Orwellian

"In the Middle East's Orwellisms, victims are turned into aggressors, savages and barbarians are painted as victims, imperialists and warmongers are declared moderates, defense is aggression, offense is defense, democrats are denounced as imperialists, dictators are lauded as democrats, and there are no problems on the planet that could not be resolved through the destruction of Israel." (Professor Steven Plaut, Ph.D of Haifa)

Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were all dominant state powers in the Arab Gulf. But the Saudis have in many ways; personal and political, been George W. Bush's silent partner and was the single most serious money behind George's meteoric rise to power as governor of Texas and the presidency of the United States. His Saudi bankers turned critical of the Bush Doctrine when it looked as-if George had turned his back on Sunnis so it was no surprise when George armed and embraced these former killers of Americans, as an essential ingredient in his "surge" doctrine.

George Bush also listens to God who he says talks to him too and he understands his function as the president and Commander-In-Chief, is just as important for him to spread freedom and liberty as it is for him to maintain the status quo and insure the rich stay that way. He declares: "freedom is on the march," but it a kind of freedom which only favors the filthy rich - including those royal oil barons in Saudi Arabia.

John L. O'Sullivan in 1845 described America's divinely sanctioned mission as it's "Manifest Destiny", to-wit:

  The United States has been "selected by God for the greatest experiment 
    in human history, the achievement of liberty, and its expanison was 
       part and parcel of this providential destiny" 

That was the thinking in 1845 and it appears to be George Bush's thinking now.

• Eric Foner, The Story of American Freedom - 1998

While rebuilding what we broke in Iraq, billions of dollars were misplaced and apparently nobody is seriously looking for it and, during the sanctions period when Iraqi babies were dying, really dying, not the type of propaganda spread about by spokespersons for the first Bush administration which justified the war in 1991 against Iraq for invading Kuwait.

Saddam received the nod from Bush's Ambassador to Iraq to attack Kuwait, who later denied it but the truth was disclosed after papers from the Ambassador were declassed. Was it a foobar or an intentional deception to entrap Saddam and try to kill him?

Before George W. Bush's attacked Iraq, the CIA reported, Iraq retained its "covert force of Scud type missiles, launchers, and Scud-specific production equipment and support apparatus." The CIA also informed Bush that "Iraq's ballistic missile initiatives probably will focus on reconstituting its pre-Gulf war capabilities to threaten regional targets." And they further warned, "With substantial foreign assistance, Baghdad could flight-test a domestic mid-range missile by the middle of the decade..."

Even without the WMD, this was a compelling justification for war. It was a legitimate concern and every military tactician knows foresight is always better than hindsight in these matters. Regardless of the speculations to the contrary and regardless of the "Downing Street Memos" which alleged making the intelligence fit the agenda, there was substantially enough clear evidence to connect the dots before those conclusions to take Iraq out - to eliminate Iraq as a potential threat. As a former critic of the war, I think now that it was far better to come down on the side of anticipating the worst and assuming the threat was real, for which there was enough circumstantial evidence to evince a conclusion which even though iffy is better than making the dreadful mistake of underestimating the danger which would have been disastrous.

Obviously just as the Taliban in Afghanistan received military assistance and economic aid from our former enemies, so did Iraq. Take either China or Russia, which we must treat guardedly as a possible friend but also a potential enemy. North Korea is also a player who has helped the Syrians and Pakistan has its rogue scientists who are for sale to the highest bidder.

The CIA reported that "new" liquid fuel al-Samud missiles, with ranges up to 150 kilometers was soon going to be deployed in Iraq. The report stated that the range could also be extended which would put Israel at risk as well as other countries in the Middle East. We should not forget that during the war Israel was not allowed to being a party to when Iraq attacked Kuwait and the U.S. and coalition forces responded with their first Gulf War, during which, Israel was bombarded with a rocket attack from Iraq.

Iraq had the scientists; that is, those who survived George Bush, the father. Saddam was willing, if not capable of hurting American interests and American personnel anywhere it could reach and he already breached international law and committed war crimes. The scientists in Iraq were smart and they were capable and if allowed to continue unhampered, unstopped by the U.S. and any allies who would join us, they would soon have the ability and they would use it. Saddam would use it. His sons were crazy and would use the power. They had to be stopped. The war was the right thing to do.

A CIA also "remains concerned about Syria's intentions regarding nuclear weapons." The U.S. did not do anything about Syria but Israel did.

Israel's Major General Meir Dagan "six years on this job, has proved his covert mettle in a variety of counter-terror operations. Dagan was charged by former PM Ariel Sharon to monitor and concentrate top priority intelligence gathering on Iran's nukes program." (David Eshel [June, 2008] Defense Update in "Can, or Should Israel Disable Iran's Nukes by Itself?" Defense-Update.Com) "Unconfirmed reports, indicated Dagan's highly successful intelligence coup, was leading up to the demolition of Syria’s North Korean plutonium reactor in al Kebir last September, which Israel stubbornly refuses to confirm, in spite of 'leaks' by some of its senior politicians. It was not until April 2008, seven months after the dramatic event, that the US Central Intelligence Agency released news of the operation in Washington, providing graphics attesting to the penetration of the of the most secret and well-protected facility in Syria. US based sources hinted that a major coup was achieved not so much by destroying a suspected nuclear facility, but actually testing the new Russian-built air defense systems, allegedly deployed in that area. Moreover, as a strategic by-product, the supposed ( but never confirmed) flight-route, over Syrian airspace, actually brought Israeli jets close to the Iraqi border, and a virtual "stone-throw" towards Iranian skies, without being challenged." (ibid)

The CIA report states: "Syria maintains a ballistic missile and rocket force of hundreds of Frog rockets, Scuds, and SS-21 SRBMs. With considerable foreign assistance, Syria progressed to Scud production using primarily locally manufactured parts. Syrian regional concerns may lead Damascus to seek a longer range ballistic missile capability such as North Korea's No Dong medium range ballistic missile."

Iran developed the Shihab-3 rocket which according to Amir Oren of Israel (11 January 2002):

"based on the North Korean No Dong missile, is in advanced stages of development, and Iran could launch it during a conflict. Its range, 1,300 kilometers, puts it within reach of Israel (and easily within reach of U.S. troops in Iraq). The American intelligence community says that Iran still doesn't have a nuclear capability, but could have one by the end of the decade - or sooner, if it gets foreign help."

Iran also receives nuclear aid from one of Bush's newest, and _best_ friends, Vladimir Putin of Russia - who now has a presence in Afghanistan again, without firing a shot, thanks to Bush's failed war against Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.

The Middle East is rapidly transitioning from conventional to non-conventional warfare with tactical nukes. George Bush has restarted nuclear weapons research and development setting a very dangerous but perhaps an essential precedent, given Iran's intentions, clearly articulated by the president of Iran to continue with its nuclear weapons program and "wipe Israel off the map."

"[A] gradual move from the threat of conventional warfare to non-conventional warfare, which is turning realistic, worrisome and significant. So far, we've dealt with the nuclear weapons only as a theoretical threat, far from us, but around 2005 Iran will have nuclear capabilities that will threaten us, the region and possibly the entire world's security. Iran unceasingly supports terror organizations and we assume that getting nuclear weapons will increase its support for terror and for regional violence." (statement by Israel Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer)

Also reported in Defense Update: "Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar emphasized, last December, that under a recent military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, an undisclosed number of highly sophisticated S-300 air defense systems will be delivered to Iran, on the basis of a contract signed with Russia in the past. Earlier reports said that Russia had delivered all 29 Tor-M1 ordered by Iran under a US$700 million contract signed in December 2005. Although, as usual, Russian officials refused to comment on the Iranian statement, rumors about this sale have persisted over a long time with Russian officials being consistently in denial. Undoubtedly, if Iran will have S-300s in its possession, these missiles could pose significant threat to attackers, whether U.S. or Israeli, if ordered to attack targets in Iran."

"Enhanced rumours over a possible air strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, increased in Israel recently, when news over confirmed, that Mossad director, retired Major General Meir Dagan's term, would be extended until end 2009." (ibid)

The alliance between Iran, Syria and it is suspected by experts there is a secret alliance between Shiites in Iraq and Iran is planning to undermind the efforts by the United States to build democracy and dependable trading partners. Israel and America are festering cancers for them. It is more than personal. It is a war against our American culture and influence. And it is hundreds of years of enmity against the Jews.

Terrorism is a virulent Islamic fanatical hatred of non-Muslims. Americans also have an obsession for oil, which we need to keep us in the manner to which we have become accustomed and the Jews, as usual, somehow got stuck right in the middle of it - when it would have been far better if they settled in Miami Beach instead of Jerusalem. Obama owes favors to his Islamic pro-Palestinian, Muslim friends if he becomes president, and George W. Bush is waiting for rapture so there is nothing happening here that is not according to _the_ plan.

These problems are not going away. It is for sure that Israel lives in a bad neighborhood. It is also a certainty that Israel won't be able to stop other countries in the region from obtaining nuclear power and with it the capability to manufacture nuclear weapons. Haraatz recently reported that Turkey and Saudi Arabia are building nuclear reactors and Jordan has announced its intent to do the same. How will Israel prevent the region from obtaining nuclear technology. The short answer is, it won't.

We in America must become energy independent. We have to cut our reliance on the Middle East and we must stand ready, willing and able to come to the aid of our only friend and ally, which is Israel. Obviously Israelis also realize they really can't depend on anyone else as much as they can themselves to defend Israel. The U.S. public is fickle. Today's friend may be tomorrow's scapegoat. Israel needs friends she can depend on. Don't deny her that.

The war is far from over. The war on Islamic fanaticism is only just beginning. We should never lose sight of that fact. As stated in Defense Update: "The primary objective of any such action should be to halt or substantially delay Iran's completion of its nuclear project for several years, hoping that a more moderate regime will emerge, willing to regain its place in the free world." (ibid) "It seems inevitable, that the Tehran Ayathollah's must be stopped, one way or another, before the world enters into total disarray and uncontrollable chaos, threatened by a nuclear tipped Islamic fundamentalist rogue nation. Time is critical, but Israel must not be left alone to face the consequences looming on the threshold of the free world." (ibid)

Hank Roth

Note:

1. The U.S. has supported Saudi Arabia in a very personal and close relationship promised by President Truman and continued since the Second World War in order to insure world access to oil -- even though the United States only acquires 16% of the oil from Saudi Arabia for internal use, but all the rest for the cartel of oil companies, many of which are based in Texas. What is more at stake here than U.S. consumption is U.S. corporate profits.
2. Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman are the smaller and less powerful Arab states, and often are referred to collectively as "the other Gulf states."

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