Intro: "American neocons have moved the United States closer to war with Iran via a subtle change in the 'red line' phrasing, inserting the word 'capability' after the usual threats to take out an Iranian 'nuclear weapon.' Now, Sen. Joe Lieberman is making the shift official, reports Robert Parry."
Sen. Joe Lieberman is leading a group of nearly one-third of the U.S. Senate urging that the red line on war with Iran be shifted from building a nuclear weapon to the vague notion of Iran having the 'capability' to build one. (photo: AP)
Lieberman Edges US to War With Iran
20 February 12
en. Joe Lieberman is leading a group of nearly one-third of the U.S. Senate urging that the red line on war with Iran be shifted from building a nuclear weapon to the vague notion of Iran having the "capability" to build one. The neoconservative senator from Connecticut has introduced a "Sense of the Senate" resolution that would put the body on record as rejecting a situation that arguably already exists, in which Iran has the know-how to build a bomb even if it has no intention to do so.
The resolution tracks with the positions of hardline Israeli leaders, such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and undercuts the position of President Barack Obama, whose administration has been exploring ways to negotiate an agreement with Iran, which insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies also agree that Iran has NOT decided to build a bomb. [See Consortiumnews.com's ""US/Israel: Iran NOT Building Nukes."] However, in recent weeks, the goal posts have been subtly moved not only by American neocons and Israeli hardliners but by the major U.S. news media, which has inserted the new weasel word "capability" in mentions about of Iran's supposed nuclear weapons ambitions.
Of course, many consumers of U.S. news haven't noticed this slight change in wording from Iran's alleged "pursuit of a nuclear weapon" to its alleged "pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability." But the distinction is important because a "capability" can mean almost anything, since peaceful nuclear research also can be applicable to bomb building.
To deny Iran the "capability" would almost surely require a war between the United States and Iran, a course that some neocons have been quietly desiring for at least the past decade when the Iraq invasion was seen as a first step to bringing "regime change" to Iran - or as some neocons joked at the time, "real men go to Tehran."
Indeed, the massive U.S. Embassy in Baghdad - which now sits increasingly idle - can be best understood as the intended imperial command center for a new American dominance of the region. But those neocon plans were spoiled by the disastrous turn of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq and ultimately America's forced military withdrawal from the country at the end of 2011.
A Neocon Comeback
Since the grim writing was on the wall about the Iraq outcome, American neocons have been looking for new ways to get their imperial agenda back on track, with Iran's nuclear program just the latest opportunity.
So, Iranian efforts to negotiate confidence-building initiatives regarding its nuclear program, such as agreeing to a Turkish-Brazilian plan in 2010 to trade about half of Iran's low-enriched uranium for radioactive isotopes needed for medical research, have been blocked by neocons in Congress and their allies in the Obama administration, with the support of key U.S. media outlets, like the Washington Post and New York Times.
The latest shift toward forcing a new war has centered on the insertion of the word "capability" after the words "nuclear weapons." The Obama administration has indicated that it would consider an Iranian decision to build a nuclear bomb a "red line," suggesting the possibility of a military strike at that point.
However, that threat isn't making the neocons happy because the U.S. intelligence community is standing by its 2007 conclusion that Iran halted work on a nuclear bomb in 2003 and hasn't resumed that effort. Israeli intelligence apparently has reached the same judgment. Both U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak have referenced this state-of-play in the intelligence assessments in recent public remarks, as ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern has reported.
So, what are the hawks in Israel and the United States to do? Their new sleight-of-hand has been to quietly shift the terms of reference, arguing that it doesn't matter whether Iran is actually working on a bomb but that it must be denied even the "capability" to work on a bomb. That is the point of Lieberman's resolution.
Lieberman's Allies
In a statement at his Web site, the senator announced that 32 senators - both Republicans and Democrats - have banded together to introduce a resolution urging action to prevent Iran from pushing "forward in its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability. … By rejecting any policy that would rely on containment of a nuclear-weapons capable Iran, this bi-partisan resolution sends a clear message to Iran's rulers that the United States will stop them from acquiring nuclear weapons capability."
In other words, the next preemptive war could be launched not against Iran for actually building a bomb or even trying to build a bomb but rather for simply having the skills that theoretically could be used sometime in the future to build a bomb. The "red line" has been moved from some possible future development to arguably what already exists.
Lieberman is co-sponsoring the resolution with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), with support from Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland), John McCain (R-Arizona), Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Bill Nelson (D-Florida), Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas), Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), Mark Udall (D-Colorado), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Dan Coats (R-Indiana), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), John Boozman (R-Arizona), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire), Dean Heller (R-Nevada).
That group amounts to nearly one-third of the 100-member U.S. Senate.
For more on related topics, see Robert Parry's "Lost History," "Secrecy & Privilege" and "Neck Deep," now available in a three-book set for the discount price of only $29. For details, click here.
Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. His latest book, "Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush," was written with two of his sons, Sam and Nat, and can be ordered at neckdeepbook.com. His two previous books, "Secrecy & Privilege: The Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq" and "Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & 'Project Truth'" are also available there.
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Comments
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There needs to be a recall of Lieberman because he is not an Independent but an Israeli operative.
Other countries include Brazil, South Africa, Sweden, Australia, Canada, and many more. Perhaps they should ll be attacked to prevent or destroy their nuclear weapons capability.
I guess it's too late for North Korea, Pakistan and India, since they already have the weapon. Perhaps we erred by not attacking them earlier and now we can't. I wonder why they wanted such weapons.
What about Israel? They don't admit to having nuclear weapons, so perhaps we should attack them before they develop the capability.
Most Americans really aren't aware of the actions of the Mossad and the Zionists. Those who are aware are protesting what they have done, do, and are going to do again. That is the world we live in.
Lennon sang:
Imagine there are no countries
It's possible to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living for today"
Let's exchange, or better yet, TRANSCEND identity of country, race, ethnicity, gender, class and let's SYMBOLICALLY "wipe" all country names off the globe and call ourselves by 1 name: love
We need to convince everyone that they ARE love (perhaps hate is un-identified love? Perhaps hate is just uninterpreted potential love? Perhaps hate is obnoxiousness taken too seriously, when the obnoxiousness can and needs to be reflexively projected back at any hate detector?) Ego and drama limits the love that we all are.
The empire will fall for sure, because we are overreaching to such an extreme (thanks to Bush, and to Lieberman, who at least should have known better).
So we won't keep the Arabs and Muslims beaten down forever, no more than the first crusades did.
But a lot of the hatred will remain.
Please, let's disengage from the empire business.
about spreading democracy"
How can a fascistic police state spread
democracy?
F.D.Roosevelt (1938) in a message to congress said it most clearly:
"The liberty of a democracy is in danger
if the people tolerate the growth of private powers (corporations, Adelson,
AIPAC etc) to a point where it becomes
stronger than the democratic state itself.
That in it´s essence is fascism."
people be lied into before they wake up?"
Many more!
The majority of the American people
are mentally as complacent as an elderly senile person fed by a media that is
equally complacent.
How can it be otherwise when you have
so few investigative journalists writing
mainly in alternative media, that the
majority of the American people never
read?
http://www.controversyofzion.info/Controversybook/reeedcontrov_chap.pdf
The constant drone of propaganda tells us the opposite of what our eyes can see.
We are a failed nation, sabotaged and cowardly. In retrospect, it is pretty amazing the way evil could destroy people's minds, where mass murder has become almost something we can tune out- even rationalize!
One person can poison the well - and a group of people can destroy a nation.
I don't hate anyone of good will and I don't hate our country, but I recognize what is going on and who is engineering it - Mr Lieberman et al, case in point.
When good people can do nothing, because of overwhelming force and the willingness of those with the power to commit any and all atrocities, their is not much hope.
The last 10 years have accelerated the takeover and it appears comprehensive. What can be done? Vote :]
I shudder at the concept that we can have one or two carrier battle groups in the very restricted (including choke points) space of the Gulf and not suffer damage or loss of a carrier. The Iranian threat is comprised of considerable capability including subs, nuclear & diesel,missle boats by the swarm,and an array of land based missiles. Then there is the capacity in the air. On land the country is large with a central elevated plateau bordered by three mountain ranges, a population a multiple of Iraq, a considerable nurtured military, and a populace that has never known colonization and only a short period of occupation during WWII as a path for supply to the Russian front.
I personally have experienced the fact that Iranians are Byzantine in their dealings which means they do not reveal their hand until a game is ready to be played.
I know you are joking, but the asymmetrical war that will follow the bombing of Iran will eventually bankrupt the US.
One has to know from this just whom Lieberman really represents.
They should read their own Qur'an. In it there is a surah entitled "al-Isra", devoted to Israel, which contains this prophecy:
"For thy Lord hath destined for thee a Glorious Station, and ye shall serve the Lord with all thy might." (17:79)
Indeed, Biblical prophecies of "the mighty God" bringing "the outcasts of Israel" and "the remnant of Jacob" back to the Holy Land as a mighty nation are as ancient as they are numerous. The fact that Israel has returned is living proof of the power of the Word of God.
Besides the Bible prophecies, there are Shi'a prophecies called Hadith that condemn the priests of this age:
"A day shall be witnessed by My people," their own traditions condemn them, "whereon there will have remained of Islam naught but a name, and of the Qur'án naught but a mere appearance.
"The religious doctors of that age shall be the most evil the world hath ever seen. Mischief hath proceeded from them, and on them it will recoil."
It is evident, therefore, that the only ones who would want to oppose the fulfillment of a long awaited prophecy of God, are the enemies of God.
What I fear will happen is an anger toward Jews, as bad as before WW II. Remember the ship with Jewish refugees, that NO country would allow in their ports??...let alone in their countries.
Hitler succeeded in Europe, because many countries didn't like their Jewish populations. There were only two countries who courageously helped and protected their Jews, Holland and Denmark.
Because of the way Israel is treating the Palestinians, many countries are now angry at Jews. That could become an ugly full fledged persecution of Jews if the middle east go up in flames, because Israel started a war.
When disasters happens, some people always wants to find scape goats, and I am afraid the Jews would be it. That's my big fear.
I wish a lot of prominent Jews would speak out against war. That would be helpful.
How sad for your friend. I am glad her parents were accepted in England. From what was mentioned at the end of the film. The majority of the passengers were caught by the Germans and sent to the camps.
He said : Who started the first world war ? Muslims ?
Who started the second world war ? Muslims ?
Who killed about 20 millions of Aborigines in Australia ? Muslims ??
Who sent the nuclear bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ? Muslims ??
Who killed more than 100 millions of Indians in North America ? Muslims ?? Who killed more than 50 millions of Indians in south America ? Muslims ?? Who took about 180 millions of African people as slaves and 88% of them died and was thrown in Atlantic ocean ? Muslims ??
No , They weren't Muslims!!!
First of all, You have to define terrorism properly...
If a non-Muslim does something bad..it is crime. But if a Muslim does the same..he is terrorist...
So first remove this double standard...then come to the point!!! , .
Lieberman move to Israel? You must be jokin'! He'd actually have to put his body in a danger zone -and the big Pharma' and insurance industries embedded in Connecticut he and his wife represent so well, would never allow it!
Unfortunately they have too big a supply of young people to send to war, because they cannot afford an education! And they cannot find work. As I have said a number of times, our young people literally have to kill for an education.
It is beyond shameful in a country, that constantly says it is the greatest country in the world. And that we are so special??. I sure wish, that was true.
As you can see from my "name" i was not born here, but after 53 years I sure am an American, so it makes me feel bad when our country does not live up to our high ideals, or at least act decently.
As they were treated by the Germans, they are now treating the Palestinians.
It is a disgrace. Mahmoud Abbas and his prime minister Salam Fayad are doing a good job at governing the West Bank.
While Netanyahu is stealing more and more of their land, and building Jewish settlements. That is totally illegal.
I think he wanted revenge, and decided to damage the democrats as much as possible.
Remember in 08, he was ENDORSING McCain? and traveling with him, in- and outside the country. I was infuriated by his treachery.
He is now taking it MUCH further and BETRAYING our COUNTRY, by trying to get us into a completely un-winnable war. A war which will spread much further than anybody can foresee.
Russia and China sure do not want us to attack Iran, so they are NOT going to just sit back and do nothing.
And these INSANE republicans, running for the presidency, ALL are itching to hit Iran. We can NOT let them anywhere NEAR the Oval Office.
This is a very dangerous moment in time.
China, Russia, Israel and US all have nukes, it ONLY takes ONE to screw up........and heaven help us all.
We need to CALL OUT all the warmongers as the TRAITORS they surely are, before it is too late.
just reminder my friends - look at the list of senators and Hillary Clinton, Rice (UN) - the same people that "liberated" Libya, are arming Syria "protesters", friends of AIPAC - are waging war against Iran (sanctions are precursor to real WAR).
This is POLICY of US government and goes MUCH deeper than Lieberman (30+ senators of either party - so far NOT one senator against the policy - why?)
And nothing antisemitic. Most mature/educated people in Israel and USA are not as brainwashed as majority of this forum proves.
Both Israel and USA need REGIME CHANGE - from bellow. I think that respective governments know it and want to stop the change by going to another war (find external enemy).
Don't get me wrong mate - America has all and more of the positive things you say about her and the world respects America for it's generosity at times of calamity.That doesn't balance the wars and killing or interference in the affairs of other countries though and the generosity could be interpreted by some as just another arm of the propaganda machine. I don't care as long as it does good.
I know it's a tall order but we all know that they are the things to be concentrated on and not invading Iran or bullying the world. (Except the ones that already have nuclear bombs)
I am from Australia and:
(1) We have a universal health care system and affordable medicine.
(2) We have an affordable and decent education system and a University system that doesn't bankrupt the student.
(3) For such a vast land and a population of 22 million our infrastructure is excellent and well maintained.
How about starting on a list of three?
Of course we are not perfect and we have problems but let me say this. The likes of your Republicans would consider all three of our main political movements as SOCIALIST.
Look what they did in Iraq, look what they did in Libya and thenask yourself - wh on earth you should ever believe these lie scheming bastards again!
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