Breaking: CentCom Chief Admiral Fallon Resigns
Breaking: CentCom Chief Admiral Fallon Resigns
Secretary Robert Gates has announced that Centcom commander Adm. William Fallon has submitted his resignation. Fallon was subject of a recent Esquire article, which stated that the admiral could be “relieved of his command before his time is up next spring,” in favor of a commander more amenable to war with Iran.
According to Gates, Fallon resigned because the fall-out from the article. Gates said Fallon told him: “The current embarrassing situation, public perception of differences between my views and administration policy, and the distraction this causes from the mission make this the right thing to do.” Gates said he approved Fallon’s request to retire with “reluctance and regret.” Watch it:
Last week, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino downplayed Fallon’s possible retirement, decrying “rumor mills that don’t turn out to be true.”
Fallon opposed the “surge” in Iraq and has consistently battled the Bush administration to avoid a confrontation with Iran, calling officials’ warmongering rhetoric “not helpful.” He rejected the praise in the Esquire piece, calling it “poison pen stuff.”
A reporter noted to Gates there was a “line in that Esquire story that said basically if Fallon gets fired, it means we’re going to war with Iran. Can you just address that?” Gates responded, “Well that’s just ridiculous.”
UPDATE: Sources at the Pentagon said that Fallon was worried the White House would “perceive the magazine piece as a challenge to the president’s authority, and insisted that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
UPDATE II: Last year, Fallon vowed that an attack on Iran “will not happen on my watch.”
UPDATE III: TPM has Fallon’s statement here. The Agonist also has more.
UPDATE IV: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has issued this statement:
I am concerned that the resignation of Admiral William J. Fallon, commander of all U.S. forces in the Middle East and a military leader with more than three decades of command experience, is yet another example that independence and the frank, open airing of experts’ views are not welcomed in this Administration.
UPDATE V: Spencer Ackerman writes:
Gates said in a press conference just now that no one should think the move reflects any substantive change in policy. That sure won’t be how Teheran sees it. The Iranians will consider Fallon’s resignation to indicate that the bombing begins in the next five minutes.
UPDATE VI: The National Security Network compiles examples of Fallon’s dissenting views from the Bush administration.
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Uh oh. This is the guy who said we won’t attack Iran on his watch .
March 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pm“Fallon opposed the “surge†in Iraq and has consistently battled the Bush administration to avoid a confrontation with Iran, calling officials’ warmongering rhetoric “not helpful.†He rejected the praise in the Esquire piece, calling it “poison pen stuff.â€
Can’t have anyone speaking any truth or advocating careful consideration to this administration. Definitely grounds for dismissal.
March 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pm‘Fallon opposed the “surge†in Iraq …’
Well, he was wrong about that….
March 11th, 2008 at 3:57 pmThis isn’t good. I hope Iran is watching it’s butt cuz we are on our way.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:00 pmHere we go. Bombs away.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:00 pmNucular armageddon in 3… 2… 1…
uh oh…maybe I took my tinfoil hat off too early
March 11th, 2008 at 4:00 pmUPDATE: Sources at the Pentagon said that Fallon was worried the White House would “perceive the magazine piece as a challenge to the president’s authority, and insisted that couldn’t be further from the truth.â€
It is our fu(king job as a Citizen of the United States to challenge authority especially when that authority is wrong at every level.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:01 pmWOW!!! K, this is dangerous!!! WOW!!!! CRAP!!!
Please, no….please!!!!
March 11th, 2008 at 4:02 pmLast year, Fallon vowed that an attack on Iran “will not happen on my watch.â€
——————————-
Well it looks like his watch is over.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:02 pmFrom Esquire article -
Bad news that Fallon is leaving.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:03 pmCue up: Troll Mass Wargasm…
3… 2… 1…
March 11th, 2008 at 4:04 pmIf I lived in Iran I’d flee.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:05 pmWell it looks like his watch is over.
Comment by Charles James Napier
And this nasty troll is creaming himself with the prospect of attacking Iran. It doesn’t matter that attacking Iran will further inflame the middle east and further destroy this country’s standing in the world. It doesn’t matter that attacking Iran will put us in the cross-hairs of both Russia and China. It just wants war, more war, the manliness of war.
I fear for this country and for what will happen if the Democrats don’t immediately impeach Bush and Chaney. That is the only way they can stop this madness.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:06 pmso will congress presume to impeach yet?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:06 pmIf I lived in Iran I’d flee.
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda
———————————-
Me too.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:06 pmoh impeachment is going to move forward… in the NY State legislature.
please kill me.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:07 pmMe too.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
Traitor.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:08 pmIs McCain singing “Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” again?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:08 pm12:00 – Bush attacks Iran.
12:01 – Impeachment proceedings begin in the House.
Anything less, and I’m voting for Nader. :(
March 11th, 2008 at 4:09 pmTraitor.
Comment by toasterhead
——————————————–
How so?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:09 pmUPDATE II: Last year, Fallon vowed that an attack on Iran “will not happen on my watch.â€
oh lord… if you’re out there… …
March 11th, 2008 at 4:09 pmDidn’t Bush criticised the Congress and the media by saying “We should listen to military commaners in the area,and not politicians”???..more than once,in more than one occasion.
But when the commanders question Bush’s policies ,he fires them.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:10 pmTraitor.
Comment by toasterhead
I vote for “blood thirsty delusional loon”, toasterhead.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:10 pmHow so?
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
A hint of war and you’re fleeing the country instead of staying to defend your native Iran. Shame on you!
March 11th, 2008 at 4:11 pmi can’t stay… it would be great to come back and read some thoughtful,
intelligent comments about this topic…
please… you KNOW what i mean…
March 11th, 2008 at 4:11 pmThe handwriting was already on the wall and it didn’t say ” Mene Mene, Tekel, Upharsin”. Fallon was too honest and not a yes-man.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pmhttp://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/05/fallon-wrong/
Make up your minds, when he was appointed this site said he was the wrong man for the job (see above), now that he’s resigning he’s your freaking hero.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:13 pmMy prediction to replace him?
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler
Not sure of his views on Iran. On the count of experience within CentCom
March 11th, 2008 at 4:14 pmthough, he’d be the most fitting candidate. Sattler is presently Director, Strategic Planning and Policy, J-3, The Joint Staff.
Iran has stopped selling oil in U.S. dollars-report
Tehran, Dec. 8, 2007
Reuters – Iran has completely stopped selling any of its oil for U.S. dollars, an Iranian news agency reported on Saturday, citing the oil minister of the world’s fourth-largest crude producer.
The ISNA news agency did not give a direct quote from Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari. A senior oil official last month said “nearly all” of Iran’s crude oil sales were now being paid for in non-U.S. currencies.
For nearly two years, OPEC’s second biggest producer has been reducing its exposure to the dollar, saying the weak U.S. currency is eroding its purchasing power.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who often rails against the West, has called the U.S. currency a “worthless piece of paper.”
http://agonist.org/20071208/iran_has_stopped_selling_oil_in_u_s_dollars_report
March 11th, 2008 at 4:14 pmI’m sorry, that’s J-5.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:14 pmIf I was Obama I’d announce that Admiral Fallon would be my choice for Secretary of Defense.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:15 pmA hint of war and you’re fleeing the country instead of staying to defend your native Iran. Shame on you!
Comment by toasterhead
———————————————
If I lived in Iran I would have fled long before any hint of war.
Most of the Persians living here in the US fled more than 25 years ago, after the Mullahs took over.
What freedom loving person would want to live in Iran for goodness sake?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:15 pmMaybe now he’ll feel free to speak out,
March 11th, 2008 at 4:16 pmoh and righty… when he was appointed he was your freakin’ hero and now that he says (rightly and sanely, how often do you see right and sane together these days?) that attacking Iran would be wrong he’s the wrong man for the job, make up your minds…
I think that the Esquire article may have been what pushed him out. I’m still not sure how accurate the author of the article was, but Fallon seemed liek the calm we needed in his position.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:16 pmHmm, The Chimpster is sending Cheney to the Middle East to “talk about the oil crisis and the rising cost of it here”. I think this is a big ploy and I have a feeling that we are going full bore into Iran.
All this nonsense about the surge working–how stupid do they think we are? The ethnic cleansing and paying off different factions with money borrowed from China is just a thumb in the dike. All hell is going to break loose when that caper ends. There is going to be civil war whether we stay or go.
I bet Adm. Fallon–just said no to any further charade.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:17 pmBush: We should listen to the generals on the ground…..unless they disagree with my neo-con spindoctors. If they do that, their long, honorable careers will be over before you can say “cut and run”.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:18 pmWhat freedom loving person would want to live in Iran for goodness sake?
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
I know three freedom loving people who want to live in Iran… The father was a graduate student with my father at MSU and they went back after he got his PhD. I haven’t talked to them in a little while but last time we talked they were pretty clear that bombing Iran was not their preferred method of democratization, why is it yours?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:19 pm…bombing Iran was not their preferred method of democratization, why is it yours?
Comment by belac — March 11, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
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It’s not.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:21 pmComment by righty46 — March 11, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
I’ll give props when they’re due. TP said Fallon was the wrong man for the job. At the time it made sense that placing a Naval officer in charge of a land operation as odd. The initial thread also pointed out the real worry of a larger presence of naval carriers (and planes) in the region. It brought up the possibility of a conflict with Iran.
Time has shown that Fallon was much more level headed than the initial thread had thought.
I wonder if Righty46 will admit that.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:24 pmFrank, if you’d gather news from any source other than inside your rectum, you would have known:
Bush: Cheney to prod, ‘reassure’ on Middle East trip
Cheney — who leaves March 16 bound for Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Turkey — will also pursue US diplomatic efforts to isolate Iran and prod US oil-exporting allies to help rein in skyrocketing prices.
Actually Dick is just assuring them the Iran attack will be “short, intense, and we’ll be greeted with flowers.” Oh, and the oil revenue will pay for it.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:26 pmThere’s no room in this chymp’s navy for anyone who doubts chympinfallability .
March 11th, 2008 at 4:26 pmWe don’t have the troops available for an occupation of Iran. We don’t have the resources to fulfill this pipe dream.
Why does this administration continue to think they have the right to push their myopic view on the world?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:26 pmThe lefties like open dissent in the ranks even at the expense of national security and military strength.
Comment by Frank M — March 11, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
Anybody here understand Gibberish?
This one appears to be trying to say SOMETHING.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:26 pm12:00 – Bush attacks Iran.
12:01 – Impeachment proceedings begin in the House.
Anything less, and I’m voting for Nader. :(
Comment by Mugsy — March 11, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
Anything less, and I’m over the fence and onto the White House grounds, with pitchforks and torches
March 11th, 2008 at 4:29 pm. I guess the Iranian attack on the US dollar finally cinched it.
Yes, poor Iranians are to blame for our weakened dollar.
You might want to stop using your head as a hammer.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:29 pmNot quite sure what starting a THIRD land war in Asia, and one that just might draw the Russians and Chinese in, has to do w/ “national security”.
Military strenght? Ya mean, like those substandard helmets? Armorless Humvees? Bad drinking water?
Ohhh.. those Magic towels from KBR… the ones that are bullet-proof ’cause of the initals!
March 11th, 2008 at 4:29 pmone that just might draw the Russians and Chinese
When we interfere with their legally purchased oil and refineries, they’ll attack us for sure.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:31 pmBush/Cheney & the neo-con Nazi’s drool for war with Iran. their own motto is “real men go to Tehran.”
It may be an effort to ensure McCain gets into the White House. link.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:31 pmhttp://www.commondreams.org see article by Charles Davis: Blowback of Iran War Likely to Be Terrible.
He openly disagreed with the commander-in-chief and paid the price.
Comment by Frank M — March 11, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
Unfortunately, I do understand English, which is why YOU come across as such a complete idiot.
The Commander-In-Chief? Ya mean that dancin’, singin’ fool who wise cracked about not finding WMDs and said he doesn’t even think about Osama anymore?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:31 pmFrank M, you are the continual flag waver.
Tell me, what type of attack would you prefer? What do you think will happen to the border between Iran and Iraq once an attack starts? With the military actually pulling out some troops from Iraq don’t you think this will be a problem once 200,000 Iranian troops storm across the border?
You OK with that?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:31 pmYou might want to stop using your head as a hammer.
Hell, on second thought, that’s really what it’s best suited for.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:32 pmWhatever happened to listening to the Generals?
Admiral is the Naval equal to General.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:32 pmFrank M. – You are right, I am a “leftie” and I would happily spare a little national security to allow open discussions in government. This world was not created by Walt Disney, we will be attacked again in the future, but I will take that chance in return for Civil Liberties. Maybe the US should change to a Fascist Dictatorship, then you can have all the Security you need, and we won’t ever have to read your words again.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:32 pmRu @ 4:29 pm
I’ll be right there with you.
Anyone got blueprints for a guillotine?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:33 pmthey’ll attack us for sure.
Comment by DieNowForPeace — March 11, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
No F’in shi-ite.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:35 pmAnyone got blueprints for a guillotine?
No, but I think catapults will be needed first.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:35 pmHell, on second thought, that’s really what it’s best suited for.
Comment by DieNowForPeace — March 11, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
Uhoh… that looks like a… hammerhead SNARK ta me!
March 11th, 2008 at 4:36 pm>Well, he was wrong about that….
Why, of all the political progress we’re making? You mean like the allegedly pro-sunni law that all the shia and none of the sunni voted for? Or maybe the your referring to provincial elections that got vetoed? Or maybe you’re referring that pesky oil profit sharing law we want passed thats going knowehere..why exactly was Fallon wrong?
Once again, bribing insurgents not to attack us is NOT progress.. if its ok to bribe former AQI supporters not to attack us, why dont we bribe the taliban not to attack us as well? why dont we pay mexicans not to cross the border illegally? do you advocate paying these people to not do what we dont want them to do, as well?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:36 pmWith the military actually pulling out some troops from Iraq don’t you think this will be a problem once 200,000 Iranian troops storm across the border?
Comment by hellinabucket — March 11, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
It won’t be like that. That plays to our strength and they won’t do that, columns of armor and infantry would be exactly what our airpower is built to destroy.
Instead, Al-Sadr will get orders to mobilize everything he has and given whatever he asks for to make Bagdhad look like Beirut in 80s. There is not a damn thing we can do to stop that from happening, either.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:37 pmhellinabucket; It’s been my observation that the biggest flagwavers, like Frankie, charlie, and GiGi (to name but a few). are the biggest cowards you could EVER find. They love to cheer from the sidelines, but are the FIRST to make sure all their draft-deferments are in order.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:37 pm>You can’t have people in your chain-of-command
>second guessing you.
Not in a dictatorship, no, you cant…
March 11th, 2008 at 4:38 pmHmm, The Chimpster is sending Cheney to the Middle East to “talk about the oil crisis and the rising cost of it hereâ€. I think this is a big ploy and I have a feeling that we are going full bore into Iran.
All this nonsense about the surge working–how stupid do they think we are? The ethnic cleansing and paying off different factions with money borrowed from China is just a thumb in the dike. All hell is going to break loose when that caper ends. There is going to be civil war whether we stay or go.
I bet Adm. Fallon–just said no to any further charade.
Comment by tanglewood”
Very, very stupid – we have proven it many times. The last, most dramatic time was when the majority of America re-elected the current moronic president.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:38 pmbut are the FIRST to make sure all their draft-deferments are in order.
Comment by Uncle Ho — March 11, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
And that a goodly number of Depends are handy…
March 11th, 2008 at 4:38 pmWould you folks support Israel if they were to launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities?….After all Iran does threaten to destroy their country and a nuclear armed Iran would pose an existential threat to Israel’s right to exist.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:39 pmThe last, most dramatic time was when the majority of America re-elected the current moronic president.
Comment by Fritz — March 11, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
In all fairness, Fritz, there is a sizable body of evidence that that election was cooked.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:40 pman existential threat to Israel’s right to exist.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:39 pm
An “existential threat”? WTF is this idiot babbling about?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:40 pm> I guess the Iranian attack on the US dollar finally cinched it.
Frank, if dropping our near worthless currency is considered attacking us, the whole world is going to be piling on soon.. those viscious persians, how dare they stop trading oil in our currency? why, i’ll bet frank hasnt witnessed such a brutal persian assault since he last wh@cked off to his blu-ray copy of “300″
March 11th, 2008 at 4:41 pmCJN… No, pre-emptive war is illegal and wrong. (despite what the Bushies and Columbia want you to think)
March 11th, 2008 at 4:41 pmYou may be right Keltoi but I wouldn’t doubt some would come thru under cover to disrupt and destroy key areas.
Either way, we don’t have the logistical support and infrastructure to address this let alone the financial stability.
To be successful, when you go to war you brind your whole country along. You don’t win by strategic strikes and tax cuts. It would take long term dedication, focus and sacrifice. Something I doubt this administration could muster.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:41 pm>After all Iran does threaten to destroy their country
please list all the countries Iran has attacked or invaded in the last 100 years…
March 11th, 2008 at 4:42 pm“In all fairness, Fritz, there is a sizable body of evidence that that election was cooked.”
Doesn’t matter – it was close enough to half whether it was cooked or not. And the great American sheeple have proved it in other ways, as well.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:42 pmThe lefties like open dissent in the ranks even at the expense of national security and military strength.
Comment by Frank M — March 11, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
Attacking Iran IS at the expense of national security and military strength.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:43 pm>CJN… No, pre-emptive war is illegal and wrong.
I’m embarrased to share two initials with this guy…
Re: the actual thread.. yikes.. look like an attack on Iran is increasingly likely.. anyone betting when the false flag attack on one of our ships will be?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:43 pmAn “existential threat� WTF is this idiot babbling about?
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
——————————————————-
You don’t know what an existential threat is?…It’s when you threaten to wipe a country “off the map”.
Read the banner:
March 11th, 2008 at 4:43 pmhttp://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080310/photos_wl_afp/f1d8157b6d45aa4b03d9b99c4a24affc/
Would you folks support Israel if they were to launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities?….After all Iran does threaten to destroy their country and a nuclear armed Iran would pose an existential threat to Israel’s right to exist.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:39 pm
Hell no. Iran has no strategic reason to destroy their favorite boogeyman, and even if they had nuclear arms they wouldn’t pose a threat to Israel’s right to exist.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:44 pmYou don’t know what an existential threat is?…It’s when you threaten to wipe a country “off the mapâ€.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
Iran never threatened to wipe Israel off the map.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:45 pmUnless there’s some really big loophole, I would like to know how Bush is going to attack Iran w/o approval from our Democratic congress?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:46 pmand even if they had nuclear arms they wouldn’t pose a threat to Israel’s right to exist.
Comment by toasterhead
——————————————–
Sounds like wishful thinking to me…
Besides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army know as Hezbollah.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:47 pmYou may be right Keltoi but I wouldn’t doubt some would come thru under cover to disrupt and destroy key areas.
Either way, we don’t have the logistical support and infrastructure to address this let alone the financial stability.
To be successful, when you go to war you brind your whole country along. You don’t win by strategic strikes and tax cuts. It would take long term dedication, focus and sacrifice. Something I doubt this administration could muster.
Comment by hellinabucket — March 11, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
Yeah…..yeah. I am hoping this Fallon thing was a personal decision of his to get out of a situation he wasn’t comfortable with and not the harbinger of airstrikes on Iran. And airstrikes are all we could do without a draft, which isn’t going to happen barring a major attack in the US.
We might take out their nuke program, but with Sadr playing nice these days and the NIE taking the wind out of Bush’s sails last fall, $12 billion a month being spent in Iraq, the economy on thin ice, an election in 7 months….I just can’t see them doing it.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:47 pmBesides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army know as Hezbollah.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
And Hamas.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:49 pmInstead, Al-Sadr will get orders to mobilize everything he has and given whatever he asks for to make Bagdhad look like Beirut in 80s. There is not a damn thing we can do to stop that from happening, either.
Comment by Keltoi — March 11, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
My understanding is that Al-Sadr is a Sh’ite AND an Arab nationalist, and that the last place he’s taking orders from is Tehran.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:49 pmNow we know of the worst job that Fallon has ever had.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:49 pm>Besides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army
> know as Hezbollah.
Israel never attacks anybody frank? Besides, you recall who it was that overthrew Irans democratically elected government?
Christ, dont you have any new talking points?
Besides, since when does the U.S miltary have a sacred duty to defend a foreign country?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:50 pmAnd Hamas.
Comment by Keltoi — March 11, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
Which is heavily funded by Saudi Arabia, hardly a friend of Iran.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:52 pmWhat freedom loving person would want to live in Iran for goodness sake?
Comment by Charles James Napier
Funny, they have legitimate elections since they outed our puppet the Shah……they are more democratic than you are.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:52 pmIran never threatened to wipe Israel off the map.
Comment by toasterhead
————————————————————-
Read the banner in this photograph from Iran from just yesterday…Also note the crosshairs on the heads of the Israelis.
Please don’t count on Islamophile Jaun Cole for your Farsi translations….He’s a stooge.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:52 pmtoasterhead,
Sorry – Link : http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080310/photos_wl_afp/f1d8157b6d45aa4b03d9b99c4a24affc/
March 11th, 2008 at 4:52 pmIt’s when you threaten to wipe a country “off the mapâ€.
Comment by Charles James Napier
Somebody sends the “you’ve been lied” memo to the troll.
And Hamas.
Comment by Keltoi
Ever wondered what was Israel response to Hamas willingness to make a lasting peace?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:54 pmkeltoi=tracy2
March 11th, 2008 at 4:54 pmPlease don’t count on Islamophile Jaun Cole for your Farsi translations….He’s a stooge.
Comment by Charles James Napier
LMAO!!! Worst informed troll ever.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:55 pmBy that “logic†then the Middle East should attack Canada, the UK, or Australia.
Comment by Dr. Matt
————————————–
Sure, if you’re an Islamist or a jihadi that would be true. And of course they have tried many times….and have been successful at least twice in the UK.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:56 pmBesides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army know as Hezbollah.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
And Israel already attacks Iran through its attacks on Iran’s proxy armies of Hezbollah and Hamas, though the Palestinians seem to be the ones who suffer the most from the collective punishment.
However, apart from the occasional suicide bombing or rocket attack on civilians, what threat do Hamas and Hezbollah pose to Israel’s national sovereignty or ability to function as a state entity? I don’t see the Knesset dissolving because a few rockets break windows in Sderot.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:56 pm>Please don’t count on Islamophile Jaun Cole for your Farsi translations
Who should we count on? Oh, a link to a STREET BANNER! well, that clinches it, if its on a street banner in Tehran it must be an accurate translation
March 11th, 2008 at 4:56 pmGuess what, we’re going to war with Iran before the election. This is probably the worst news I’ve heard in quite a while. Fallon was the only sane man protecting America from another Neo-Con misadventure.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:57 pmJust watch the Iran war rhetoric heat up the next couple weeks and that should be sign enough. Pray.
Ah TP’s resident Jew-hater Jaun C has shown up.
Hi Jaun.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:57 pmMy understanding is that Al-Sadr is a Sh’ite AND an Arab nationalist, and that the last place he’s taking orders from is Tehran.
Comment by gummitch — March 11, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
Mmmmm….it is hard to say who says what to who in the world of Ayatollahs. So little is known about the actual psychology of these religious leaders – are they cynical about it or do they REALLY want to spark the apocalypse to get the 12th Imam to return?
At any rate, whether it was Mookie Al-Sadr or militia leaders from the Badr Brigade or whoever, Khameni issuing a fatwah to his co-religionists to rise against the Americans in revenge for airstrikes would cause all kinds of hell for us.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:58 pm>And of course they have tried many times
please compare the number of americans or english killed by their own countrymen to the number of americans or english killed by their own non-jihadi countrymen.
americans kill more of each other every WeEK than jihadis have managed to do in thier entire existence…
you stupid d@gfuc3r, your worried about the wrong boogeyman
March 11th, 2008 at 4:58 pmFrom Scott Ritter’s “Iraq will have to wait”.
The administration always heeded the justifications for aborting an attack, primarily because there was time still left on the clock, so to speak. But time is running out. Israel has drawn a red line across the calendar, indicating that if Iran has not pulled back from its nuclear ambitions by the end of 2007, military action in early spring 2008 will be inevitable. The attack on Syria by Israel sent a clear message that attacks are feasible
March 11th, 2008 at 4:58 pmMake up your minds, when he was appointed this site said he was the wrong man for the job (see above), now that he’s resigning he’s your freaking hero.
Comment by righty46
This is the republican mindset in action. you either agree with everything someone says or does or you agree with nothing. This is how this scum thinks. Here’s the deal idiot. People weren’t in love with him then, but recognized that his position on attacking Iran has merit. I realize that you aren’t capable of understanding that. It’s much easier to just stay in line and goose-step your way to hell. Have a nice trip.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:58 pmif its on a street banner in Tehran it must be an accurate translation
Comment by Chocolate Jesus
———————————————————
There is no need for a translation, it’s written in English so that even thick-headed moonbats can read it.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:59 pmHowever, apart from the occasional suicide bombing or rocket attack on civilians, what threat do Hamas and Hezbollah pose to Israel’s national sovereignty or ability to function as a state entity? I don’t see the Knesset dissolving because a few rockets break windows in Sderot.
Comment by toasterhead
The trolls will not discuss a comparison of how many Palestinians have died as opposed to how many Israelies have died. To them, all Palestenians can die and if one Israelie is killed then that one death is the injustice.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:01 pmUnless there’s some really big loophole, I would like to know how Bush is going to attack Iran w/o approval from our Democratic congress?
Comment by McWars
He’s going to launch some bombs and when Iran retaliates he’s going to say that we need to protect our troops, and if the dems resist in any way the propagandists will cry foul and bully the dems into line.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:01 pmAs the administration likes to compare this to other wars: How many commanders has Iraq gone through in the last few years ? And how many commanders did we go through in WW II.
Dumb Question: Why do we go through commanders so fast now days ?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:02 pmWe need to contact our senators and congressmen now! push back now! Let them know that they will be held responsible if they don’t speak out now.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:02 pm>Khameni issuing a fatwah to his
>co-religionists to rise against the
> Americans in revenge for airstrikes
> would cause all kinds of hell for us.
and this is an argument for attacking iran why? I do agree with you about the accuracy of that statement though.. its too bad we gave the shia islamistis the ability to gain power through majority rules in iraq, eh? was all our blood and treasure worth putting a government in iraq has gives VIP treatment to iranian leaders?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:02 pmWill attacking Iran ease any tensions? Will this improve relations? what is the logic?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:03 pmI don’t think Russia will let pass this one…
March 11th, 2008 at 5:04 pm>There is no need for a translation, it’s written in English so that even >thick-headed moonbats can read it.
Frank..uhm…wow…read what you wrote dude..”theres no need for a translation because its written in english”. Do you think the Iranian leader said it in english? because if he didnt , then anyone writing it in english would be translating it…
wow, just wow..
March 11th, 2008 at 5:04 pmAh TP’s resident Jew-hater Jaun C has shown up.
Hi Jaun.
Comment by Charles James Napier
I’m flaggin this……I have gotten crossways with Juan C but he has always made it clear that he opposes the israelie government, not the Jewish race. You can have your own opinion but you cannot put your words in other people’s mouths.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:05 pmWhat cracks me up is that US military is blaming Iran of arming Iraqi insurgency…and they are occupying the damn country!!!
LMAO!!!
March 11th, 2008 at 5:05 pmSounds like wishful thinking to me…
Besides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army know as Hezbollah.
Comment by Charles James
Wishful thinking is your desire to attack yet another country. If there’s any justice your family members will suffer too.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:05 pmI don’t think Russia will let pass this one…
Precisely, they’ve just needed a plausible reason to confront our “holier than thou” attitude.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:05 pmPhoto and translation probably provided by JINSA.
Next?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:07 pmMmmmm….it is hard to say who says what to who in the world of Ayatollahs. So little is known about the actual psychology of these religious leaders – are they cynical about it or do they REALLY want to spark the apocalypse to get the 12th Imam to return?
Comment by Keltoi
This is just ignorance on your part Tracy2. The kind of thing you say when you don’t want to be held accountable for the things you say.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:07 pmYou can have your own opinion but you cannot put your words in other people’s mouths.
Comment by Fred
Fred, I appreciate your post. However, Charles’ only purpose in this thread is to derail discussion and inflame other posters. Nothing new in the troll tactic.
He just comes to petty insults…
March 11th, 2008 at 5:07 pmAnd why are people who have admitted their too chicken to serve(can’t guarantee his safety, right FM?) think they have a right to lecture anyone on patriotism?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pmYou know ifwe do meddle in Iran YOU chickenhawks will probably be drafted. Now I could live with that.
takecare
tony and guidedogLido
and this is an argument for attacking iran why?
Comment by Chocolate Jesus — March 11, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
It isn’t, it is why we SHOULDN’T attack, along with the others I listed at 84.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:10 pmRE: The comments on the arabic street banner (Comment by Charles James Napier ; March 11, 2008 @ 4:43 )
Looking at the link, it appears that the English phrase (and indeed the captioning at the upper left hand corner) are superimposed on the picture – as would be done on a TV News Cast.
Before touting this picture, I’d like to know where the translation came from.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:10 pmWe might take out their nuke program, but with Sadr playing nice these days and the NIE taking the wind out of Bush’s sails last fall, $12 billion a month being spent in Iraq, the economy on thin ice, an election in 7 months….I just can’t see them doing it.
Comment by Keltoi — March 11, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
———
Never underestimate the current administration’s ability to make terribad decisions.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:10 pmI believe the trolls have mounted a full court press. Think Progress has been making the headlines lately and they feel like they need to stop or damage the influence the website is having. Big retreat over the weekend and they are all pumped up and ready to play the last couple of days.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:11 pmGood Luck losers.
The trolls will not discuss a comparison of how many Palestinians have died as opposed to how many Israelies have died. To them, all Palestenians can die and if one Israelie is killed then that one death is the injustice.
Comment by Fred — March 11, 2008 @ 5:01 pm
Bingo Fred. I’m tired of hearing how the Israelies are the only victims. It makes them look callous and uncaring. The world wants both sides to stop but each side is so full of history based on myth – it’s soooo sad.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:11 pmIt isn’t, it is why we SHOULDN’T attack, along with the others I listed at 84.
Comment by Keltoi
Don’t chicken out now. Just remember the shiny, beautiful lights of an Arabian night made by Shock and Awe.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:11 pmThis is just ignorance on your part Tracy2. The kind of thing you say when you don’t want to be held accountable for the things you say.
Comment by Fred — March 11, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
Okay Fred, why don’t you tell me what Khameni said to Al-Sadr the last time they invited you to one of their strategy sessions?
Or better yet, just STFU.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:13 pmI don’t care what TP said in the past and I don’t care what commenters here said in the past. The situation changes and all you’re doing is playing a stupid game where you try to lock us into a particular view. WE ARE NOT REPUBLICANS. When things change, we adjust. Unlike you.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:13 pmSorry – Link : http://news.yahoo.com/ nphotos/ slideshow/ photo/ / 080310/ photos_wl_afp/ f1d8157b6d45aa4b03d9b99c4a24affc/
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
Wow – so a single poster is now national foreign policy?
Also, the Farsi words for “map” and “wipe” don’t appear on that poster.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:13 pmComment by Charles James N.
How, Charles, will we be able to afford yet another long-term conflict? What troops will we use?
You do know that the terrorists would love for the U.S. to go bankrupt and have every country view them to be the enemy, right?
“UNITED STATES FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY” — Al-Qaeda’s dream morning paper.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:14 pmDo you have problems reading German? You can’t have people in your chain-of-command second guessing you. He openly disagreed with the commander-in-chief and paid the price.
Comment by Frank M
Spoken just as Adolf Eichman would have.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:15 pmThere is no need for a translation, it’s written in English so that even thick-headed moonbats can read it.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
What about thick-headed wingnuts that can’t distinguish between the photo of a banner and the text overlaying it in English on a television display? Did you notice that the English wasn’t on the banner? That it’s in an entirely different font at a different angle than the banner is hanging? And that it is, even if accurately translated (which is in no way established), from nearly 30 years ago or more? (No attribution other than the Ayatollah’s name is given.)
March 11th, 2008 at 5:16 pm>It isn’t, it is why we SHOULDN’T attack,
ah, ok, sorry, my bad, i got your argument confused with someone elses..
March 11th, 2008 at 5:17 pmWhat cracks me up is that US military is blaming Iran of arming Iraqi insurgency…and they are occupying the damn country!!!
LMAO!!!
Comment by Juan C. — March 11, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
Yeah, that’s cute. Especially when we and Iran are both backing the SCRI horse.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:17 pmwe’re spending money over there, so they dont have to..
Auditors: Iraq faces budget surplus
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080311/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq;_ylt=Ao_KNxKgsLShkJXUHuHkuiKWwvIE
“Iraq isn’t spending much of its own money, despite soaring oil revenues that are pushing the country toward a massive budget surplus, auditors told Congress on Tuesday.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:20 pmThe expected surplus comes as the U.S. continues to invest billions of dollars in rebuilding Iraq and faces a financial squeeze domestically because of record oil prices.
The Iraqis have a budget surplus,” said U.S. Comptroller General David Walker. “We have a huge budget deficit. . . . One of the questions is who should be paying.”
Back in 2003, just prior to our invasion, I drew a bullseye on the map of the U.S. which hung in my office. I also posted a copy of the 1st amendment as well as article I of the Constitution which clearly states that it is the constitutional role of Congress to declare war….NOT the President. For all who asked, (I worked for a large, very conservative, very Republican company), I told them that the ultimate result of attacking Iraq would be the bullseye they saw on the map. I absolutely believe that if we attack Iran in any but the most minor way, and especially if we use tactical nuclear weapons, neither China nor Russia will stand for it. You CAN expect Russia to point their nuclear-tipped missles BACK at us again, as they were for many years during the Cold War. China will threaten to call their debt. If we don’t withdraw, China will act first…and probably launch both satellite and cyber attacks (they have been practicing for years). Once our defenses are down, Russia will launch.
Impeachment might have saved us from this, but I fear it’s too late now.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:20 pmMmmmm….it is hard to say who says what to who in the world of Ayatollahs. So little is known about the actual psychology of these religious leaders – are they cynical about it or do they REALLY want to spark the apocalypse to get the 12th Imam to return?
Comment by Keltoi
Comon Tracy2, you know this is bull. The only people who are trying to bring about the end of times are your religious righties….
March 11th, 2008 at 5:23 pm#43: Good to know. It’s an interesting coincidence. I guess the Iranian attack on the US dollar finally cinched it.
Comment by Frank M — March 11, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
You are a complete idiot! What the hell do you think churning our paper money and cutting interest rates like the Fed has been doing now for a couple of months has done to the dollar. Which hasn’t been in good shape for years as it is! This government, or rather their willingness to let a private centralized banking system control the money, has resulted in the destruction of the dollar. Choosing NOT to use it because of it’s lack of value is the far smarter thing to do. We are just about at the point where a U.S. dollar is the same as monopoly money, for God’s sake!!
March 11th, 2008 at 5:27 pmGuardian story June 7 2006…
Saddam Hussein stopped trading his oil for dollars before Iraq was invaded. Iran gets set to open a new oil bourse and futures market that will trade in euros, while Venezuela is said to be mulling over whether to follow suit.
Now Russia has joined the bandwagon. On May 10, President Vladimir Putin announced the creation of a Russian oil and gas bourse along with his intention to convert the ruble into a convertible currency that would be used for the trade.
Russia has recently swapped some of its dollar reserves for euros.
Together Iran, Venezuela and Russia corner some 25 percent of the export market in oil. If the three countries do away with the petrodollar, this could seriously buffet the US currency, forcing up interest rates, increasing the cost of imports into the US and contributing to an inflationary economy or a recession.
William Clark writing in the Energy Bulletin says, “What we are witnessing is a battle for oil currency supremacy. If Iran’s oil bourse becomes a successful alternative for international oil trades, it would challenge the hegemony currently enjoyed by the financial centers in both London (IPE) and New York (NYMEX)…”
March 11th, 2008 at 5:27 pmAlso, the Farsi words for “map†and “wipe†don’t appear on that poster.
Comment by toasterhead — March 11, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
The words for “page” ( صÙØÙ‡ ) and “time” ( روزگار ) ARE on that poster in Farsi, however, which leads me to conclude that the “Islamophile” Juan Cole’s translation of Khomeini’s phrase as “the regime occupying Jerusalem must [vanish from] from the page of time” is indeed correct.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:28 pmI have been convinced that Georgie Bush had one more great fckup left (the economy). Now I’m worried he has two. Holy sh!t he is one crazy motherfcker.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:29 pmI have read a few places that Karl Rove was the main counterbalance in the Whitehouse to Cheney’s bloodthirst for Iran. While I believe that his reasoning was mainly political, he is gone and now, so is the operational roadblock.
Obviously Bush no longer cares where he stands politically, so I wonder if the “decider” has enough cajones, or will, or intelligence to stand up to Cheney all by himself.
I am irrationally hopeful.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:29 pmWhat about thick-headed wingnuts that can’t distinguish between the photo of a banner and the text overlaying it in English on a television display? Did you notice that the English wasn’t on the banner? That it’s in an entirely different font at a different angle than the banner is hanging? And that it is, even if accurately translated (which is in no way established), from nearly 30 years ago or more? (No attribution other than the Ayatollah’s name is given.)
Comment by gummitch
——————————————————-
The type is printed on the banner and the photograph was taken and by the Associated French Press (AFP) in Tehran….are you suggesting that the AFP doctored the photograph?
Please….
March 11th, 2008 at 5:30 pmThe type is printed on the banner and the photograph was taken and by the Associated French Press (AFP) in Tehran….are you suggesting that the AFP doctored the photograph?
Please….
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
No. I’m suggesting that the students who created and put up the poster just took the English mistranslation originally put out by the Iranian news service, instead of translating Khomeini’s actual words which were less hardline.
Really, if Khomeini had actually threatened 30 years ago to “wipe Israel off the map,” do you think Israel would’ve sold Iran arms in the 1980s?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:32 pmMmmmm….it is hard to say who says what to who in the world of Ayatollahs. So little is known about the actual psychology of these religious leaders
Excuse me? Apparently we haven’t studied our psychology 101. If you don’t know what makes them tick, here’s a good start:
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/
As for the specific “Imams” in Iran? We could: a. Attack them and see how they react or b. talk to them. I would prefer “b”.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:33 pmgas just jumped up again. now $3.45/gal-regular. If this dipshit administration attacks Iran, $40.00/gal will be a bargain.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:35 pmNo. I’m suggesting that the students who created and put up the poster just took the English mistranslation originally put out by the Iranian news service, instead of translating Khomeini’s actual words which were less hardline.
Really, if Khomeini had actually threatened 30 years ago to “wipe Israel off the map,†do you think Israel would’ve sold Iran arms in the 1980s?
Comment by toasterhead
————————————————–
Who said anything about Khomeini?
I’m talking about now.
I guess there is no point in trying to show you something that you’ve already decided that you will not see.
There are none so blind as the willfully blind.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:36 pmThe chymp is just crazy enough to do it.
I remember the psychology of ‘what are they going to do, send me to Nam?’ Short timer mentality.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:37 pm>are you suggesting that the AFP doctored the photograph?
Are you suggesting a street sign in downtown Tehran represents official policy of the Iranian government? Can someone show a photograph of a sign help up in downtown DC and say it represents the official policy of the united states governemnt? are you that stupid?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:38 pmShock and Awe…coming to a Gasoline pump near you.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:38 pmWould you folks support Israel if they were to launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities?….After all Iran does threaten to destroy their country and a nuclear armed Iran would pose an existential threat to Israel’s right to exist.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:39 pm
No.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:41 pmWho said anything about Khomeini?
I’m talking about now.
I guess there is no point in trying to show you something that you’ve already decided that you will not see.
There are none so blind as the willfully blind.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
You’re talking about now, using a poster – put up by a bunch of hardline students in Tehran – that contains a 30-year-old quote by Ayatollah Khomeini. And you’re trying to use this to say that Iran threatens to “wipe Israel off the map,” which they never have.
Just because a bunch of bigoted students put up “Islamofascism Awareness Week” posters all over Washington DC in October doesn’t make it official U.S. foreign policy. Neither does this poster represent official Iranian foreign policy. In both cases, they represent the views of a hardline, ultra-right wing faction that’s increasingly being marginalized the forces of reason.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:41 pmThe type is printed on the banner and the photograph was taken and by the Associated French Press (AFP) in Tehran….are you suggesting that the AFP doctored the photograph?
Please….
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
No, I’m telling you that type is not printed on the banner and unless you can find a photo of the banner from a different angle that demonstrates otherwise, I ain’t buying it. The English type is clearly imposed on a background.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:42 pmExcuse me? Apparently we haven’t studied our psychology 101. If you don’t know what makes them tick, here’s a good start:
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/
As for the specific “Imams†in Iran? We could: a. Attack them and see how they react or b. talk to them. I would prefer “bâ€.
Comment by pete — March 11, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
Hi pete, I read the intro to the book you linked to. Looks like a very interesting read. Thanks
March 11th, 2008 at 5:42 pmWho said anything about Khomeini?
I’m talking about now.
I guess there is no point in trying to show you something that you’ve already decided that you will not see.
There are none so blind as the willfully blind.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
The quote is from Khomeini, can’t you read? If you’re going to offer this as “proof” of “now”, find something that wasn’t written by a dead guy.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:43 pmWell, well, well, the Emperor continues to do his thing. Not unexpected, little surprises me anymore.
I wonder if the people will ever rise up against the evil that is our empire.
But, to rise, you need communications. Hmmm, let’s review shall we.
Our land and cell lines are being monitored by AT&T, Verizon and possibly others. No telephone communications. We all know enough about that, links are not needed.
A couple of months ago, we had a rash of underline cables being cut – I had heard up to seven instances, but this link shows the fourth. I am lazy today so if you want to look for the others, feel free. This shut down internet communications in several countries. Ok, no more internet communications.
Oh, but what about the satellite internet? Well, something about a rogue satellite being shot down comes to mind. Lots of discussion about why this was done when it was never needed before – ever. No satellite internet as well as land based internet? Maybe.
Mail! Ah, we still have our handy dandy US Postal Service, right? Well, has anyone read H.R. 6407? Let’s take a peek at this gem, shall we? I happened on it as I was blog hopping.
This little signing statement has a two-fer going on. First, searches:
No 4th Amendment. No warrant. Just the Okie dokie to search our mail whenever, wherever.
Well, seeing that we no longer have any reasonable expectation to privacy in phone, internet or mail communications. Uhm, am I missing one that’s not been subverted? Anyone?.
Let’s now look at that two-fer I was referring to in this little signing statement:
(emphasis mine)
What this does say here? Only he can determine whom anyone can talk to AND no one from an agency can say anything (whistle blower?), AND this is a Unitary Executive Branch AND no court shall determine cases or controversies. Think retroactive immunity? Might that count as a controversy?
How did this executive order slip by with no fanfare? Have we become so immune to this type of shenanigans that no one pays attention to them any longer?
Repeat after me…We. Are. Screwed.
Oh, yeah…bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran! WOO HOO!
(cross posted on TheCarpetbaggerReport and TPZoo.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:43 pmNo, I’m telling you that type is not printed on the banner and unless you can find a photo of the banner from a different angle that demonstrates otherwise, I ain’t buying it. The English type is clearly imposed on a background.
Comment by gummitch — March 11, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
I don’t know – It looks legit to me. The waves in the English text seem to match the waves in the poster. The English text is just wrong, that’s all.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:45 pmMy understanding is that Al-Sadr is a Sh’ite AND an Arab nationalist, and that the last place he’s taking orders from is Tehran.
Comment by gummitch — March 11, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
Al-Sadr is indeed Sh’ite, as is Iran. No one has said he would be taking orders from Tehran. An alliance is certainly not out of the question, however.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:47 pmOh, but what about the satellite internet? Well, something about a rogue satellite being shot down comes to mind. Lots of discussion about why this was done when it was never needed before – ever. No satellite internet as well as land based internet? Maybe.
Not sure if I’d connect the two. There’s a big difference between hitting a satellite at 130 miles altitude and one in geosynchronous orbit at 27,000 miles altitude.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:47 pmIsrael has enough Nukes to turn Iran into Persian Glass. To think that Iran will launch a few measely missiles at Israel is absurd.
Nukes are good for only ONE THING….Deterence. Khruschev, the Soviet Leader in the 50’s, threatened to “BURY US”. Talk is cheap. Nuclear anihillation is NOT.
I do worry that Isreal will attack Iran’s nuclear sites this spring… America may not even be calling the shots. Maybe that’s why Cheney is heading over there.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:49 pmWhat freedom loving person would want to live in Iran for goodness sake?
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
I can’t imagine many Americans would want to live in Iran but you have to realize that some people are born there. Check this story out for a look inside Iran.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:51 pmThe type is printed on the banner and the photograph was taken and by the Associated French Press (AFP) in Tehran….are you suggesting that the AFP doctored the photograph?
Please….
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
You continually prove your ignorance and lunacy every time you post here. Your hatred for America and all it stands is clear enough; why haven’t you moved to North Korea?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:52 pmThere are none so blind as the willfully blind.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
Ain’t that the truth. So wanna compare visual acuity values? Why would you suppose yourself to be the sighted man while another to be the blind man? Seems a tad arrogant
March 11th, 2008 at 5:52 pmAfter all Iran does threaten to destroy their country and a nuclear armed Iran would pose an existential threat to Israel’s right to exist.
Comment by Charles James Napier
I think a very famous phrase is appropriate for this post. I’m trying to remember is precisely, I think it goes: Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me. yeah, that is the one.
It means, all threats should never be balanced out with a violent act – simply based on those threats.
Stop being afraid Mr. Napier, you are embarassing your country. The US needs you clear headed and brave right now, so we can defeat Mr. Bush’s third term. Please help us take your country back.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:53 pmKind of funny huh?
Comment by Billy Hill — March 11, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
Oh, is THAT what you were going for?
Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Must be the new-fangled “conservative comedy†like Beck and O’Reilly practice.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama
We don’t get their type of humor because it is not funny to us. When they laugh it is always at somone else’s expense……otherwise, what would be funny?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:55 pmDoesn’t Israel already have nukes? One could surmize that this would be reason enough to want to meet fire with fire and also acquire a nuclear weapon to create the same kind of stand off the world saw between the US and the USSR.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:56 pmAl-Sadr is indeed Sh’ite, as is Iran. No one has said he would be taking orders from Tehran. An alliance is certainly not out of the question, however.
Comment by impeachcheneythenbush — March 11, 2008 @ 5:47 pm
It seems very doubtful to me that an alliance between al-Sadr and Iran would exist, because it is the Allawi government with the closest ties to Tehran and al-Sadr believes the Allawi government to be illegitimate. If the US wasn’t there to provide a target, what would be the point of such an alliance?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:56 pmI don’t know – It looks legit to me. The waves in the English text seem to match the waves in the poster. The English text is just wrong, that’s all.
Comment by toasterhead — March 11, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
Eh, maybe. It does not look that way to me at all, but it’s a tiny photograph and it has no context. If I could see the entire banner, I’d be more willing to agree. I defer to your translation of Farsi.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:58 pmComment by Ms_Joanne — March 11, 2008 @ 5:43 pm
Thank you for connecting these dots & sharing it Ms Joanne.
Scary – very scary.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:58 pmHi pete, I read the intro to the book you linked to. Looks like a very interesting read. Thanks
Comment by Nature Rules — March 11, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
Your welcome. Keep spreading the link around. It explains sooooooo much unless your an authoritarian.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:59 pmIt seems very doubtful to me that an alliance between al-Sadr and Iran would exist, because it is the Allawi government with the closest ties to Tehran and al-Sadr believes the Allawi government to be illegitimate. If the US wasn’t there to provide a target, what would be the point of such an alliance?
Comment by gummitch — March 11, 2008 @ 5:56 pm
Defending themselves against the Sunni death squads we armed and trained as “Awakening Councils,” if they all decide to band together and eradicate the Shi’a, as some have boasted about doing.
That’s about the only possible scenario I could see that might ally the Sadr and Badr brigades, if temporarily Otherwise, I think they’ll continue be at odds with each other.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:01 pmComment by pete — March 11, 2008 @ 5:59 pm
“you’re”. Duh.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:01 pmIf the US wasn’t there to provide a target, what would be the point of such an alliance?
Comment by gummitch
And that is the central, vital point about the imminent destruction of the ME: None of this would be happening if Bush did not invade Iraq. None of it. Saddam served as a balancing act against Iran in the region, and he also kept several ‘terrorist’ groups in check – mainly because he was a paranoid maniac – but he was secular.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:02 pmDoesn’t Israel already have nukes?
Comment by hellinabucket — March 11, 2008 @ 5:56 pm
Israel has had a nuclear arsenal for quite some time.
Funny how an impoverished, struggling country managed to pull off such a technologically sophisticated feat so quickly.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:04 pmare you that stupid?Comment by Chocolate Jesus
March 11th, 2008 at 6:06 pmFrom what I’ve seen of this POS, I’d have to say YES! I wonder if any of these “manly” trolls have ever served in the military???
Funny how an impoverished, struggling country managed to pull off such a technologically sophisticated feat so quickly.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
——————————————————–
Israel is not an impoverished country…and it is only struggling in the sense that it is surrounded with enemies bent on driving them into the sea.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:08 pmIsrael is not an impoverished country…and it is only struggling in the sense that it is surrounded with enemies bent on driving them into the sea.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
Israel’s neighbors don’t want to drive it into the sea. They just want to drive Israel off the illegally-occupied land Israel conquered in 1967.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:10 pmComment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
So about that Snellen Chart.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:11 pmIt’s time for a tank battalion to park on the White House lawn and lob a few warning shots throught the Oval Office windows.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:11 pmFunny how an impoverished, struggling country managed to pull off such a technologically sophisticated feat so quickly.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — March 11, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
A Nuclear Weapon is not that technologically sophisticated…not for a country. A great many countries are a so called “screwdriver turn “away from a nuclear weapon…especially if they have nuclear power plants. Fortunately, most have signed the Nuclear NonPoliferation agreement.
That is probably the biggest danger of Iran’s nuclear program….the spread of nuclear weapons programs to other countries in the middle East. The Saudi’s and other oil producing countries could certainly afford one.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:13 pmand it is only struggling in the sense that it is surrounded with enemies bent on driving them into the sea.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
It was at the time.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction
Development program
Israel first showed interest in procuring nuclear materials in 1949, when a unit of the IDF Science Corps carried out a two year geological survey of the Negev. One objective of this was to find sources of uranium.[9] In June 1952, German-born chemist Ernst David Bergmann was appointed by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion to be the first chairman of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC). Also appointed head Division of Research and Infrastructure of the Ministry of Defense earlier that same year, Bergmann used the Defense unit as the “chief laboratory” of the IAEC, and during this time developed the capablity to extract uranium from the Negev and produce indigenous heavy water.[9]
March 11th, 2008 at 6:16 pmAt this point in the mid-1950s, Israel’s nuclear weapons program began receiving aid from other countries. By the Suez crisis in 1956, according to the preleminary Protocol of Sèvres, France agreed to help Israel build a nuclear reactor and reprocessing plant near Dimona which used natural uranium moderated by heavy water. Plutonium production started in about 1964. Top secret British documents obtained by BBC Newsnight show that Britain made hundreds of secret shipments of restricted materials to Israel in the 1950s and 1960s. These included specialist chemicals for reprocessing and samples of fissile material—uranium-235 in 1959, and plutonium in 1966, as well as highly enriched lithium-6 which is used to boost fission bombs and fuel hydrogen bombs. The investigation also showed that Britain shipped 20 tons of heavy water directly to Israel in 1959 and 1960 to start up the Dimona reactor. The transaction was made through a Norwegian front company called Noratom which took a 2% commission on the transaction. Britain was challenged about the heavy water deal at the International Atomic Energy Agency after it was exposed on Newsnight in 2005. British Foreign Minister Kim Howells hid behind the Noratom contract and claimed this was a sale to Norway. But a former British intelligence officer who investigated the deal at the time confirmed that this was really a sale to Israel and the Noratom contract was just a charade.[10] The Foreign Office finally admitted in March 2006 that Britain knew the destination was Israel all along.[11]
In 1961, the Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion informed the Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker that a pilot plutonium-separation plant would be built at Dimona. British intelligence concluded from this and other information that this “can only mean that Israel intends to produce nuclear weapons”.[12] By 1969, U.S. Defense Secretary Melvin Laird believed that Israel might have a nuclear weapon that year.[13][14] Later that year, U.S. President Richard Nixon in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir pressed Israel to “make no visible introduction of nuclear weapons or undertake a nuclear test program”, so maintaining a policy of nuclear ambiguity.[15] The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency believed that Israel’s first bombs may have been made with highly enriched uranium stolen in the mid-1960s from the U.S. Navy nuclear fuel plant operated by the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation in Apollo, Pennsylvania, where sloppy material accounting would have masked the theft.[16][17]
Israel is not an impoverished country…and it is only struggling in the sense that it is surrounded with enemies bent on driving them into the sea.
Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
Amazing, isn’t it, how a few billion dollars of aid every year can smooth out the rough edges of an economy.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:18 pmNot sure if I’d connect the two. There’s a big difference between hitting a satellite at 130 miles altitude and one in geosynchronous orbit at 27,000 miles altitude.
Comment by toasterhead — March 11, 2008 @ 5:47 pm
Call me paranoid, for these days I am just that.
The space shuttle program is no longer daily news (except for the evening blast off last night). I wonder who the astronauts are in each mission (which happen more often than I could have imagined – because it’s all passe it’s no longer reported). These are satellites which somehow got there (shuttles?) and whether they have or could be tampered with…who knows.
Just things ruminating in my little brain.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:27 pmIsrael is not an impoverished country…and it is only struggling in the sense that it is surrounded with enemies bent on driving them into the sea.
Comment by Charles James Napier
Toasterhead nailed the second part for you……..If Israel would honor agreed to borders there would be peace….Israel does not want peace.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:27 pm> that might ally the Sadr and Badr brigades
are you chinese or japanese?
March 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pmOh yeah, and the words Commercialization and Militarization of space come to mind, too.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pmComment by Chocolate Jesus — March 11, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
Ever notice the bird calls in the background?
March 11th, 2008 at 6:30 pmok, i’m back… left at #40ish… no idea what’s going on since…
but reading through this article again, just want to opine some…
He rejected the praise in the Esquire piece, calling it “poison pen stuff.â€
well, i think it may have killed his command position…
UPDATE V: Spencer Ackerman writes:
[...] The Iranians will consider Fallon’s resignation to indicate that the bombing begins in the next five minutes.
are we there yet?
March 11th, 2008 at 6:36 pmIsrael is a welfare state, holding America hostage. The “free market” only applies when the fascisti choose otherwise, they’re all for wingnut welfare.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:42 pmMs_Joanne-
March 11th, 2008 at 6:47 pmYou’re not paranoid- the shuttle was designed to meet the Air Force’s requirements and up until the Challenger mission as many as 1/3 of all shuttle missions were to be military.
Officially, the military suspended all covert shuttLe operations in the wake of the Challenger disaster but they found that unmaned rockets were a much more covert and efficient means of delivering military payloads anyway.
hellinabucket, here’s what I will admit, I am glad that nit wit is gone, his first question at CENTCOM after a theater brief was “When can we pick the china for our new house”. Oh yeah, that’s level headed for you. That jacka** was more concerned about his personal welfare. Bet you next week he comes out in support of the anti-christ HRC.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:34 pmComment by tarazan — March 11, 2008
Nice two sided arguement. If we did listen more to military leaders you’d whine about facism, if we don’t listen to them you whine about incomptence. Do you people ever listen to yourselves?
March 11th, 2008 at 7:40 pmeasy there righty, those panties are gonna start chafin on ya.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:54 pmthe only bad leader is a leader that diagrees with the cheerleader-in-chief, right righty??
March 11th, 2008 at 7:55 pm“If we did listen more to military leaders you’d whine about facism, if we don’t listen to them you whine about incomptence. Do you people ever listen to yourselves?”
Comment by righty46 —
And the military leaders were saying it would be a quagmire – even Gen. Cheney. Is this the best you can do?
They really set the bar low, in wingerville.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:40 pmWorld War III is on the way unless Congress does something NOW. Is aanyone listening?
March 11th, 2008 at 8:56 pmIs aanyone listening?
Comment by questioneverything — March 11, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
No, apparently not.
Psssssst…DO SOMETHING!
Call and write your congressmen. Link below to phone, fax and email. Just click on your state.
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
March 11th, 2008 at 9:07 pmwell, i must commend the posters here… much better than i thought it would be… other than the banner thing…
very informative…
i’m glad i got to spend the day with electric hedge trimmers tearing into and shredding and chopping down stuff…
but i’m no less worried…
serious question: who can put the breaks on an attack of iran?
March 11th, 2008 at 9:53 pm“President Bush is not accustomed to a subordinate who speaks his mind as freely as Fallon does, and the president may have had enough.” See video: Why Fallon’s Resignation is Frightening Defense Secretary Robert Gates did not have to accept Admiral Fallon’s resignation. “The military people think basically that Admiral Fallon was PUSHED OUT” – Mark Thompson Time Magazine National Security Correspondent
March 12th, 2008 at 9:35 amFallon is described as “the one person in the military or Pentagon standing between the White House and war with Iran.”
And this nasty troll is creaming himself with the prospect of attacking Iran. It doesn’t matter that attacking Iran will further inflame the middle east and further destroy this country’s standing in the world. It doesn’t matter that attacking Iran will put us in the cross-hairs of both Russia and China. It just wants war, more war, the manliness of war.
I fear for this country and for what will happen if the Democrats don’t immediately impeach Bush compaq f4809a battery,compaq f4812a battery and Chaney. That is the only way they can stop this madness.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:30 amThis is another example that the “old world jounalism of Murrow, Cronkite and Rather is dead and buried. In the case of the Time Magazine reporter Ms Tumulty, she seems to think the finding out the who, what, where, when and how have been replaced with a steno pad, which she records what ABC said in rebuttle to the complaint of Congressman Kucinich. There is a great disconnect with what happened and the points made by ABC. She asks little of no questions to ABC. She takes what is handed to her and repeats it vebatim and then calls that reporting. I call is stenography. Lida Sohbet sohbet sesli chat Gelinlik Modelleri
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If you’re referring to Karl Schwarz’ articles, if they are true, how will we ever know unless the news media gets involved without bias? The military under orders not to speak out may never convey Karl Scharz’ expose’. Sesli Sohbet If Cheney was truly involved in 9/11 and protected in some way, then he’s being protected by what may be going on in the Caspian Sea area as well. That pre-9/11 August 10, 2000 article drives the point home to me that Cheney had a vested interest in the oil at the Caspian Sea area (before 9/11). Fx15 From all I’ve read in Schwarz’ articles, he claims the Taliban was working on a deal with Argentina with that pipeline in the Caspian Sea area and UNOCOL wanted the deal instead. Orjinal Lida It’s too much to get into here and I’m not able to convey in here what Schwarz has presented in his articles. Sikis Dig into Schwarz’ articles to learn more about the unnamed soldier’s experiences related to so-called Black Ops missions in the Caspian Sea area in Schwarz’ article. What Schwarz had to present in this article is an eye opener: kurtlar vadisi pusu izle
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Sources at the Pentagon said that Fallon was worried the White House would “perceive the magazine piece as a challenge to the president’s authority, and insisted that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
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