Without challenging your argument it seems you leave out an extremely critical point, i.e., WHY al-Qaeda is so interested in blowing up American aircraft. Did al-Qaeda just decide one day this would be a cool thing to do or is it a reaction to American support for Israeli actions in Palestine, for the expansion of U.S. bases across the Middle East, and for the repressive attitude toward Islam? Americans need to be reminded the dangers to us come not from an irrational, blood-thirsty horde but as a calculated response to our own choices. Or as they used to teach us...."Do unto others as you would have them do to you".
While David Broder presumably bases his assessment on the awkward reality that Americans are far more willing to spend huge amounts of money to kill other people than to help each other, his choice of Iran as prospective target rests not only on pragmatics (we have no obvious reason to invade Paraguay or Estonia) but on his close association with the same cadre of neocons who promoted the invasion of Iraq. They form the same circle, talk with the same sources, draw assistance from related groups, and otherwise share a common orientation toward friends and enemies.
The potential for disruption of the West's oil-based economy is quite obvious. But equally important is Broder's apparent disinterest in Iran's relationship with China. Why would China lend money to the US so it could attack Iran? Is he counting on the deep economic interests of American elites in China to offset China's interest in Iranian oil and gas? Even modest Chinese assistance with rocket guidance and propulsion systems would enable the Iranians to dump radioactive dust and debris all over American bases in the Middle East, oil facilities, and Israeli cities. We have no reason to expect hostile action from the Iranians in the absence of US provocation. If we exercise poor judgment we will have only ourselves, and our David Broders, to blame.
Does Bill remember that Christians killed at least 100,000 Iraqis over the past few years?What, that is a mischaracterization of what happened? Not by Bill's way of thinking. Very unfortunate, even reprehensible, that he considers Christians killers.
Once again President Obama´s predilection for defining American politics as disagreements among gentlemen regarding tee times at the country club, disagreements that may be resolved through earnest efforts to avoid unpleasantness, does major damage to all efforts to resolve the underlying contradictions and conflicts plaguing our political system.
Actually the linkage may be slightly different than you suggest. Fox News benefits from the fear and turbulence occasioned by terrorism on the fundamentalist right, whether Islamic or others. It is therefore in the financial interest of Fox News investors to make sure this continues. In effect we have the 21st century version of Hearst´s purported instructions to a photographer "you supply the photos and I will supply the war". It may be a marriage of convenience but it is in Fox's financial interest to provoke public clamor over the Muslim cultural center even if doing so increases recruitment for al-Qaeda, puts more American troops at risk, and may stir more terror attacks in the US.
Three additional points. The large oil refining and shipping facilities along the Persian Gulf are ready targets for Iranian missile strikes. While there are political considerations affecting attacks on these one could imagine strikes intended to disrupt access to oil. Second, large sectors of the the population across the Middle East will note that it is Islamic Iran which stands up to the US, not their own compromised rulers. The entire region will become increasingly hostile not only to the US but toward their own governments. Third, Iran does not really need nuclear weapons that go "BOOM" to create a major challenge to the US and Israel. Load rockets with radioactive particulates and simply dump them on US military bases and Israeli urban centers. No physical destruction but a horrific health challenge.
And what exactly has been the position of Representative Mike Pence (R-IN) in regard to Israeli armed forces killing an unarmed American citizen in international waters? Why is he more interested in attacking a NATO ally that also lost citizens in that assault than in demanding punishment of the guilty? If his inflamatory rhetoric contributes to pushing Turkey closer to Iran is Mike Pence prepared to defend his pro-Iranian position on the floor of the House of Representatives and to Indiana voters? And we hope those voters will be asking WHY Representative Pence is willing to weaken American security to curry favor with a country that displays so little interest in American lives and well-being.
The deprivation and repression of Gaza reminds me in certain respects of the Warsaw ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Perhaps an extreme comparison for some readers but when one looks at the problems of access to food, medications and medical treatment, education, employment, and the possibilities for human dignity the photographs we see of Gaza´s despair look very much like some of the descriptions of what life was like in Warsaw as the noose drew tighter there.
When the attack first took place the people on the boats were described as "humanitarians", a word Americans associate with peaceful fols doing good stuff. More recently on CNN and other stations they have become "activists", i.e., pushy people inserting themselves in the business of others. Small change of a word but it alters the tone and raises the smear that they are pushing themselves into Israeli business and, by extension, got what is coming to them.
Without challenging your argument it seems you leave out an extremely critical point, i.e., WHY al-Qaeda is so interested in blowing up American aircraft. Did al-Qaeda just decide one day this would be a cool thing to do or is it a reaction to American support for Israeli actions in Palestine, for the expansion of U.S. bases across the Middle East, and for the repressive attitude toward Islam? Americans need to be reminded the dangers to us come not from an irrational, blood-thirsty horde but as a calculated response to our own choices. Or as they used to teach us...."Do unto others as you would have them do to you".
While David Broder presumably bases his assessment on the awkward reality that Americans are far more willing to spend huge amounts of money to kill other people than to help each other, his choice of Iran as prospective target rests not only on pragmatics (we have no obvious reason to invade Paraguay or Estonia) but on his close association with the same cadre of neocons who promoted the invasion of Iraq. They form the same circle, talk with the same sources, draw assistance from related groups, and otherwise share a common orientation toward friends and enemies.
The potential for disruption of the West's oil-based economy is quite obvious. But equally important is Broder's apparent disinterest in Iran's relationship with China. Why would China lend money to the US so it could attack Iran? Is he counting on the deep economic interests of American elites in China to offset China's interest in Iranian oil and gas? Even modest Chinese assistance with rocket guidance and propulsion systems would enable the Iranians to dump radioactive dust and debris all over American bases in the Middle East, oil facilities, and Israeli cities. We have no reason to expect hostile action from the Iranians in the absence of US provocation. If we exercise poor judgment we will have only ourselves, and our David Broders, to blame.
Does Bill remember that Christians killed at least 100,000 Iraqis over the past few years?What, that is a mischaracterization of what happened? Not by Bill's way of thinking. Very unfortunate, even reprehensible, that he considers Christians killers.
al-Maliki Declares Independence
Once again President Obama´s predilection for defining American politics as disagreements among gentlemen regarding tee times at the country club, disagreements that may be resolved through earnest efforts to avoid unpleasantness, does major damage to all efforts to resolve the underlying contradictions and conflicts plaguing our political system.
Actually the linkage may be slightly different than you suggest. Fox News benefits from the fear and turbulence occasioned by terrorism on the fundamentalist right, whether Islamic or others. It is therefore in the financial interest of Fox News investors to make sure this continues. In effect we have the 21st century version of Hearst´s purported instructions to a photographer "you supply the photos and I will supply the war". It may be a marriage of convenience but it is in Fox's financial interest to provoke public clamor over the Muslim cultural center even if doing so increases recruitment for al-Qaeda, puts more American troops at risk, and may stir more terror attacks in the US.
Three additional points. The large oil refining and shipping facilities along the Persian Gulf are ready targets for Iranian missile strikes. While there are political considerations affecting attacks on these one could imagine strikes intended to disrupt access to oil. Second, large sectors of the the population across the Middle East will note that it is Islamic Iran which stands up to the US, not their own compromised rulers. The entire region will become increasingly hostile not only to the US but toward their own governments. Third, Iran does not really need nuclear weapons that go "BOOM" to create a major challenge to the US and Israel. Load rockets with radioactive particulates and simply dump them on US military bases and Israeli urban centers. No physical destruction but a horrific health challenge.
Considers breaking off Ties;
Israel Lobbies in Congress denounce Ankara
And what exactly has been the position of Representative Mike Pence (R-IN) in regard to Israeli armed forces killing an unarmed American citizen in international waters? Why is he more interested in attacking a NATO ally that also lost citizens in that assault than in demanding punishment of the guilty? If his inflamatory rhetoric contributes to pushing Turkey closer to Iran is Mike Pence prepared to defend his pro-Iranian position on the floor of the House of Representatives and to Indiana voters? And we hope those voters will be asking WHY Representative Pence is willing to weaken American security to curry favor with a country that displays so little interest in American lives and well-being.
The deprivation and repression of Gaza reminds me in certain respects of the Warsaw ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Perhaps an extreme comparison for some readers but when one looks at the problems of access to food, medications and medical treatment, education, employment, and the possibilities for human dignity the photographs we see of Gaza´s despair look very much like some of the descriptions of what life was like in Warsaw as the noose drew tighter there.
When the attack first took place the people on the boats were described as "humanitarians", a word Americans associate with peaceful fols doing good stuff. More recently on CNN and other stations they have become "activists", i.e., pushy people inserting themselves in the business of others. Small change of a word but it alters the tone and raises the smear that they are pushing themselves into Israeli business and, by extension, got what is coming to them.