General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRobert Fisk: Iran, not Syria, is the West's real target
Before the stupidest Western war in the history of the modern world begins I am, of course, referring to the attack on Syria that we all yet have to swallow it might be as well to say that the cruise missiles which we confidently expect to sweep onto one of mankinds oldest cities have absolutely nothing to do with Syria.
They are intended to harm Iran. They are intended to strike at the Islamic republic now that it has a new and vibrant president as opposed to the crackpot Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and when it just might be a little more stable.
Iran is Israels enemy. Iran is therefore, naturally, Americas enemy. So fire the missiles at Irans only Arab ally.
There is nothing pleasant about the regime in Damascus. Nor do these comments let the regime off the hook when it comes to mass gassing. But I am old enough to remember that when Iraq then Americas ally used gas against the Kurds of Hallabjah in 1988, we did not assault Baghdad. Indeed, that attack would have to wait until 2003, when Saddam no longer had any gas or any of the other weapons we had nightmares over.
And I also happen to remember that the CIA put it about in 1988 that Iran was responsible for the Hallabjah gassings, a palpable lie that focused on Americas enemy whom Saddam was then fighting on our behalf. And thousands not hundreds died in Hallabjah. But there you go. Different days, different standards.
And I suppose its worth noting that when Israel killed up to 17,000 men, women and children in Lebanon in 1982, in an invasion supposedly provoked by the attempted PLO murder of the Israeli ambassador in London it was Saddams mate Abu Nidal who arranged the killing, not the PLO, but that doesnt matter now America merely called for both sides to exercise restraint. And when, a few months before that invasion, Hafez al-Assad father of Bashar sent his brother up to Hama to wipe out thousands of Muslim Brotherhood rebels, nobody muttered a word of condemnation. Hama Rules is how my old mate Tom Friedman cynically styled this bloodbath.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/iran-not-syria-is-the-wests-real-target-8789506.html
gopiscrap
(23,761 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)Let's hope enough American's have not forgotten and do not lend support for any strike.
TomClash
(11,344 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)here in the coming days and weeks.