Is the Bush administration is cranking up the lie machine again over Iran?

Question

Today the story is "Iran is the biggest killers of Americans in Iraq".
Do you:

-believe this because you think the Bush administration has credibility?
-believe this because you've seen persuasive evidence that it is true?
-don't believe this?

Oh, I'm ready for the draft. Ready to resist it, that is, along with millions of other Americans.

lordkelvin - I'll take well-justified distaste for Bush over blind faith in Bush ANY DAY!

Answer 1

"Do you:

-believe this because you think the Bush administration has credibility?"

LOL!!

"-believe this because you've seen persuasive evidence that it is true?"

LOL!!!!


"-don't believe this?"

That's the one. :)

Answer 2

There may be a grain of truth if the statement in that Iran is allowing fighter to enter Iraq from their territory and perhaps arming them. They are exercising their foreign policy to achieve some end of their own. This is also being done by others for different reasons.

As far as steamy rhetoric from the Bush administration since the war in Iraq is going so well why not also invade Iran. The invasion card has been played and Iran is not worried about the possibility. It will only be diplomacy and engagement that will find any resolution to this problem.

Answer 3

I think it's a mixture of lies and truth, which often is the best possible tactic to take when trying to convince the general populace of something. Cheney has been advocating attacking Iran for a good six months now. Iran has been infiltrating many of the Middle Eastern countries, garnering support for the intended destruction of Israel, blatantly supporting and supplying Hezbollah. George Bush began to listen to Cheney and to agree with Cheney's insistence that we have no choice but to invade Iran. Once they agreed, the propaganda machine was cranked up. Once the propaganda machine is in full swing it becomes nearly impossible to distinguish lies from exaggeration, and truth from spin. Bush made a point to include Iran and Syria in his speech about the troop surge. It was a clear signal that Iran is now in his crosshairs.

I am not suggesting that Iran is not dangerous. They are probably the most dangerous nation in the world right now. What frightens many is that Bush could possibly think we can take over Iran much as we did Iraq. They are nothing like Iraq. The majority of their citizens are fairly young, and live their lives in a Western manner. They are educated, civilized and are not going to fall into a pit of disarray and confusion as Iraq has done. If George Bush makes the decision to air strike Iran, I believe he will be igniting what will quickly turn into the beginning of a true WWIII.

Diplomacy may seem futile on the surface but, if we were to organize talks that included not just the U.S. and the Middle East, but European, Asian, etc. nations as well, the stage could be set for Iran to feel the weight of world disapproval, not just US disapproval, toward their violent goals in the Middle East. This is not a nation to be taken lightly, no matter what their threats are. The threats must be taken seriously, and in my opinion, it is not up to just the United States to deal with these threats. Certainly not under the leadership of Bush, who has proven himself to be incompetent in matters of war.

Answer 4

You should really pay attention to what the leaders of Iran are saying. And quit the pathological hate of President Bush. That kind of hate will destroy you from the inside out.

Answer 5

Iran would like nothing more than for the US to fail in Iraq. They're waiting for us to leave so they can move in and take over the oil fields... this would give them control over more oil than any other country in the world and very powerful... The news said we just caught 4 Iranians supplying support to the insurgents...

Answer 6

Pres. Bush can't say everything to the public because anyone can watch it.

Today the story is "Iran is the biggest killers of Americans in Iraq".
THAT IS NOT TRUE more people die from illegal immigrants every day!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

I do not believe that. Bush and his "mistakes" are the biggest killers of Americans in Iraq.

Answer 8

Iran wants control of the oil and to get rid of America and Israel.If you have any common sense try using it.

Answer 9

The choice of a military leader to lead CENTCOM is usually not an indication of future action citizens need to be understood by people outside of the national political cadre. This is not the case with a president who believes his position is a messianic journey ordained by God, or if the person is an immoral opportunist interested in the continued hegemony of this country at all costs. Our current political reality now dictates we need to understand the nuances buried in subtle staffing decisions within the military or we will suffer.

On Tuesday January 9, it was announced an Admiral would replace an Army officer as the most senior commander in the Middle East. Why is this important? First we must look at our current involvement in the Middle East and who we would expect to lead based on experience. The United States is involved in land based military operation located in a desert where the soldiers face urban combat to root out insurgents. Now I ask what branch of the military is best suited to fight this kind of war, the Army, the Marines? Either is logical, ground forces trained to fight in urban and desert environments with close tactical air support. So why would the decider, remove General Abizaid and appoint Admiral William J. Fallon, a commander in the Navy, to fight in desert cities?

I do not doubt the capabilities of this man to conduct war on the oceans, I do not doubt this mans ability to maneuver aircraft carrier groups to defeat an enemy, but I do not have confidence he has the expertise or the experience to conduct a ground war. Is this another inept decision of the decider who looked into this mans eyes and found him to be the best man for the job, is Bush suffering from a self imposed brain drain resulting in a decision that leaves us a man from the sea to fight a war on the ground? This is not an inept decision similar to that of a fool that brings a knife to a gun fight. The USS John C. Stennis strike group would deploy this month. It will put 5,000 more U.S. sailors in the region, bringing the total to 16,000.

Why is this disturbing? Because he is positioning his pieces on this chess board in the world, to engage the second foe that is one third of the Axis of Evil. He has his eye on Iran. Bush found an admiral to lead this countries military effort in the Middle East to address what he perceives as a threat and he intends to attack before his reign ends. The decider wants to bomb Iran, he will not ask congress for permission, and he will not allow the citizens of this country to engage in debate even if he can control the information and intelligence. The people of the country do not trust the word of this man and they do not trust he is capable of making military decisions on behalf of this county. He understands the increasing isolation of his thoughts both domestically and internationally will not stall and as a result, he must act without approval.

The potential ramifications of his actions are far more devastating than leaving Iraq to resolve the turmoil imposed by this administration. If the decider bombs Iran 150,000 American soldiers will fall to the same fate those at the American Embassy in Tehran found in 1979. The army and marines in Iraq will be the hostages of Shia militants loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr and the Ayatollahs in Iran. The government in Iraq has close ties to Iran because those that now hold power escaped Saddam and found refuge in Iran. Both countries have a majority Shia population and if bombs drop our soldiers will be left isolated as Iran enters Iraq and the factions we installed into power turn on the US.
The man and the party that support the troops now appear to be sending an additional 20,000 soldiers into war only to leave them as fodder when actions taken independent of the will of the United States is reality. We cannot allow the decider to dig this country deeper into an abyss that is the design of a failed strategy designed by the neo-cons. They have failed, their ideas are wrong, we were not greeted as the liberators, this war was not free, and the countries in the Middle East will not fall like dominos where democracy replaces dictators.

If Iran is bombed thousands more will die. If we bomb Iran it is possible nuclear war will follow. If we bomb Iran the worlds economy will suffer as the price of oil will clime to over $100 a barrel. If we bomb Iran we will further isolate the US from the rest of the world. We have the power to defeat one country and many multiples of countries but we cannot defeat the entire world. We will never need to fight the entire world unless we are perceived to be the biggest threat to peace and the world does not trust we will continue to check our power.

We are now perceived to be the biggest threat to world peace and if we attack Iran the world will not trust the US can check its power and we will find this country isolated. I have read some people now advocate turning Iran into a sheet of glass, if we nuke Iran, we will suffer the worlds wrath. If we do not demand pressure be forced on this administration to cease its advance to chaos, we will suffer the consequences of inaction by the new congress and the people of the US.

Answer 10

"A recent Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle-dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy people have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year? Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?


"Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
"This is all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people on earth who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession?

"Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander-in-chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a 'general' discharge, an 'other than honorable' discharge or, worst case scenario, a 'dishonorable' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts.


"How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells. Just ask why they are going to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did how he would have It's insane! Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage," and, I might add, every day is better than the one before. Whoever wrote this then said: "I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953: 'What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, "the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man."'

"Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.' I suggest we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the 'greediest and most ungrateful generation.' A far cry from the proud Americans of the 'greatest generation' who left us an untarnished legacy." Well, not totally untarnished, but I'm not going to quibble now about that. The bottom line is I don't know who wrote this. It was e-mailed to me by a subscriber at RushLimbaugh.com. But boy, it really resonates. I got really mad yesterday, folks, in the first hour of the program, when I was telling you about this AP story I saw about people in this country who are "war-weary." Yeah, and they're not involved in any way!

They're at home watching it on TV, and they are weary -- and it kind of dovetails with this Newsweek poll that 67% are unhappy and discontent, and 69% think we're going in the wrong direction. Spoiled. High expectations. In fact, you know one of the theories the political scientists having trying to figure out ever since the election: how come for the first time in anybody's memory a good economy was not a factor in the election? A bunch of theories are being espoused and floated to explain it. Let's throw one out because -- it's relevant, but -- I think as long as there are people whose daily dose of media is nothing but the 20 minutes they watch at 6:30 on one of the three networks, those people, despite of the evidence all around them as they live their lives, were convinced this country is a soup line. So, yes, we have to admit that the media did its best to pummel this country with bad economic news and shape the good economic news as poorly or ignore it as much as they could.

But there's another factor in addition to that. Yeah, we had a recession or depression, whatever it is, a big downturn starting actually before 9/11 and then we had 9/11 and it exacerbated a number of things, but came out of it -- and there didn't seem to be any real appreciation for it. The media was telling people it was not substantive. It was a little transparent. Only the rich are were doing better. The average and the poor and the middle class were still lagging way behind. I think there's also a new phenomenon to explain this, and that is: a good economy, a roaring economy with plenty of job opportunities is now expected. It's not appreciated. It's just thought to be what people are entitled to. This is the United States of America, and corporations exist so I can have health care! My company exists so I have a job, so I can have a home, so I can have kids and they can have health care -- ad if something gets in the way of that, like an economic downturn, then there's anger and rage and they want to blame whoever's in power for it, and then after the downturn ends and things are brought back, there's no appreciation. There is simply: "This is the way it's supposed to be. Nobody gets any credit for this. "We are so affluent that we have the highest expectations of people on the planet, and we meet them, and we get accustomed to them and we take it for granted, and that's where we are.