Sam Gardiner, 24 June 2008

The past few days have been overwhelming.  I had a notion that during the marketing of the US strike on Iran I would write something when I came across the kinds of exaggerations and creations that were used to prepare us for the invasion of Iraq.  I have gotten way behind. 

• The Israeli Exercise.  We got a big one on Friday.  The New York Times’ Michael Gordon gave us another one of his special stories.  This time it was a leak from unspecified sources, “several American officials.”   He described an Israeli air force exercise that had been conducted in early June, according to him, to show Iran that Israel has the capability to attack without the United States.  The description of Israeli capabilities was an exaggeration, and the story was probably a coordinated release between the US and Israeli governments.  I did have a chance to write about this one: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/is-israel-really-preparin_b_108314.htm
  

• EU Officials Afraid of Obama.  On Sunday the Washington Post revealed that unnamed “European officials” were concerned that if Senator Obama were elected it would set back the progress that has been made with sanctions on Iran.  We need to thank the Post for that help on this complex issue.  Who are these European officials?  Are they a couple of security guards in Brussels?


• The Meeting.  Israeli officials told us Monday morning that last Friday Prime Minister Olmert of Israel had a private meeting with retired Colonel Sela, the man who commanded the June 1981 raid on the Iraq facility at Osirak.  There was not explanation of the session or why it was at the Olmert residence.  We were obviously meant to conclude that it is connected in some way to the exaggerated threat by Israel to go on its own to strike Iran.


• Vote for McCain is a Vote Against a US Strike.  This one is almost hard to believe.  On a weekend talk show Bill Kristol one of the Fox News Republican cheerleaders implied that if Senator Obama were to win the election for President, George Bush would be forced to strike Iran before he leaves office.  I guess that means if you don’t want an attack on Iran you should vote for McCain.  I am confused, however.  I think this argument implies that if McCain were elected, he would strike Iran and President Bush would not have to do it.  


• Vote for McCain is a Vote Against an Israeli Strike.  Not to be out-argued, on Monday former US Ambassador to the UN and hardliner John Bolton said an Obama victory would bring an Israeli strike on Iran.


• Convergence of the Axis of Evil.  Monday’s Der Spiegel has an article that the yet-to-be-clearly-described facility in Syria bombed by Israel was part of a combined weapons producing effort by Iran, Syria and North Korea.  According to the article, the new information comes from intelligence reports.  We should beware of intelligence reports shown to reporters.  The only thing Spiegel has left out is that former Saddam Hussein weapons experts are also working on the program in Syria and are being paid by AQ Kahn.  


• Reaching Out.  Late Monday the US Secretary of State Rice told reporters the United States wants to “reach out to the Iranian people” in as many ways as possible.  The more direct translation of that statement is that the United States has a major covert operation underway to destabilize the Government of Iran, and the United States will do as much as possible to separate the people from the government.


• The Congressional Resolution.  The US Congress is in the scrum.  A major sense of the Congress resolution is about to be passed urging the President to be tougher with Iran.  Much of this resolution is in response to pressure by the American Israeli Policy Committee that had its annual meeting in Washington a few weeks ago.  This resolution comes very close to urging a virtual declaration of war on Iran.  I did have a chance to write something on the resolution.  http://fpif.org/fpiftxt/5279