Nuthin' but 'net: The rollout rolls on
Posted: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 12:05 PM by Chris Colvin
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Nuthin' but 'Net
Hi. Will this end up being the most prescient blog post of the year? Even as the Bush Administration keeps saying, for the record, that they want diplomacy not war when it comes to Iran, the noise level on the war option keeps getting louder. Plus, a little politics, and when bad financial news is good.
The New Yorker's Sy Hersh started reporting on the possibilty of war with Iran in April of 2006. His latest update raises a scenario in which the U.S. strikes in a limited way against Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (who've just been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. Congress) -- (P.S. We'll see your Guard and raise you one CIA) This is a scenario which Hersh's sources argue can be "sold" to the American people because of the Bush Administration's contention that the Guard is "killing our boys in Iraq." And speaking of Iraq, Hersh looks at the surge and sees it as a U.S. acceptance of ethnic cleansing. Mark Silva at Tribunes' The Swamp notes the White House reiteration of diplomacy not war in reaction to Hersh. And Downing Street denies it's on board.
The (London) Telegraph has the latest on alleged war preps: an air war training center set up in the UAE. And pronounces that the Neocons are on the march again. Chris Weigant games out what could happen after U.S. airstrikes. 5th Estate at Newshoggers takes a look at the big picture as well. The Jerusalem Post says Iran is threatening to attack 170 U.S. targets if it is hit. Glen Greenwald picked up on something the Washington Post's Dana Priest said last week.. that the only thing standing in the way of a military strike on Iran may be the military itself. Oh and the rollout goes Prime Time. And a Kos Diarist says make Congress decide.
Syrian President Assad told the BBC the target of Israel's mysterious strike was an unused military building. Here's AP's writeup of the interview. And Syria's Vice President comes right out and says the air raid was aimed at justifying a future attack. (Hat Tip: SyriaComment) Global Research says war is on the front burner. And here's a view from Israel (Hat tip: Cee in No Quarter comments)
And how ugly is the discourse over this getting? Check out Glen Greenwald's latest post, and the psychology behind the criticism of it. An speaking of ugly discourse.
Ben VanHeuvelen writes in Salon today about Blackwater's ties to the Bush Administration and the Christian Right.
Politics: while we're on the subject of the Christian Right, BulldogPundit muses on the threat to take their ball and go home. And the WSJ's Jackie Calmes reports on Page 1 today that all the focus on those social issues has changed the GOP brand.
Barack Obama, marking the 5th anniversary of the vote to authorize the war in Iraq, made some interesting points about the media in his speech today, which Greg Sargent picked up on.
It's a crazy world indeed when the biggest bank in the world announces its Q3 profits are taking a 60% hit and the Dow rallies to new all-time highs on the news. Ah yes-- now we can put all that credit crunch stuff behind us.
And the Mets historic collapse has inspired ESPN.com's often-inspired Sports Guy Bill Simmons to update his classic "levels of losing." Oh the pain!
