``I also think it's mistaken to consider the invasion of Iraq an act of "stupidity" so much as of miscalculation..'' Marvin Gandall
``Almost everyone who knew anything about Iraq predicted what would happen if the US invaded, and the Bush admin ignored or fired them. Miscalculation seems too kind a word for that.'' Doug
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Not only that, but the Bush ad. has completely blown any creditability it ever had over the six years it has been in power. There is nothing they can say that is believed by any one except their dwindling domestic supporters.
They don't care what the `facts' are. They have absolished facts. So facts which should lead to a rational judgement and action or inaction based on the facts is also abolished. They have no rational judgements, only ex post facto justifications for whatever course they take.
So I take Hersh at his word. They are pro-actively ploting out how to bomb Iran. Whether they do or not is up to the arbitrary discretion of George Bush. The decision will not be based on rational calculations, miscalculations, facts, or mistaken `intelligence', compliance or lack of compliance by Iran. George Bush will decide. That's it.
The old fashioned definition of a tyranny was arbitrary rule. This is a case of a tyrant. Bush will exercise his power one way or another in a completely arbitrary way.
I think the Iranians are playing this out exactly right. They could roll over and submit to body cavity searches and still get blasted, so they have reasoned, fuck you. They know it makes no difference what they do, since the US policy and demands escalate every week. They are no doubt preparing to get blasted.
They also know that if the US does bomb them, they will immediately become `good' guys, martyrs, and heros to the rest of the Islamic world. And they know the non-Islamic world will withdraw as far as possible from the US---in effect not only isolating the US even further, but also perhaps weakening the US beyond recovery.
CG