IRAN TO BE TARGETED BEFORE END OF BUSH PRESIDENCY

A pattern of selective justification for a war against Iran is emerging, reminiscent of the rush to war against Iraq: trumped up "intel" pointing to weapons of mass destruction (in this case, nuclear -- in a nation which is at least 5 years away for even a primitive weapon), applying to the UN Security Council to authorize military action, and all the while constantly assuring the world the US is seeking peaceful alternatives.

Iran is convinced the attack is inevitable and has been preparing for war for several months now. Some pro-Bush pundits like Claude Salhani have interpreted this almost as if Iran is preparing to attack us, but Iran certainly isn't that stupid. It is preparing to defend itself from a pre-emptive strike on its hidden nuclear facilities.

Bill Gertz is one of the few journalists on the right receiving a steady stream of leaks from Pentagon insiders -- to help justify Bush foreign policy decisions. His latest "intel" report gives major play to a government slide show that claims, "Iran's nuclear program is well-scaled for a weapons capability, as a comparison to [Pakistan's] nuclear weapons infrastructure... t's difficult to escape the conclusion that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons." Gertz fails to mention various flaws in the report that were covered in a similar Washington Post article on 14 Sept: "[The slide show] dismisses ambiguities in the evidence... and omits alternative explanations under debate among intelligence analysts." This is the same thing that happened with Colin Powell's Iraq show and tell session at the UN, and many high ranking government officials were less than convinced.

With neo-con hawk John Bolton installed as UN ambassador, the US is beginning its full court press to have sanctions installed on Iran, to be followed by an authorization to use force. Whether or not that comes, Bush is more than willing to take unilateral action on Iran, as long as a few other nations agree to add some token troops to the war so that he can claim to have an international coalition.

The first step towards international confrontation with Iran was taken this week when IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] issued its report to the United Nations Security Council that Iran was out of compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Thus the Council could impose economic sanctions against Iran and/or authorize the use of force. However, at this stage, that isn't likely to happen. As of now, Russia will use its veto to prohibit such a use of UN force. It is to Russia's advantage that the US once again be "forced" to use unilateral action against another Muslim country, which will continue to foment hatred for America in the Middle East. The US, for its own Hegelian purposes of conflict creation, seems all too willing to continue fostering this image of itself as the "bully of the West."

The Iran-India connection: India, a long-time ally of Russia (which provided India its nuclear weapons program, through surrogates), was given the green light in July to import advanced nuclear technology from the US. Now, the US is using that gesture as leverage to pressure India into joining in the UN's condemnation of Iran's nuclear program.

Initially, Iran reacted by threatening to "reconsider" the export of natural gas to India via the newly approved (but not built) Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project. India desperately needs the new supplies of fuel and worked hard to get arch-enemy Pakistan to approve the pipeline's passage through to India (though it gives Pakistan a welcome lever over India if war should break out). But that didn't last long. Iran quickly backed down from its threat, realizing that it will have more leverage over India once the pipeline is built -- not to mention the real boost in export income.

But Iran has also threatened the EU, subtly, with a cut-off of Iranian oil supplies. Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and its lead nuclear negotiator with Europe, proclaimed, "The Europeans have been trying to humiliate the Iranians. Do not doubt that [nuclear] enrichment is a national desire... Those countries that have economic transactions with Iran, especially in the field of oil, have not defended Iran's rights so far... Based on how much they defend Iran's national right will facilitate their participation in Iran's economic field." No one in Europe failed to sense the veiled threat about an oil cutoff. Many remember how Iran did just that in 1973 to force concessions in British control over Iranian oil production and marketing.

Other pundits agree that European diplomacy vis-a-vis Iran's nuclear standoff is now finished. Iran no longer has any confidence that the EU will stand up against the Bush demands. I fully expect Iranian leaders to take a hard line without any further flexibility -- except as it might buy a little more time. Most likely we will see Iran follow North Korea's lead: withdraw from the NPT and stop cooperating with the IAFA.

Iran is counting on the world taking note that the US let NK get away with all this and still bent over backward to avoid military confrontation. It won't work that way. Neither Iran nor the world realizes that the Anglo-American globalists have every intention of continuing to placate NK no matter what. There is to be no confrontation with Russia and China (NK's true allies) until WWIII is triggered. The same rules don't apply to Iran.

LESSONS FROM RITA

Some of my subscribers complain that I never have any good news. It's not that there isn't any. But the deluge of bad news is so overwhelming in our day, and is so important to share. People want to live in illusions of peace. My job is to make sure they don't do that easily, otherwise they won't prepare in time for the tragedies to come.

I finally have some good news, thanks to a brief report by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tx), whose 14th congressional district was in the path of Hurricane Rita. In stark contrast to the corruption and incompetence of the local officials in New Orleans, the locals in the Galveston area did it right -- and didn't even need the feds' help to successfully evacuate millions. Here's an excerpt:

"Officials and citizens in Galveston and Brazoria counties deserve special praise for showing the nation and the world the right way to prepare for a natural disaster. They proved that the best emergency planning takes place at the state and local level, by people who know the local citizens, roads, coastlines, and topography. Evacuation of Galveston county residents began on Monday and Tuesday, leaving plenty of extra time to move those in nursing homes and hospitals. The coordination of city buses for those without cars was magnificent: all buses left from a central community center, and a hotline was set up for those who needed a ride to the staging area. A private organization called the Citizens' Response Team also assisted in making sure everyone who needed a ride received one. Special provisions were made to allow pets on the buses, which prevented any agonizing decisions. Televised images of the long line of buses leaving Galveston in an orderly convoy provided a stark contrast to events in New Orleans just a few weeks ago. Residents of Brazoria and Galveston counties followed the designated evacuation routes perfectly, and experienced no problems until they reached Harris County and points north. The real traffic problems were caused by the huge exodus of Houston drivers. State officials will have to reconsider evacuation routes out of Houston, but Brazoria and Galveston counties clearly were not part of the problem.

"Galveston Police Chief Kenneth Mack reported that there was no looting whatsoever, a testament to a job well done. The people of south Texas relied not on FEMA or federal Homeland Security, but rather on themselves, their families, their neighbors, their local police and fire crews, and their local officials... [W]ell done." [End of Paul quote.]

The Houston Evacuation Mess:

While state and local officials claimed they "couldn't have foreseen the willingness of people to evacuate" (really -- after Katrina?), the results confirmed what I have long predicted: "100-mile-long traffic jams, dehydrated babies in stifling cars and hundreds of motorists who simply ran out of gasoline trying to flee on choked roads." To their credit local government did try to improvise by delivering free gasoline and water to those stranded on freeways, out of fuel. But the process took so long, many more ran out of gas before traffic got moving again. The freeways were already hopelessly clogged by the time transportation officials ordered all lanes changed to one-way, leading north away from Houston. Then it took state police five hours to implement that traffic change.

Has FEMA Learned its Lessons?

Editor and Publisher commented, "The Beaumont (Tex.) Enterprise reported tonight that disaster response coordinators in the area hard hit by Rita say they are seeing the same foot-dragging federal response this weekend witnessed two weeks ago in New Orleans and Mississippi. "Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said, 'There's a drastic shortage of generators in Beaumont to provide emergency power... There are generators at Ford Park, and FEMA is withholding their release. They want to finish their damage assessment.' Jefferson County Judge Carl Griffith added, 'the MREs [military meals, ready-to-eat], like the generators, were being withheld by FEMA... They won't let us have them. They said we had to go through the state -- which we already did -- to get them.'" The article continues, "Looters have struck in town, but had to be let go because there is no safe place to jail them right now. Officials have asked FEMA to provide temporary jail quarters." FEMA has tens of mobile railroad type prison cars (I wonder why) but seems reluctant to show them now. In many other ways, however, FEMA was better prepared this time. It's just that bureaucracy gets in the way.

Bush wants to Federalize all Emergencies:

The Washington Times reported, "President Bush yesterday sought to federalize hurricane-relief efforts, removing governors from the decision-making process. 'It wouldn't be necessary to get a request from the governor or take other action,' declared White House press secretary Scott McClellan. Mr. McClellan was referring to a 'new, direct line of authority that would allow the president to place the Pentagon in charge of responding to natural disasters, terrorist attacks and outbreaks of disease.'" That authority is of major concern, especially with regards to disease outbreaks. Sometimes state officials are more accountable and reasonable than the feds about issuing draconian orders that affect huge populations with vast unintended consequences -- like issuing massive quarantines or curfews whether needed in certain areas or not.

The pretext of the White House proposal is bogus: that somehow, federal efforts have been slowed down by state officials' delays in declaring a disaster area. This has never proven to be true -- even in Katrina.

COMING GAS SHORTAGES

George Ure of UrbanSurvival.com made some important comments on the ongoing and worsening fuel shortages: "I can almost guarantee the pump lines we recently saw in Houston will be nationwide. I am fairly sure that we will see them by Christmas, as it is. A cold winter will virtually ensure radical price hikes in natural gas, electricity and heating oil. There are dozens of rigs and platforms damaged [after Rita], missing or sunk. Katrina put the whammy on production platforms, and Rita slammed the drilling rigs... Some of the rigs are upside down, others are twisted and destroyed, still others are just plain gone... either sunk or drifting. As I have been telling anyone willing to listen, there really is no such thing as Peak Oil, as far as I can tell [I'm not so sure a peak isn't far away -- ed]. The real problem is a complete lack of infrastructure for moving and refining oil and gas, as well as a serious shortage of drilling rigs, tankers and refineries. The situation was close to dire before the storms. It is critical now. Over the past couple of decades, there has been little investment [a purposeful manipulation of supply by the oil majors -- ed] in tankers, new drilling rigs and refineries. As a consequence, we may be running out of gasoline while drowning in oil. This is the cause of the disconnect recently between pump price and barrel cost. All the storage areas are full of oil, the problem is there is no scalable means to refine it and/or ship it. Even starting this minute, the supply can not be increased by even one percent for the next three to five years."

wont matter after 2012

Quoted: wont matter after 2012

Are you refering to a comet??  If you are than you know how I guessed, other wise you are probably like

Quoted: wont matter after 2012

Why? What's important about 2012?

Good.  Payback is a bitch.

some culture that expired hundreds of years ago predicted the world would come to an end at 2012.

yet they didn't predict that their society would dissipate a 1000 yers ago.

Credible

2012 or 2112?  

vmax84

Ah, another cut-and-paste with no attribution.

Quoted: 2012 or 2112?   vmax84

2012

Quoted: some culture that expired hundreds of years ago predicted the world would come to an end at 2012. yet they didn't predict that their society would dissipate a 1000 yers ago. Credible

it was the mayans wasn't it?

Quoted: Quoted: some culture that expired hundreds of years ago predicted the world would come to an end at 2012. yet they didn't predict that their society would dissipate a 1000 yers ago. Credible it was the mayans wasn't it?

yes.

Why does Bush want to federalize EVERYTHING?  He just wants fucking control of the whole country, maybe even the world.  Someone stop him.  Now he wants control of Natural disasters, outbreaks and terrorist attacks.  Doesn't even need the governor's permission to take over their state.   Talk about UNconstitutional.   He just has free run of that white house and our country.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: some culture that expired hundreds of years ago predicted the world would come to an end at 2012. yet they didn't predict that their society would dissipate a 1000 yers ago. Credible it was the mayans wasn't it? yes.

But its not the end of the world, but "new era" we will be raised to a higher level, at least thats what they say the azteks meant, so not a doomsday. Simply a change in our lifes.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: some culture that expired hundreds of years ago predicted the world would come to an end at 2012. yet they didn't predict that their society would dissipate a 1000 yers ago. Credible it was the mayans wasn't it? yes. But its not the end of the world, but "new era" we will be raised to a higher level, at least thats what they say the azteks meant, so not a doomsday. Simply a change in our lifes.

End of the world would be quite a "change in our lives"

Quoted: Ah, another cut-and-paste with no attribution.

Bingo!

Where in the hell did that article come from?

Although the integrity is questonable, the bible code pridicts a comet will hit the earth in 2012.  Strange how the two pridict the same thing.  I do realise how unreliabe the scources are but cool none the less.

The article is a crock of shit, which is even more obvious because its source isn't cited.

Quoted: Although the integrity is questonable, the bible code pridicts a comet will hit the earth in 2012.  Strange how the two pridict the same thing.  I do realise how unreliabe the scources are but cool none the less.

bible code is a myth

Quoted: Quoted: Although the integrity is questonable, the bible code pridicts a comet will hit the earth in 2012.  Strange how the two pridict the same thing.  I do realise how unreliabe the scources are but cool none the less. bible code is a myth

And that is a generous assessment of the 'Bible Code'.

2012= China's Year of the Dragon. End of Mayan Calendar etc:

Which means if your a christian the 7 years of tribulation may start THIS year around December. We'll see

Quoted: The article is a crock of shit, which is even more obvious because its source isn't cited.

Traced back to this nut case...

www.worldaffairsbrief.com/

www.joelskousen.com/

Total

Next time, post the source so we can assess the level of accuracy.  Otherwise why waste your time and ours?  

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Although the integrity is questonable, the bible code pridicts a comet will hit the earth in 2012.  Strange how the two pridict the same thing.  I do realise how unreliabe the scources are but cool none the less. bible code is a myth And that is a generous assessment of the 'Bible Code'.

bible code.. some israel spooks, cryptomaniacs figure out a way to 'quigi-board' the 1st 5 books of the bible (tora). you get a computer program enter something you wanna find (osami) and it finds it somwhere then pops up lots of words around the same area using all kinds of combinations...

if it really is a code, you would break it down using a big computer program looking for all nouns and verbs and other standard words, then look for proper names, statistically analyze ALL occurunces and their location and then see what information was derived thereby.

3 things you notice you search bible codes... 1. lots of israeli connections. .2. lots of correlation with terrorists, islam israel and so forth as 'discovered codes' 3. lots of programs for sale...

still wont matter after 2012

sorry I forgot to post this, The atticle is from this guy's website ---> World Affairs Brief October 7, 2005 Copyright Joel M. Skousen. Partial quotations with attribution permitted.
Cite source as Joel Skousen's World Affairs Brief at www.WorldAffairsBrief.com

I was reading this and thought I'd share it b'cuz it is pretty far out there. Some of it is interesting though.  Anyone know anything about the author?

Quoted: The article is a crock of shit, which is even more obvious because its source isn't cited.

/\ WHS

Actually isn't the year 2012 the year that several astronomers have deduced could signal the coming of a giant chaos cloud which can devour the solar system?  I saw this on the History Channel (or maybe it was right here on ARFCOM ), but the year may be incorrect, so correct me if I'm wrong about the chaos cloud.

naw 2012 is the year of the zomboid.


Thats when they will rear their ugly rotten putrid head.

If the end of the world is in 2012 then lets all quit our jobs and have a 7 year long class three shoot!!!

7 years of full-auto tribulation sounds like a plan to me.

Quoted: Total Next time, post the source so we can assess the level of accuracy.  Otherwise why waste your time and ours?

A pattern of selective justification for a war against Iran is emerging, reminiscent of the rush to war against Iraq: trumped up "intel" pointing to weapons of mass destruction (in this case, nuclear -- in a nation which is at least 5 years away for even a primitive weapon), applying to the UN Security Council to authorize military action, and all the while constantly assuring the world the US is seeking peaceful alternatives.

You only had to read the first paragraph to know it was BS.

Quoted: Over the past couple of decades, there has been little investment [a purposeful manipulation of supply by the oil majors -- ed] in tankers, new drilling rigs and refineries. As a consequence, we may be running out of gasoline while drowning in oil.

His little editorial blurb in red is nonsense.  Refineries haven't been built because of NIMBYism and excessive environmental regulation and inspection.  Know how I know?  Because when Bush proposed to build new refineries on closed military bases to avoid the NIMBY syndrome and reduce regulations needed to build them, some people in Congress were opposed.  Guess who?

www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/07/D8D3903O1.html

Creeps.

John Titor was right, man!