Time for a new war

Is the Bush administration pushing for a military strike against Iran? It’s a question that many of us are fearing (and some of the media is ignoring.) The evidence is mounting (and the thoughts of this former CIA official is worth reading) but perhaps the most concise analysis is from the essential Scott Horton:

But here’s the news that may be lurking just behind the news. Military commanders [in Iraq] urged a draw-down to occur before the commencement of military operations against Iran. Bush is accepting this recommendation only because he has mentally committed to an aerial campaign against Iran. He will therefore follow the general’s advice to get soldiers out of harm’s way, off to positions which are more secure in the event of an Iranian counterattack.

Throughout the Gulf area, moves are underway at this moment which are consistent with preparation for an aerial assault on Iran.

And how will the Bush appearance in Anbar be understood inside of the region? Bush aligns himself with Iraq’s Sunni minority, against the Shi’a Government in Baghdad, and in preparation for a massive attack on Shi’a Iran. We’re witnessing the latest dramatic summersault in U.S. policy on Iraq, and most of our brain dead punditry on the Potomac hardly even seem to notice.

Bush and his core White House team have come to a key conclusion. The Iraq War is going very poorly. Time for a new war.

Text and images ©2024 Antony Loewenstein. All rights reserved.

Site by Common