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President's reasons to invade Iran are weak


Tuesday, May 1, 2007 6:58 AM PDT

Comments (51 comment(s))

In August 2005, Vice President Dick Cheney ordered Strategic Command (STRATCOM) to prepare a plan "to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States (including) large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons ... not conditional on Iran actually being involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States."

Rep. Ron Paul from Texas, who is currently considering a presidential candidacy, expressed concern "that a contrived Gulf of Tonkin-type incident may occur to gain popular support for an attack on Iran."

If America invades Iran, the escalation of war would dwarf the current situation, where we are primarily fighting a minority Sunni insurgency. The Shiite government, which we have installed, armed and trained, is pro-Iranian. The Shiite militia leadership has promised its American-trained forces would attack America if it invades Iran. Iraq's new parliament is aligned with Tehran. It is dominated by the United Iraqi Alliance, which includes the Supreme Council on Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), whose headquarters are in Iran. It also includes the Dawa Party, whose leadership visited Tehran in January 2006, and whose military engaged the U.S. Marines for three weeks at Najaf, in November 2004.

President Bush's intelligence on Iran's "here we go again" nuclear weapons program was obtained from a guerrilla group called the Mujahideen-e Khalq (MEK), translated "People's Mujahideen (fighting force)." MEK was created in 1965 under Soviet-sponsorship, by Marxist revolution ideology. MEK participated in attacks on the Shah of Iran, aligned itself with Khomeini, and participated in the Iran hostage-taking, before it was expelled from Iran. MEK was welcomed in Baghdad, participated in the Iran-Iraq war. Today, MEK is postured to benefit from a regime-change in Iran.

I don't see any reason for United States' presence in the Persian Gulf, except for escorts through the Strait of Hormuz; and I don't believe President Bush's non-corroborated intelligence.

Daniel Hutchins
Acampo

Reader Feedback

Flo wrote on May 9, 2007 2:03 PM:

" We want Truth in Washington DC. We need an Honest President not the handpicked who are going to instigate more attacks on the US. Meet other Ron Paul Supporters http://ronpaul.meetup.com/about/ Bring Ron Paul for an Event near You http://eventful.com/performers/P0-001-000016544-9 None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe "

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daniel wrote on May 7, 2007 9:24 AM:

" citizen: If you look at today's global warming letter, you will see the difference between a liberal and a conservative. "

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Daniel wrote on May 7, 2007 8:45 AM:

" citizen: What country are you a "citizen" from? I suggest you go there. Obviously, you have a problem with the US Constitution. "

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Daniel wrote on May 7, 2007 8:44 AM:

" citizen: At least get it right. I'm a conservative, and you could't possibly offend me. If you got the story right, I'd listen. As it is, I recommend you express yourself in Berkeley or Arcata. For your information, these are cities in California. "

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citizen wrote on May 6, 2007 7:58 PM:

" No Leanord I wasnt in exile during the Clinton years. I support the president in a time of war no matter how much dislike I have for him. Even during the thirty thousand foot war we waged against the Bosnian serbs who were fighting for their lives against the throat cutting muslims in Yugaslavia. I bet we could use the four divisions of the army Clinton cut out while he was slashing the military for eight years. "

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citizen wrote on May 6, 2007 7:30 PM:

" Wow must have hit a nerve with Daniel and Leonard. Guess I should check these blogs more often. Since I have a job and a life I dont have the time to respond ten times to one post. Judging from the ranting responses from these two libs they must really be offended. Like I implied the first time just do us all a favor and GET OUT. We have a dangerous enemy to eliminate and obviously you guys will be no help to us. Your hatred for Bush is clouding your judgement of the seriousness of this situation. "

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Daniel wrote on May 3, 2007 9:54 PM:

" Leonard: Thank you very much for the endorsement. I served in the US Navy 1993 - 1997. I'm dating myself: I had my 35th birthday in boot camp. They called me "Grandpa." I was on two WestPac tours, in 1994 with the USS Kitty Hawk battle group, and in 1996 with the USS Carl Vinson battle group. I have a lot of stories, good and bad, some extremely amazing, and some really fun photography. "

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Daniel wrote on May 3, 2007 9:43 PM:

" citizen: At least label me correctly. I think ultra-conservative would be correct. I would revert back to the original version of the constitution up to the 10th amendment, and including only a small part of the 14th to abolish slavery. That's it. I am opposed to Bush's war because it is his war, not congress's. If you want to understand further, check out Congressman and Presidential candidate Ron Paul's websites. "

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Daniel wrote on May 3, 2007 9:39 PM:

" Leonard: Do you recall when I was accusing everyone of being you? I owe you an appology for that one. I hope I can have one good reputation of being able to admit my own mistakes. "

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Daniel wrote on May 3, 2007 9:36 PM:

" citizen: I'm not here to make you feel good. I only bring the truth, and you don't have any business asking me to leave my country. I think everyone here knows that I am a citizen without my having to tell them so in my blog name. "

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Daniel wrote on May 3, 2007 9:32 PM:

" citizen: I don't have any dreams of what I would have done in WW-II if I were alive then, but I am confident that I would have supported our troops. Gen. Patton considered Russia his enemy. I recall the movie, in which Patton showed his disrespect for the Russian General. Very few people even know about role of IG Farben in the holocaust, being equal with Hitler's. The Marshall Plan preserved Farben using insiders. "

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Daniel wrote on May 3, 2007 9:20 PM:

" citizen: You had better believe that I support our troops, and I believe that every body else here does also. So wake-up, and get a grip. "

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Daniel wrote on May 3, 2007 9:19 PM:

" citizen: You fail to understand that citizens have a responsibility to question their own leaders. The German people understand that principle ever since WW-II. "

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Daniel wrote on May 3, 2007 8:54 PM:

" citizen: This is not your house to ask me to leave. I do not leave because this is my country. "

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Leonard wrote on May 3, 2007 10:19 AM:

" Poor Citizen: Given your love it or leave it ethos, am I correct in assuming that you spent the Clinton years in self imposed exile overseas? "

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Leonard wrote on May 3, 2007 10:17 AM:

" Poor Citizen: You need to retake your high school civics class. While dictators may issue arbitrary orders that their subjects have to follow, in a Republic, the President serves at the will of the People. It is every citizens duty to consider the issues and to make their own informed decisions. As for Daniel, he has spent years serving in this nation's military defending our Freedom which, I am willing to bet, is a lot more than you have ever done. "

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citizen wrote on May 3, 2007 8:56 AM:

" Ok Daniel, but you still didnt answer the question. Why dont you just leave? Whether you support this President or not americans should rally together at a time of war. I sure am glad we didnt have people like you around during WW2. With libs like you around our enemies will be very hard to eliminate. If we could untie the hands of our soldiers we could end this thing quick. But you wouldnt like that either. right? "

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Daniel wrote on May 2, 2007 10:39 AM:

" Leonard: I am puzzled as to why Bush vetoed it, because I never believe their actual publically-stated reasons. I totally expected a response like he was signing it under duress, or sign it with a presidential signing statement, etc. "

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Daniel wrote on May 2, 2007 10:38 AM:

" Leonard: 2 months ago, I was saying that the supplementary spending bill contained $4 Billion more than what Pres. Bush requested, while at the same time journalism was calling it a tough spending bill. A lot can happen to a bill in 2 months. "

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Daniel wrote on May 2, 2007 8:37 AM:

" Jeff: I'm delighted to see someone else say that we are a republic and not a democracy. Democracy is one step away from communism. The French Revolution in which thousands of heads were coming off by democratic vote, was a democracy. "

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Daniel wrote on May 2, 2007 8:36 AM:

" citizen: Even Benjamin Franklin questioned our ability to keep the republic. "

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Daniel wrote on May 2, 2007 8:36 AM:

" citizen: Get a grip. We love this country. We're trying to protect it. The Roman Empire was created as a republic, but power took over. It's state of being a republic was only as good as its leaders and people. It survived for only two leaders out of 500 years. Wisdom can learn from their mistakes. "

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Jeff wrote on May 2, 2007 7:07 AM:

" "citizen": 'I think this is a pretty damm great country to live in.' I tend to agree, as most likely do the others you mention. Perhaps they feel that the greatness of this country is being tarnished and diminished by the immoral war being waged and led by former cowards. Remember we are a republic, not a democracy, and we do not have a fueror, czar, shah, king, or any other type of dictator. power is balanced in these United States! "

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Undertaker wrote on May 1, 2007 9:02 PM:

" All you bloggers are living in a dream world. Look at the Dead Body Count from the Klinthong administration. At least the people that were stupid and underdeveloped in the bush administration were allowed to live. "

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citizen wrote on May 1, 2007 6:28 PM:

" If wtf, Daniel, 49er J, etc hate this country so much why dont you just get out. I think this is a pretty damm great country to live in and all you guys do is spend all your time complaining how bad america is. Why are you here if it is so bad? "

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Leonard wrote on May 1, 2007 5:29 PM:

" Well, its official, President Bush has formally cut off funding for our troops, an action that he has taken solely based solely on his unconstitutional demand for the right to wage war without the consent of Congress. "

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wtf wrote on May 1, 2007 2:43 PM:

" Daniel: You're welcome ;) FYI just received a notice that Ron Paul has officially declared to run for president and will take part in the Republican debate on May 3. It will be simulcasted on MSNBC and politico.com beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST. "

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49er J wrote on May 1, 2007 2:24 PM:

" The first paragraph is in keeping with this pathetic administration's policy. Five Deferrment Cheney is still a coward trying to masquerade as a hawk along with his Draftdodger-in-Chief. "

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Tony wrote on May 1, 2007 1:57 PM:

" Brian, Are you talking abour the same Israeli military that got beat last summer by a bunch of rag tag hungry asses in Lebanon last summer? If so, then great, Iran would have nothing to worry about. "

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eek wrote on May 1, 2007 1:56 PM:

" Why don't we hit them where it hurts most? Their wallets. Our greatest success in "the war on terror" has been through financial restrictions. It was the only area the US received an A for from the 911 commission. "

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Daniel wrote on May 1, 2007 11:32 AM:

" Leonard: I think you understand how big of a proposition it would be to go into Iran. Before even discussing the amount of troops, we have to account for the Shiites in Iraq starting to fight us. That alone is immense. This sounds like they would go nuclear. Then the world would know that we have gone utterly mad. In my post below, I was quizzing you to see if you have heard anything about us using an enhanced nuclear device (neutron bomb) at the Baghdad Airport. "

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Daniel wrote on May 1, 2007 11:25 AM:

" wtf: Thank you for the compliment. I really do need them. They keep me going to do it again. "

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OTH wrote on May 1, 2007 11:03 AM:

" Brian....Your so hot to trot to go to war, how bout you go and tell how it should be done? You have infinite knowledge on how wars are fought and my guess is you've never been near a military base. "

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Daniel wrote on May 1, 2007 10:56 AM:

" Leonard: Thank you for remembering "Mission accomplished." You put the word "Day" on it. Does that mean we are at the anniversary? Do you know anything about the end of the Battle of Baghdad in 2003 (not to suggest that fighting has ended)? "

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wtf wrote on May 1, 2007 10:54 AM:

" Brian: Fact is, the reasons given for the American invasion of Iraq have been exposed as lies, revealing America as either a country of fools and idiots or of war criminals. Worldwide polls show that America is no longer regarded as a guiding light but is tied with Israel as the second greatest threat to world stability. And now you want to invade Iran? "

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wtf wrote on May 1, 2007 10:44 AM:

" Excellent letter, Daniel. I can't help but think of the quote Bush mangled regarding "Fool me once, etc." This talk of the "threat" from Iran has a feeling of deja vu all over again - if you look at it closely, it's the same garbage they spewed about Iraq and we all know those were lies. "

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Daniel wrote on May 1, 2007 10:36 AM:

" Brian: You are trying to mock my identificaition of Bush's intelligence sources. The MEK is communist, and it wants to stand in line for a regime change in Iran. Apparently you don't like it being identified, and you think you have better intelligence on Iran than President Bush has. You also seem to like having a communist source of intelligence. "

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Daniel wrote on May 1, 2007 10:33 AM:

" Brian: Do you remember anything in your education about the constitution granting power to declare war being granted only to congress? If you really think it is justified to be in Iraq and/or Iran, then why hasn't congress declared war? "

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Daniel wrote on May 1, 2007 10:30 AM:

" Brian: Yes. Sit back. We have no business over there. Furthermore. If we go into Iran, we don't have enough troops to support a conventional war. According to Congresman Ron Paul, the White House will probably need to re-establish the draft if it decides to fight Iran. "

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Leonard wrote on May 1, 2007 10:13 AM:

" Brian: Given the manpower limitations we face, how do you suggest that we achieve a "much stronger presence" in the Mid East. It has been sugested that the only way to achieve real victory in Iraq is to institute a draft which would allow us to carry out a real troop surge of hundreds of thousands of solfiers. Would you support such a move? "

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Leonard wrote on May 1, 2007 10:07 AM:

" Politics aside, an actual invasion of Iran is a non starter. We simply do not have the manpower to do the job while we remain bogged down in the Iraqi quagmire. Whats worse, our incompetent Commander in Chief has allowed our military's combat readiness status to degrade to its lowest level in decades. "

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Dan wrote on May 1, 2007 10:00 AM:

" Daniel, Brian is the Enemy Within that his hero Michael Wiener-Savage is always bloviating about. "

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Daniel wrote on May 1, 2007 9:09 AM:

" Brian: We are our own worst enemy. The Middle East has nothing to do with our problems - all of them. "

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Daniel wrote on May 1, 2007 9:03 AM:

" Brian: In all the 2 years that I have been in these blogs, haven't I made it clear that I have identified the United Nations as world enemy #1 ? And now you are suggesting we give UN flag to escort services through the Strait of Hormuz? "

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Leonard wrote on May 1, 2007 8:59 AM:

" Happy Mission Accomplished Day! Now, where are those WMDs? "

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OTH wrote on May 1, 2007 8:35 AM:

" God will tell bushie what to do and Cheney will do as he damn well pleases. Cheney runs this gov. not bush. "

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Brian wrote on May 1, 2007 8:19 AM:

" Yep Daniel, Let's just sit back and provide a concierge service for the ships in the Straits of Hormuz while Al-Qaeda strengthens it's presence in the Middle East. Better yet. Let's give the conceirge job to the UN. GET A GRIP! "

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Brian wrote on May 1, 2007 8:11 AM:

" The reasons to invade Iran are justifiable. Daniel only wants a U.S. presence in the form of ship escorts through the Straits of Hormuz. I'm glad Daniel wasn't a strategists during WWII when the Germans invaded Britain. We would all be speaking German and have a swastika tatooed on our body. Let's not forget the yellow arm bands the Jews would have to wear. This idea came from the Radical Muslims in cahoots with Hitler. It just goes to show how much history has been forgotten by the likes of Mr. Hutchins. "

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Brian wrote on May 1, 2007 7:41 AM:

" We need a much stronger presence in the Middle East to minimize the threat of terror. "

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Brian wrote on May 1, 2007 7:30 AM:

" The funny thing is is the fact that the president of Iran wants Israel wiped off the map. He contends that the slaughter of many Palestinians is attributed to Israel when in fact it is Muslims who have Murdered the most Palestinians. It's all about the hatred for Jews. "

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Brian wrote on May 1, 2007 7:25 AM:

" Whether or not we invade Iran, it's a sure thing Israel will take out Iran's nuclear sites. Plans are in the making now. Is Israel's intelligence wrong too, Daniel? I doubt it. "

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