--January, 1991 to March, 1991= 3 months

I would add that France financed much of the American Revolution, and there is no end in sight for the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.