La Verita
I am a half kuwaiti/half american girl living in Kuwait.
I am perpetually suspended in the granite hollow that fills the space between two worlds...
Not quite who I am, not quite who I want to be... Cat-lover, poet, music-nut.
I currently hold a PHD in both BS and Smartass. In short, I pitch my tent in the median of life..
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"Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live."
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See 7tenths run
Caff
Delicately Realistic
Diigmaa
Dr. Lost
Doug's Darkworld
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Erzulie
Fallen Angel
K the Kuwaiti
Mia: Shaken Not Stirred
Miya Fushi
MissCosmo
Purgatory
Skunk
SnoCone
Solar Alchemist
The Stallion
Swair
Tooomz
Caff
Delicately Realistic
Diigmaa
Dr. Lost
Doug's Darkworld
Entrepreneur
Erzulie
Fallen Angel
K the Kuwaiti
Mia: Shaken Not Stirred
Miya Fushi
MissCosmo
Purgatory
Skunk
SnoCone
Solar Alchemist
The Stallion
Swair
Tooomz
Curled-up with..
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Brushes: Inobscuro, At0mica, Echoica, Veredgf, Puzzle,
Fonts: Dafont
Image: Foto_decadent
Image Host: Photobucket
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Bush and his Anals of National Security....
Caff, bless her heart, directed my attention to another article concerning Bush and his pseudo-plans for Iran. This direction, no doubt, comes due to the caffeinated one noticing how much pleasure I took in making fun of the first article. So, I read the article, which is titled The Iran Plans: Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting a bomb? by Seymour Hersh.
Ok, first of all, hell yeah he would! When you whittle down his justifications for going to war with Iraq, it basically boils down to a statement along the lines of "Because I want to." So, yeah, in Bushs' mind, a bomb is more than enough reason to bypass normal courses of diplomacy and go to war.
Here are some excerpts from the article:
- "A government consultant with close ties to the civilian leadership in the Pentagon said that Bush was 'absolutely convinced that Iran is going to get a bomb' if it is not stopped. He said that the President believes that he must do 'what no Democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do,' and 'that saving Iran is going to be his legacy.'"
"What no Democrat or Republican would have the courage to do..." Sounds like a line from a movie.... I'm not sure if Hollywood script writers should be coming up with the Presidents' speeches. The language is a bit over dramatic, don't ya think?
As for "saving Iran" , it sure didn't take long for Iran to go from being the enemy to being a proverbial damsel in distress. The more accurate phrasing might be "to save ourselves, and Israel, from Iran."
- "One former defense official, who still deals with sensitive issues for the Bush Administration, told me that the military planning was premised on a belief that 'a sustained bombing campaign in Iran will humiliate religious leadership and lead the public to rise up and overthrow the government.' He added, 'I was shocked when I heard it and asked myself, 'What are they smoking?'"
My thoughts exactly... Sounds like Bush has been burnin' too much bush.. if you know what I'm saying...
- "Patrick Clawson, an expert on Iran (?), emphasized that 'this administration is putting a lot of effort into diplomacy.'
A guy named Patrick Clawson is an expert on Iran? You know who's an expert on Iran? An IRANIAN! How about they try speaking to someone from Iran, which brings me to my second point... "a lot of effort into diplomacy"? I'm sorry, but my BS radar is starting to sound its alarms.
Oh, but Patrick has more to say....
- "he fears that Ahmadinejad (Iranian President) ' sees the west as wimps and thinks we will eventually cave in.'"
Shinoo, li3ba? Ay shay sees the West as wimps marra wa7da? The US is the strongest "Empire" in the world. They have the military might to bring down practically any nation they want. They went into Iraq and tossed out Saddam like he was nothing more than an overgrown bully. They ousted the Taliban like it was a walk in the park (well, maybe not that easily, but they got it done.) zibdat il mowthoo3 inna nobody in the world sees the US, or Bush for that matter, as being wimps. If Bush has proven anything during his presidency, it is that he follows through on what he promises.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly anti-Bush, I'm definately not anti-America. I agree with most, if not all, of Bushs' foreign policy. What I have a problem with, however, is the way they go about executing their plans. War in Iraq and Afganistan was inevitable. War in Iran seems imminent. But why do the Americans have to act like a bull in a China shop? There are ways to handle things efficiently with the least amount of unnecessary noise. Yeah, everybody will likely still end up hating America, but that, it seems, is also inevitable. The Bush Administration has this idea that, we, in the Middle East are incredibly ignorant of their motives. We're not. All of us in this part of the world, knew that the war in Iraq boiled down to oil and not much else. And that is pretty much what the 'possible' war in Iran will likely boil down to.
"The real issue," according to one high ranking diplomat, "is who is going to control the Middle East and its oil in the next ten years."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
*Special thanks to Caff
_______________________________________________________
Now Playing: Hemorrhage By: Fuel
-Layla
Ok, first of all, hell yeah he would! When you whittle down his justifications for going to war with Iraq, it basically boils down to a statement along the lines of "Because I want to." So, yeah, in Bushs' mind, a bomb is more than enough reason to bypass normal courses of diplomacy and go to war.
Here are some excerpts from the article:
- "A government consultant with close ties to the civilian leadership in the Pentagon said that Bush was 'absolutely convinced that Iran is going to get a bomb' if it is not stopped. He said that the President believes that he must do 'what no Democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do,' and 'that saving Iran is going to be his legacy.'"
"What no Democrat or Republican would have the courage to do..." Sounds like a line from a movie.... I'm not sure if Hollywood script writers should be coming up with the Presidents' speeches. The language is a bit over dramatic, don't ya think?
As for "saving Iran" , it sure didn't take long for Iran to go from being the enemy to being a proverbial damsel in distress. The more accurate phrasing might be "to save ourselves, and Israel, from Iran."
- "One former defense official, who still deals with sensitive issues for the Bush Administration, told me that the military planning was premised on a belief that 'a sustained bombing campaign in Iran will humiliate religious leadership and lead the public to rise up and overthrow the government.' He added, 'I was shocked when I heard it and asked myself, 'What are they smoking?'"
My thoughts exactly... Sounds like Bush has been burnin' too much bush.. if you know what I'm saying...
- "Patrick Clawson, an expert on Iran (?), emphasized that 'this administration is putting a lot of effort into diplomacy.'
A guy named Patrick Clawson is an expert on Iran? You know who's an expert on Iran? An IRANIAN! How about they try speaking to someone from Iran, which brings me to my second point... "a lot of effort into diplomacy"? I'm sorry, but my BS radar is starting to sound its alarms.
Oh, but Patrick has more to say....
- "he fears that Ahmadinejad (Iranian President) ' sees the west as wimps and thinks we will eventually cave in.'"
Shinoo, li3ba? Ay shay sees the West as wimps marra wa7da? The US is the strongest "Empire" in the world. They have the military might to bring down practically any nation they want. They went into Iraq and tossed out Saddam like he was nothing more than an overgrown bully. They ousted the Taliban like it was a walk in the park (well, maybe not that easily, but they got it done.) zibdat il mowthoo3 inna nobody in the world sees the US, or Bush for that matter, as being wimps. If Bush has proven anything during his presidency, it is that he follows through on what he promises.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly anti-Bush, I'm definately not anti-America. I agree with most, if not all, of Bushs' foreign policy. What I have a problem with, however, is the way they go about executing their plans. War in Iraq and Afganistan was inevitable. War in Iran seems imminent. But why do the Americans have to act like a bull in a China shop? There are ways to handle things efficiently with the least amount of unnecessary noise. Yeah, everybody will likely still end up hating America, but that, it seems, is also inevitable. The Bush Administration has this idea that, we, in the Middle East are incredibly ignorant of their motives. We're not. All of us in this part of the world, knew that the war in Iraq boiled down to oil and not much else. And that is pretty much what the 'possible' war in Iran will likely boil down to.
"The real issue," according to one high ranking diplomat, "is who is going to control the Middle East and its oil in the next ten years."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
*Special thanks to Caff
_______________________________________________________
Now Playing: Hemorrhage By: Fuel
-Layla
11:16
Comments:
GULF WAR III
or
Chitori Iran!
bush is back!
doing what a bush does best!!
and this time its Noooooocleeeeeer Baby!!!
in theatres VERY near you, probably quite soon too!
go see it or we'll send you hunting with dick cheney :P
ps love your political deconstruction :P keep em coming :D
Skunk> Hahahahahahahaha! nice one!
You know Dick Cheney made that little faux pas about a town away from my grandparents house? So, that threat is a little too plausible for my comfort! :P
7> I wasn't being patriotic. I was being realistic. And I think plenty of people would agree that America can pretty much bring down whoever it wants, if it wanted to bad enough. :P
War in Iran seems inevitable from Bushs' viewpoint. I'm not saying I support it and it really doesn't make a difference whether I accept it or not.
New energy? honey, they're looking to blow stuff up... preferably the US, but most likely Israel.
P.S. Lovin House MD, thanx babe! ;)
Straying off-topic here but is your name actually Layla (i.e. the little sign-off at the bottom) or is that just a virtual moniker?
erzulie> hehehehe... believe me, if i were gonna choose a moniker, I'd choose something cooler than Layla... something like porche or shaniqua or.... chantelle :P
so, yeah my name is actually layla :>
7> il7as i zooliya yuba! :P
If Bush invades Iran .. the price of oil will be 250$+ and we will be somewhat screwed (Iran controls the Arabian gulf).
If Iran 'wins' .. we are screwed even more.
As a Kuwaiti, I hope Bush either stays at home .. or keeps us out of it.
they may be a pariah state,.... but damn they know how to make a presentation!!!
lol what other state announces enrichment via interpretive dance?
right everyone can calm down, they only got it to 3.5% enrichment, and you need 95% apparently. so no ones invading anyone just yet:P
ps i vote for shaniqua :D
KtK> Agreed. Either way we lose.. :/
Skunk> Shaniqua it is :P
i don't think bush'll care about the enrichment percentage thingy.. he ain't so hot with numbers apparently :P
Skunk Actually, it would be Gulf War 4...
1) Iraq vs. Iran: 1980-1988
2) Iraq vs. Kuwait: 1990-1991
3) US vs. Iraq: 2003-??? (I want to say 2020!!)
4) Perhaps US vs. Iran, as you suggested?
This fourth one will be the third war that the US is involved in…it reminds me of how Alan describes "Nick the Greek" in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels : He's got all twenty fat fingers and toes in every pie…"
And you are absolutely right about the uranium: Weapons grade uranium (u-235) should be enriched to about 95%/. The way to get the uranium to that level, though, is simply to let it chill in the centrifuge just a few more years… :S
And Thank YOU, Krispy Dixie , for all the informative postings. Keep 'em coming : )
My opinions on the articles...well, I'd have to go through each one, paragraph by paragraph, with what I have to say. And I certainly won't bore you all with that.
I will say one thing: Bush cannot logistically support an invasion of Iran. Because Colin Powell reconfigured the US military force needed for [inter]national security based on the success of the 1990 Gulf War, America has the resources to engage in two military regional contingencies AT MOST. In fact, I would argue that the forces currently are only geared to one and a half MRCs.
Numerically, for example, the US has about 485,000 active troops. The maximum deployment of troops at any one time is 300,000. The other 185,000 are needed inside the US for training, medical needs, etc. Out of this maximum deployment number 233,000 troops are currently deployed around the world. The US has bases located all around the globe, not just in Iraq. Of that number (233,000), about 133,000 troops are in Iraq. Rumsfeld, in his Quadrennial Report, had asked for 2 more army divisions, which would add about 30-40,000 troops. However, to do so would take 2-5 years, because the troops would have to be trained and retained.
It is because of these logistical problems (and many others, don't even get me started on the small amount of naval carriers or the repackaged air force fighter-wing equivalents…some serious overconfident planning was going on in Washington) that the US would have an extremely rotten time supporting a successful war unilaterally (multilaterally might actually be plausible, though), be it air bombing, invasion, or anything else in between.
All in all, if Bush continues his go-get-'um cowboy ways, he would be heading down a path called "imperial overstretch" that would lead to the destruction of the American hegemonic position.
caff's got it right, logistically theres no way a traditional invasion could be mounted. even a multilateral invasion would stretch things for the allies.
while a multilateral UN sanctioned air campaign is more feasable, the allies would find it hard to politically sell the need for one back home.
neither bush nor blair have the political capital that they had immediately following 9/11.
what they do have, however, is the support of just about every regional leader in the middle east. a worrying prospect is the urging of the US into action by the regional leaders, in return for concessions.
while we wax lyrical about the clash of civilisations between east and west,.... you have to ask just how much is going on behind the scenes with the arab states poking and prodding the US to take on iran.
lets face it, the gulf states leaders wouldnt lose sleep over an airstrike in iran that takes out its current nuclear sites. everyone from kuwait to the uae, saudi, egypt and syria would breathe a huge sigh of relief.
perhaps what we're seeing here is a reversal of the puppet wars of the coldwar, with those that hold the energy leverage pushing the one with the military leverage?
only the extent of their influence remains to be seen.
Krispy darling...loved all your input and I was routing for you all the way...up until...
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly anti-Bush, I'm definately not anti-America. I agree with most, if not all, of Bushs' foreign policy"....
I'm definately not Anti-American....BUT...my whole problem IS Bush's foreign policy...or we wouldn't be in all this mess wondering if another war is coming about...you said it right about the bull in a china store...and it just keeps on getting worse...sadly..it's Bush's foreign policy....damn it...if it wasn't for Monika Lewinsky...we could've had something good come out of Clinton...but I guess only the good die young!
P.S. loved the part about the "Iranian expert"...if they'd only listen to the people that actually are the experts...it'll be a totally different world we live in!
Something I checked out once showed his speeches as being monotonous and repetitive. Perhaps all his scriptwriters have also stepped down and he is chewing and coughing up the same speech while juggling the sentences and playing around with phrases. Maybe since he can’t make any new ones up he’s just changing the names of the Arab states and we’re gonna have a déjà vu soon.
I’ve always wondered what the general opinions of Kuwaiti people on American principles were. I personally feel it’s a catch-22 situation with the need for America’s aid yet the ruthlessness of the ordeals. I know that the army is generating heaps of work here, but I wonder what Kuwait is loosing in the bargain (should I phrase that as how much oil) I don’t really know…
Also are American civilians safe in Kuwait? The extremists who consider themselves humanitarians are like minefields daring anything American to step on them.
To Caff: About there being only a limited number of troops. Somehow the outsourcing work to other countries(bpo's) that the government approved of just seems like a façade to actually create unemployment and voila, the option of joining the army is conveniently there. Somehow they seem to be able to come up with some manipulative plan or the other to get their troops brimming. Of course my comprehension of these matters is limited, so if I’m off by some miles and an ocean do feel free to poke me in the eye.
Ignorance was always bliss until I watched Moore’s documentary. When I heard the troops would listen to Sway by Coal (If you don’t know it already, check out the lyrics) in their tanks while they killed god knows how many families, it hit me more than hard.
I’m not really into politics, but bush being short for BUllSHit. It’s a conditioned judgment but it’s not hard to see why.
Sorry Krispy D, kinda rattled on and made myself at home here :P but I'm super glad you got this thread started...
caff> Agreed. Your points are spot on! i guess its kind of a good thing that its logistically improbable...
Skunk> Agreed. I think the leaders in the region would breathe a sigh of relief as well.... I guess that's why some analysts have said that if the US were to bomb sites in Iran, Iran would likely retaliate by hitting US bases in the region..... Bad news for us.. :/
MissCosmo> Your opinion makes sense. Problem is, Clinton didn't really have an explicit foreign policy. He didn't really need to execute it you know? His presidency was all about scandals and lies. Bush has been presented with very real and very difficult decisions practically from the beginning of his presidency... I wouldn't have trusted Clinton to make those kinds of tough calls...
crap! is that what they said?!
hmmm i dont think i'm outside the 10 mile radius from camp doha...........
i do still have my czech made gasmask from the last time around tho :D
Post a Comment
GULF WAR III
or
Chitori Iran!
bush is back!
doing what a bush does best!!
and this time its Noooooocleeeeeer Baby!!!
in theatres VERY near you, probably quite soon too!
go see it or we'll send you hunting with dick cheney :P
ps love your political deconstruction :P keep em coming :D
Skunk> Hahahahahahahaha! nice one!
You know Dick Cheney made that little faux pas about a town away from my grandparents house? So, that threat is a little too plausible for my comfort! :P
7> I wasn't being patriotic. I was being realistic. And I think plenty of people would agree that America can pretty much bring down whoever it wants, if it wanted to bad enough. :P
War in Iran seems inevitable from Bushs' viewpoint. I'm not saying I support it and it really doesn't make a difference whether I accept it or not.
New energy? honey, they're looking to blow stuff up... preferably the US, but most likely Israel.
P.S. Lovin House MD, thanx babe! ;)
Straying off-topic here but is your name actually Layla (i.e. the little sign-off at the bottom) or is that just a virtual moniker?
erzulie> hehehehe... believe me, if i were gonna choose a moniker, I'd choose something cooler than Layla... something like porche or shaniqua or.... chantelle :P
so, yeah my name is actually layla :>
7> il7as i zooliya yuba! :P
If Bush invades Iran .. the price of oil will be 250$+ and we will be somewhat screwed (Iran controls the Arabian gulf).
If Iran 'wins' .. we are screwed even more.
As a Kuwaiti, I hope Bush either stays at home .. or keeps us out of it.
they may be a pariah state,.... but damn they know how to make a presentation!!!
lol what other state announces enrichment via interpretive dance?
right everyone can calm down, they only got it to 3.5% enrichment, and you need 95% apparently. so no ones invading anyone just yet:P
ps i vote for shaniqua :D
KtK> Agreed. Either way we lose.. :/
Skunk> Shaniqua it is :P
i don't think bush'll care about the enrichment percentage thingy.. he ain't so hot with numbers apparently :P
Skunk Actually, it would be Gulf War 4...
1) Iraq vs. Iran: 1980-1988
2) Iraq vs. Kuwait: 1990-1991
3) US vs. Iraq: 2003-??? (I want to say 2020!!)
4) Perhaps US vs. Iran, as you suggested?
This fourth one will be the third war that the US is involved in…it reminds me of how Alan describes "Nick the Greek" in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels : He's got all twenty fat fingers and toes in every pie…"
And you are absolutely right about the uranium: Weapons grade uranium (u-235) should be enriched to about 95%/. The way to get the uranium to that level, though, is simply to let it chill in the centrifuge just a few more years… :S
And Thank YOU, Krispy Dixie , for all the informative postings. Keep 'em coming : )
My opinions on the articles...well, I'd have to go through each one, paragraph by paragraph, with what I have to say. And I certainly won't bore you all with that.
I will say one thing: Bush cannot logistically support an invasion of Iran. Because Colin Powell reconfigured the US military force needed for [inter]national security based on the success of the 1990 Gulf War, America has the resources to engage in two military regional contingencies AT MOST. In fact, I would argue that the forces currently are only geared to one and a half MRCs.
Numerically, for example, the US has about 485,000 active troops. The maximum deployment of troops at any one time is 300,000. The other 185,000 are needed inside the US for training, medical needs, etc. Out of this maximum deployment number 233,000 troops are currently deployed around the world. The US has bases located all around the globe, not just in Iraq. Of that number (233,000), about 133,000 troops are in Iraq. Rumsfeld, in his Quadrennial Report, had asked for 2 more army divisions, which would add about 30-40,000 troops. However, to do so would take 2-5 years, because the troops would have to be trained and retained.
It is because of these logistical problems (and many others, don't even get me started on the small amount of naval carriers or the repackaged air force fighter-wing equivalents…some serious overconfident planning was going on in Washington) that the US would have an extremely rotten time supporting a successful war unilaterally (multilaterally might actually be plausible, though), be it air bombing, invasion, or anything else in between.
All in all, if Bush continues his go-get-'um cowboy ways, he would be heading down a path called "imperial overstretch" that would lead to the destruction of the American hegemonic position.
caff's got it right, logistically theres no way a traditional invasion could be mounted. even a multilateral invasion would stretch things for the allies.
while a multilateral UN sanctioned air campaign is more feasable, the allies would find it hard to politically sell the need for one back home.
neither bush nor blair have the political capital that they had immediately following 9/11.
what they do have, however, is the support of just about every regional leader in the middle east. a worrying prospect is the urging of the US into action by the regional leaders, in return for concessions.
while we wax lyrical about the clash of civilisations between east and west,.... you have to ask just how much is going on behind the scenes with the arab states poking and prodding the US to take on iran.
lets face it, the gulf states leaders wouldnt lose sleep over an airstrike in iran that takes out its current nuclear sites. everyone from kuwait to the uae, saudi, egypt and syria would breathe a huge sigh of relief.
perhaps what we're seeing here is a reversal of the puppet wars of the coldwar, with those that hold the energy leverage pushing the one with the military leverage?
only the extent of their influence remains to be seen.
Krispy darling...loved all your input and I was routing for you all the way...up until...
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly anti-Bush, I'm definately not anti-America. I agree with most, if not all, of Bushs' foreign policy"....
I'm definately not Anti-American....BUT...my whole problem IS Bush's foreign policy...or we wouldn't be in all this mess wondering if another war is coming about...you said it right about the bull in a china store...and it just keeps on getting worse...sadly..it's Bush's foreign policy....damn it...if it wasn't for Monika Lewinsky...we could've had something good come out of Clinton...but I guess only the good die young!
P.S. loved the part about the "Iranian expert"...if they'd only listen to the people that actually are the experts...it'll be a totally different world we live in!
Something I checked out once showed his speeches as being monotonous and repetitive. Perhaps all his scriptwriters have also stepped down and he is chewing and coughing up the same speech while juggling the sentences and playing around with phrases. Maybe since he can’t make any new ones up he’s just changing the names of the Arab states and we’re gonna have a déjà vu soon.
I’ve always wondered what the general opinions of Kuwaiti people on American principles were. I personally feel it’s a catch-22 situation with the need for America’s aid yet the ruthlessness of the ordeals. I know that the army is generating heaps of work here, but I wonder what Kuwait is loosing in the bargain (should I phrase that as how much oil) I don’t really know…
Also are American civilians safe in Kuwait? The extremists who consider themselves humanitarians are like minefields daring anything American to step on them.
To Caff: About there being only a limited number of troops. Somehow the outsourcing work to other countries(bpo's) that the government approved of just seems like a façade to actually create unemployment and voila, the option of joining the army is conveniently there. Somehow they seem to be able to come up with some manipulative plan or the other to get their troops brimming. Of course my comprehension of these matters is limited, so if I’m off by some miles and an ocean do feel free to poke me in the eye.
Ignorance was always bliss until I watched Moore’s documentary. When I heard the troops would listen to Sway by Coal (If you don’t know it already, check out the lyrics) in their tanks while they killed god knows how many families, it hit me more than hard.
I’m not really into politics, but bush being short for BUllSHit. It’s a conditioned judgment but it’s not hard to see why.
Sorry Krispy D, kinda rattled on and made myself at home here :P but I'm super glad you got this thread started...
caff> Agreed. Your points are spot on! i guess its kind of a good thing that its logistically improbable...
Skunk> Agreed. I think the leaders in the region would breathe a sigh of relief as well.... I guess that's why some analysts have said that if the US were to bomb sites in Iran, Iran would likely retaliate by hitting US bases in the region..... Bad news for us.. :/
MissCosmo> Your opinion makes sense. Problem is, Clinton didn't really have an explicit foreign policy. He didn't really need to execute it you know? His presidency was all about scandals and lies. Bush has been presented with very real and very difficult decisions practically from the beginning of his presidency... I wouldn't have trusted Clinton to make those kinds of tough calls...
crap! is that what they said?!
hmmm i dont think i'm outside the 10 mile radius from camp doha...........
i do still have my czech made gasmask from the last time around tho :D