Think Progress

Gerecht: let’s pretend to talk to Iran, then bomb.

In this morning’s New York Times, Reuel Marc Gerecht, a fellow at the neoconservative American Enterprise Institute, advocates talking to the Iranian regime, but only as a way of establishing a pretext for American military action:

The best reason to offer to begin talks with Tehran is that the regime will almost certainly refuse any offer to normalize relations. [...]

If the mullahs don’t want to negotiate, fine: making the offer is something that must be checked off before the next president could unleash the Air Force and the Navy.



70 Responses to “Gerecht: let’s pretend to talk to Iran, then bomb.”

  1. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Neocon foreign policy: “WAR! WAR! WAR! BOMB! BOMB! BOMB! hahahahahahaha!”


  2. MCMetal says:

    Reuel Marc Gerecht ; obviously an offspring of both the Patton and MacArthur families……….


  3. Marcus Aurelius says:

    Somebody needs to give this fellow a good old-fashioned ass whupping in the middle of the street for all the public to see. Then ask him how he feels about aggression.

    Goddamned chicken hawks make me want to puke.


  4. MCMetal says:

    Reuel Marc Gerecht in an interview with PBS Frontline has said “The Iranians have terrorism in their DNA.”

    Another ‘level-head’ from the ones who epitomize prudent , calm , rational thinking ; the NeoCancervative crowd………..


  5. Badmoodman says:

    Hey, what’s Farsi for, “Tora, Tora, Tora!”?


  6. Bobwurst says:

    Isn’t this how we got into Iraq? This is why colin powell went to the un.


  7. belac says:

    Has anyone seen this checklist for things that need to be accomplished before we bomb Iran?
    ’cause I would like to add a few items…


  8. leftcoast says:

    Gerecht on Abu Ghraib:
    “Have the chances of democracy in the Middle East really been set back because sexually sensitive Muslims are so revolted that they won’t embrace representative government?”

    This guy is as dangerous as an extremist terrorist. And he actually worked for the State Department and the CIA?


  9. Juan C. says:

    Oh, like Iraq was different…


  10. hellinabucket says:

    Just where does this neoconpoop think he’s going to muster enough troops to sustain any military action? The Iranian/Iraqi border would be stormed by 200,000 Iranian troops, Russia would become very nervous and our eyes would be pulled farther away from the “War on Terror”.

    This is a bully talking and he’s proving why his kind should not hold any power.


  11. RUCerious says:

    Only if the “NEXT” president is McInsane.


  12. belac says:

    … the first would be a formal declaration of war by both houses of congress in the face of overt and palpable aggression on the part of Iran… until then I would say the checklist remained incomplete.


  13. whatevah says:

    The Neofascist “war policy” will become a thing of the past when a new, young, peaceloving mentality replaces the evil in the white house.


  14. Bobwurst says:

    Frank M, Keltoi, gigi, southern man, this is the face of your party. this is why your kind will be out of power come January 21


  15. ADDdaddy says:

    The Iranians tried to “normalize” relations just after 9/11, sent a letter expressing their willing to help and to open negotiations. Dick Cheney rebuffed them outright. Infact if I remember reading correctly, he chastised the individual who accepted the letter from the Iranian F.M.

    We have murderous psychopaths running this country. that is a fact.


  16. whatevah says:

    Everyone in this country knows that agression against Iran will have dire consequences for this country. We’ve squandered the good will extended to us internationally immediately following 911 by using it as a pretext for an illegal, amoral war in Iraq. The foreign community already hates us; then add in a good dose of downright chicanery and dirty dealing ala the sub-prime (AAA-hah!) rated mortgage we sold to the foreign community which is now hurting them economically and I’d say we already have a prescription of disaster. Add in some more imperialistic war mongering in the way of another unwarranted attack on a sovereign power and the US will probably be demolished.


  17. Neeko says:

    Did all these neocon freaks eat paint chips when they were kids??
    They are just all out psychos!


  18. Roger_Roger says:

    I believe we should try to talk with them. In the end, we need to stop their nuclear build up one way or another. Everyone knows that. I would be very happy if discussions stop their nuclear ambitions but if they don’t, we have no other option but to stop it for them by force. I can’t imagine any American thinking it is ok for Iran to go nuclear.


  19. Buckie Boy says:

    Why are these guys so sick in the head? Are they missing a gene or something?

    Neocons need to be taken out of society and government completely.

    Buck Fush


  20. whatevah says:

    ADDdaddy: good point. And correct on that. Iran did come through following 911 – and we rejected them. We’ve no one to blame for the descent of this country in terms of world power than ourselves (in the person of Chimp and DeadEye Dick(head)).


  21. whatevah says:

    BuckieBoy: It’s call senile Viagra Dementia! You lose your marbles but your cookies remain intact.


  22. Leftside Annie says:

    I’m sooooo sure this would win us hearts and minds all over the world!!!
    .
    .
    .
    .
    Not.


  23. whatevah says:

    Deadeye, Chimp, and McCrazy are walking examples of Viagra Dementia.


  24. Leftside Annie says:

    Um, Roger2 – the wet spot on your pants is showing…may I suggest Depends…?


  25. DieNowForPeace says:

    Might want to hold off on attacking anybody:

    Al-Sadr Threatens to End Cease-Fire

    Al-Sadr’s Shiite Mahdi Army is among the most powerful militias in Iraq, and the cease-fire he ordered last August has been credited with helping reduce violence around Iraq by 60 percent or more in the past six months.

    So much for the “surge” taking all the credit huh?

    Prepare for more bloodshed.


  26. whatevah says:

    Roger_Roger: Remember the AntiProliferation Treaty which the US signed? Well, since we’ve used that as toilet paper too why shouldn’t Iran have what they desire as well? Could it be because we’re smarter than them and they cannot be trusted to have the very same nuclear arsenal as we have? Au contraire, my friend….the fact is that our country is the ONLY nuclear country who HAS used it to kill human beings. That’s fact.


  27. Marie says:

    This is the twisted logic of the neocons.
    They are resemble the population of primitive societies – “might makes right.”
    Pretend to have serious discussions with your enemies while you execute plans to bomb them.
    Lies, deception and tricks – that’s their motto.


  28. tombaker says:

    One more nice thing about having the R’s out of the way:

    Not having to hear what some bloodthirsty lickspittle from a righty stink-tank has to say about anything.



  29. whatevah says:

    Roger Echo: This is precisely why the rest of the world cannot trust this country. It’s called “history”>


  30. Max-1 says:

    .

    War is Peace…

    We talk and make peace towards war.

    .


  31. whatevah says:

    good one, tom! Righty Stink Tank, indeed!


  32. whatevah says:

    Thank god that the clock is ticking down and we will see a new dawn of hope for this country. Then we can make sure that these neofascists get their day in court and the rest of their lives in prison.


  33. whatevah says:

    Marie: What I find fascinating in their demented logical processes is the fact that in one recess of their brain they must realize that they’re totally wrong; then their mental illness kicks in and convinces them that they’re somehow the “super race” (echoes of Hitler?). They’re cut from the Hitler mold and total fascism is their game.


  34. Uncle Ho says:

    AEI 21st century = German Nazis 1930s

    Good reason to bomb the AEI out of existance.


  35. leftcoast says:

    Anyone who believes that attacking Iran will result in a win for America is delusional. Iran is thoroughly capable of a long and protracted response, not to mention the greater possibility of unleashing a World War.


  36. Ms_Joanne says:

    All that needs to be said, right here – four letters: P N A C

    http://www.newamericancentury.org/

    Neocons want American domination (an American empire). Our military isn’t strong enough (thanks to their efforts) to do this and what they think they can accomplish at this point is so far beyond me I do not get it.

    Anyone? WTF is with these idiots??


  37. Juan C. says:

    I can’t imagine any American thinking it is ok for Iran to go nuclear.
    Comment by Roger_Roger

    Reading helps…


  38. belac says:

    Dear R&R~
    I am an American.
    I am against Iran posessing Nuclear Weapons… I also recognize that Iran is a sovereign nation and we don’t get to tell them they can’t have them.
    We get to negotiate… that’s how grown-ups solve differences.
    If we want something we don’t get to hit people until they do it… not only is that how playground bullies solve differences it is also incredibly counter-productive… it’s not as dynamic but it is a whole lot better for everyone.


  39. McWars says:

    Let’s pretend to pay Gerecht on the 1st of the month, then cut him off the payroll.


  40. RickD says:

    The phrase “causus belli” seems to have been completely abandoned by neocons.


  41. McWars says:

    cRuel Marc Gerecht’s ass should be the first to cross the line of departure.


  42. Ms_Joanne says:

    What scares me more than Iran’s MAYBE COULD MIGHT get nukes is that Bush has his fingers on the largest reserve of nukes, is doing new nuke weaponry technology, and has said he would use them.

    Ok, boys and girls…which scares YOU more?


  43. leftcoast says:

    belac and Ms_Joanne- well said.


  44. Leftside Annie says:

    Reuel Marc Gercht…and the shits just keep on comin’!!!!!


  45. IgnoranceIsNotBliss says:

    I can’t imagine any American thinking it is ok for Iran to go nuclear.

    Comment by Roger_Roger — February 20, 2008 @ 1:20 pm

    Why is it okay for the US, Isreal and Pakistan to be nuclear but not Iran?


  46. Juan C. says:

    Why is it okay for the US, Isreal and Pakistan to be nuclear but not Iran?
    Comment by IgnoranceIsNotBliss

    Cause they could bomb somebody? Oh, wait…


  47. toasterhead says:

    I can’t imagine any American thinking it is ok for Iran to go nuclear.

    Comment by Roger_Roger — February 20, 2008 @ 1:20 pm

    I totally agree. Their nuclear power ambitions are unreasonable at best and dangerous at worst, and their financial and scientific resources would be much better spent on alternative energies. As the Bam earthquake of 2003 proved, Iran is far too geologically unstable to build a nuclear reactor in, let alone tore spent fuel rods for hundreds of thousands of years. American and European negotiators should encourage them to look more into wind or solar solutions to their long-term power needs.


  48. StratRat says:

    I can’t imagine any American thinking it is ok for Iran to go nuclear.

    Comment by Roger_Roger

    And we should stop them how? By using OUR nuclear weapons on them? Does that make any sense to you? We think we are in a position to tell another soverign nation what to do? Who put us in charge of the planet – the neocons?

    We developed nuclear weapons first. We used them on another country, first. We gave them to our “friends”, who possibly gave them to somebody else. And you think we are going to bomb all the bad nations back to the stone age? We need to look in a mirror before we feel empowered to harm anymore people.


  49. And the beat goes on says:

    Pretend we are talking to them and then surprise them with bombings? What surprise? Everyone in the world is expecting us to attack Iran. Rhetorical question: Do the neoCONS really think they can fool anybody anymore? These people can only think one way and they really think citizens of the world will blindly follow their military globalization for oil plan once they “see the light.” Unfortunately, the light is the flash of nuclear bombs going off. We have got to get rid of these idiots!


  50. leftcoast says:

    Comment by toasterhead American and European negotiators should encourage them to look more into wind or solar solutions to their long-term power needs.
    Perhaps if we would heed that advice as well.
    Nuclear power is a just cause for Iran, but nuclear weaponry is never a just cause. We should heed that advice and ask all nations to destroy the ultimate weapon that destroys our planet.


  51. belac says:

    Comment by leftcoast — February 20, 2008 @ 1:38 pm

    Thanks… I guess I’m still flabergasted that comic book diplomacy is still considered worthy of serious attention outside of these think tanks…


  52. sacopenapa says:

    These people need psychological help! They need to be locked up!


  53. DieNowForPeace says:

    American and European negotiators should encourage them to look more into wind or solar solutions to their long-term power needs.

    Comment by toasterhead

    Or they should take our “lead”, and burn sh*tloads of coal.

    Until we’re viewed as leaders and stewards of advanced clean energy, we’ll have NO influence on others.


  54. toasterhead says:

    Or they should take our “lead”, and burn sh*tloads of coal.

    Until we’re viewed as leaders and stewards of advanced clean energy, we’ll have NO influence on others.

    Comment by DieNowForPeace — February 20, 2008 @ 1:53 pm

    One pipe dream at a time… One pipe dream at a time…


  55. DieNowForPeace says:

    “A vision without a plan is just a daydream. But a plan without vision is a nightmare” proverb

    Heard that at Obama rally.


  56. Fred says:

    I can’t imagine any American thinking it is ok for Iran to go nuclear.

    Comment by Roger_Roger

    you and the rest of your warmonger buddies lack of imagination has become a problem for the America and the world.


  57. Doc Rock says:

    They should take away the AEI’s tax exemption!


  58. Fred says:

    I can’t imagine any American thinking it is ok for Iran to go nuclear.

    Comment by Roger_Roger — February 20, 2008 @ 1:20 pm

    I totally agree. Their nuclear power ambitions are unreasonable at best and dangerous at worst, and their financial and scientific resources would be much better spent on alternative energies. As the Bam earthquake of 2003 proved, Iran is far too geologically unstable to build a nuclear reactor in, let alone tore spent fuel rods for hundreds of thousands of years. American and European negotiators should encourage them to look more into wind or solar solutions to their long-term power needs.

    Comment by toasterhead

    That’s a nice sentiment toasterhead but I don’t think there is anything that anyone can do to stop the expansion of countries possessing nuclear arms……

    it is started and I don’t see how it can be stopped. We must be the voice of reason for a change and start honoring treaties that would/could eventually make nuclear arms unnesseary.


  59. missmolly says:

    Comment by Roger_Roger — February 20, 2008 @ 1:20 pm

    “I believe we should try to talk with them.”
    – Always a good idea.

    “In the end, we need to stop their nuclear build up one way or another.”
    – What nuclear buildup? The last NIE reported that any nuclear weapons activity Iran had was dropped in 2003. They are, however, developing nuclear power to serve their energy needs — which they have the right to do and it violates nothing.

    “Everyone knows that.”
    – Vague point that doesn’t bolster any argument.

    “I would be very happy if discussions stop their nuclear ambitions but if they don’t, we have no other option but to stop it for them by force.”
    – When you say “nuclear ambitions”, are you still claiming they are developing nuclear weapons? Or are you worried about their nuclear energy program? Why do we need to stop their nuclear energy program by force? And what gives us the right to do so? And how would “force” stop it? Generally using force tends to piss people off and make them even more resolved toward their goals (remember how we felt after 9/11?), instead of making them roll over and play dead.

    “I can’t imagine any American thinking it is ok for Iran to go nuclear.”
    – There are probably many people in the world who think the same about us. Yet we have them. So do Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea. Is it OK for all these countries to have nukes? If not, what should we do about it? Should we start a pre-emptive war with everyone on this list?

    Remember that even if Iran DID have a nuclear bomb, they couldn’t use it without some other nuclear power turning their country into a sheet of glass.


  60. toasterhead says:

    That’s a nice sentiment toasterhead but I don’t think there is anything that anyone can do to stop the expansion of countries possessing nuclear arms……

    it is started and I don’t see how it can be stopped. We must be the voice of reason for a change and start honoring treaties that would/could eventually make nuclear arms unnesseary.

    Comment by Fred — February 20, 2008 @ 2:07 pm

    I was talking about nuclear power, not nuclear arms. Some hawks in Iran may have a fantasy about one day having nuclear weapons, but that’s not my main concern. I’m more concerned about their active nuclear power program that may end up not being in their or the world’s best interests.


  61. tarazan says:

    This guy will be loved by McCain and Lieberman.
    Very creative Neocon…’pretend to talk, then bomb’..
    wow


  62. Fred says:

    Comment by toasterhead

    sorry, I misunderstood….guess because of the link to the trolls statement. I still don’t see much difference. It is there and all countries will be trying to obtain the technology…..who are we to dictate….we don’t use the alternatives that you suggest either.


  63. Leftside Annie says:

    61 – Missmolly, neocon fools like R2 are impervious to logic.

    Nice try, though. ;o)


  64. RUCerious says:

    I can’t imagine any American thinking it is ok for Iran to go nuclear. Comment by Roger_Roger — February 20, 2008 @ 1:20 pm

    I have no problem whatsoever with Iran possessing nuclear energy production technology.


  65. RUCerious says:

    missmolly
    ~ YES ~
    MADD still works.


  66. RickS says:

    How about signing a non-aggression pact with Iran first, promising not to attack? Then we can REALLY catch them off guard!


  67. dictatortot says:

    Kinda like the Japanese did while plotting Pearl Harbor.

    Is that who we want to emulate…Imperial Japan? Should we also Rape Nanking while we’re at it???

    http://www.newsprism.com


  68. Fred says:

    Sounds like FDR, talking to the Japs while ordering a blockade that he knew would precipitate an attack, and ignoring the warnings that their fleet was heading for Hawaii. Do we ever learn? The M.E. is a European problem to clean up, like most wars in the last few hundred years. Watch for Kosovo to flare up too. Keep our noses out of it.

    Comment by Gin

    you’re so funny……it must be so nice to type something so dumb and walk away and not even pretend that it was all a lie…….just to justify something that chimpy is doing…..sad and pathetic is all I can say. Try to stay in reality next time, ok.


  69. belac says:

    Keep our noses out of it.

    Comment by Gin — February 20, 2008 @ 2:45 pm

    No one on the left is arguing that we “keep our noses out of it” rather that the proper method for dealing with the problem is diplomacy! And not just diplomacy as a precursor to milatary action- what is so hard to understand about negotiation?
    No one gets to be the biggest kid in the sandbox forever and if you don’t learn how to deal with others non-violently eventually a bigger kid will come along and shove our noses in the dirt…



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