America Is Back, Now the Hard Part
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HuffPost's QuickRead
Memo To Right-Wing: Withdrawal Timetable Now Doubleplusgood
I'm on a lot of strange press lists, so I get a lot of strange press releases, but this is the first time I've ever gotten one from another dimension, I have to admit.
Diplomacy, Diplomacy, Diplomacy
Diplomacy is as important for keeping Iraq stable as it is for making sure that US troops are not targets of attacks by insurgents, or caught in the crossfire of an explosion of sectarian violence, as we begin to pull back.
Bush in Race Against Time to Wreck Country
Confounding the conventional wisdom that he is a lame duck president with no agenda as his days in office dwindle, President Bush is redoubling his efforts to mutilate the country before his term expires.
Obama's America: Observing the Observance of Veterans Day
Barack Obama has never worn the uniform. Yet he has more rapport with the experience of the American veteran than the Republicans who are now in the process of relinquishing power to him and his allies.
Professor Obama
Rather than preach, build or spread democracy, we proved that our system works. By winning, Obama did more to teach the Iraqis about democracy than four years of nation building has done.
The Bush Legacy: Haunted By Mistakes
Bush's presidency may someday be seen in a milder light, because in the last two years of his administration, he was able to pull off an inconspicuous, but in many ways fundamental, change of course.
Wake the Neighbors: The President Has Regrets
When I read the headlines, "Bush Recalls Moments of Regret," Bush Speaks of Regret," I broke open the chips and hummus to read his Apologia. This will be good, I thought.
Friday Talking Points [55] -- "Bretton Woods II"? Not Quite.
I have to begin here today by stomping all over a cutesy term the media has come up with for the upcoming economic "summit" George W. Bush is holding ...
Will The Slaughter Of Iraqis By The US Military Ever Be Reported?
Even if the Obama administration pursues a very different policy in Iraq and the Middle East, I doubt it will acknowledge the amount of violence caused by the war during its first six years.
The Word from California
While many Americans feel quite content in contesting the "Gay Agenda," far fewer consider themselves out and out bigots willing to deny other people basic Human Rights.
Afghans Trained by Blackwater Defect to Taliban
Many Afghans working for the Afghan security forces are now switching sides and are now defecting to the Taliban. Guess who trained many of them? Blackwater!
The Pentagon's Fifteen Billion Dollar Pirate Plunder
(No, this is NOT an Indiana Jones Sequel) Yes, you read that correctly. American taxpayers have paid out $15 Billion U.S. dollars in unaccounted for...
The Subpriming of Iraq
This is a credit card war. With Congress passing emergency supplemental budgets that are not covered by tax revenues, we have yet to pay a penny out of our own pockets for the war.
Why Do We Need Veterans?
I should have said that we need veterans to bring the values of leadership, honor and service to the civic life of this country.
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Michael Ware: "Iran Has A Lock On Influence And Persuasion... Within The Iraqi Political Process" (VIDEO)
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Funny how any time the Iraqis aren't cravenly capitulating to the petro-mercenary occupation, the problem is Iran.
Somehow, the US news media have largely ignored the glaring fact that Bush's removal of Saddam set up Iran is a major power in the area, without serious opposition.
We've removed a secularist Arab state (admittedly run by a very bad actor) and replace it with a Shiite government clearly oriented toward Iran. There is absolutely no chance that a liberal democracy can emerge in iran in our lifetime or maybe ever.
Once we're gone, look for Iraq to serve as a conduit to Iran for weapons, advanced technology and a friendly place to locate missiles.
Actually, a powerful Iran can help to put a lid on israeli craziness, which is why Israel is screeching to attack Iran now. That won't work either, the last thing the US and the advanced economies can stand now is a recession PLUS astronomical oil prices that would follow an attack.
Checkmate, W. The Fifth Imam salutes you!
I disagree. We could have the beginnings of a liberal democracy in Iran as soon as this summer's elections.
The biggest political movement in Iran is towards reform. it is being held back, in part, by aggressive US policies that by threatening Iran, and empower the conservative clerics who are the real power.I n any country the citizens will support their government in times of crisis. Especially foreign threats.
But the clerics are growing old. And corrupt.
Left to there own without foreign threats Iran just might evolve into a modern progressive country.
It is worth giving them the chance. What we have been doing so far hasn't worked.
I think your timetable might be a little off, there might be a democracy of sorts in Iran eventually, but the Iranians are going to have to deal with a well-armed theocratic party that will have to be persuaded to step down.
After the collapse of the USSR, I guess we shouldn't dismiss the possibility. Economic collapse might hasten the process, and if the Iranians are lucky they might overturn the theocrats without bloodshed. It's already clear that the Iranian population is sick of their erratic president and his failed economic policies, the fanatics who whip people for having long hair and isolation from the rest of the world.
I share your view that we are the major force keeping the conservatives in power. I have high hopes for the Obama presidency, but the idea of Hillary as SOS is making me edgy about exactly where he's going. That, and the Israelis, are the big wild cards in the mix. If we can avoid a conflict and prevent Israel from starting one, there's a chance that we'll see a peaceful evolution in Iran.
Also, resolution of the Palestinian situation would remove the underlying problem that keeps the area festering.
If you believe in true freedom - not the false one as embraced by Bush - it is up to Iran to choose between US influence or Iran influence.
Define freedom.
Nothing new here.