Is it too much to ask that people stop watching Lou Dobbs? He's dragging down the overall intelligence of the nation.

Dave

only if they start reading Sun Tzu's Art of War

if you seriously think that an overarching strategy involving economic warfare is beyond Beijing, I have a nice bridge in Brooklyn to sell you...

not saying I agree with much of this article, but it does raise some strategic points to be cautious about...and our Government does not appear to be paying attention to possible strategic threats

fair enough?

I don't know if you're joking or what Dave but who is Lou Dobbs?

I'm actually with you most of the way on this article. I would point out to you though that America does not regard Israel as an ally. The guns on American ships in the Mediterranean target ISRAEL.

Your father's quote is the most succinct and most accurate comment I have heard on what is going on in a long time, Yorkshire accent and all. It should have been your subtitle...

A very wise professor told my history class (25 years ago) that eventually, out of necessity, the US & Soviet Union would conquer the oilfields (divide them up so to speak). That may be a scenario that is playing out in the next ten years. Tipping my hat to the old professor!

Since ole Scooter Pie Libby was convicted yesterday, Cheney and Bush DO need to distract the US public with SOMETHING.

An attack on Iran might just be the distraction they have had in mind. I say "have had" because just before I left Bahrain for Mexico in December, the number of Navy troops (the Navy base was 3 blocks from my digs) doubled. We are talking almost 3 months ago that that happened.

I would not put any kind of insane kamikaze move past the assholes in the Oval Office.

Nor would I put it past the jokers on this site from the US to jump on the bandwagon for it.

Marthe,

While your idea sounds plausible, the conviction already took place. The sentencing will not take place for a while yet. News like that cools down pretty fast. I suggest that another news story will be the "spur" for American forces to attack Iran. either as an excuse, or as a cover. But I would not be surprised if it took place right around Passover...

Oh, just to be clear, I'm not "jumping on any bandwagon" for it to take place. I have a clear idea of what the costs could be here, and do not look forward to families fleeing south and east to Ma'aleh Levona because they are running away from missile bombardment...

But, on the other hand, I'm reasonably sure that this attack will take place.

Ruvy, I am reasonably sure it will, also. The pimps in the Oval Office need to have those whores working (arms manufacturers, petroleum companies).

Bush is going to face disastrous rejection here in Latin America--the cynical bastard declared himself a Bolivariano yesterday, trying to steal Chavez' thunder--and I don't think that will be enough of a distraction.

Iran needs to be occupied by the US to further Israel's objectives in the Middle East.

Recently, an Israeli state-owned corporation won another contract to supply the U.S. with armored vehicles for use in Iraq, the latest in a long line of Israeli military sales for use in the war. This deal is one of several which Israeli companies now have to provide and maintain equipment for American forces in Iraq.

Israel declines to comment on the sales of Israeli equipment for use in Iraq. Israel prefers to keep a low profile, but it's been providing military equipment to the U.S. for years. Israeli media report that Israeli businessmen are active within Iraq itself. However, the issue of Israeli equipment in service in Iraq is a sensitive one, and both suppliers and customers avoid publicity.

The U.S. Defense Department also does not respond to requests for comments.

Halliburton - Listen Up! Move over and make room for Israel! Share the wealth!

I don't know if you're joking or what Dave but who is Lou Dobbs?

Like you don't know.

Lou Dobbs is the CNN 'news' analyst who promulgates the ridiculous lie about the US debt owned by China being somehow recalled, which his brainwashed drones repeat over and over again until people think it's actually true. If you really don't know who Dobbs is, then it's even more scary because it suggests that his lies have become mainstreamed to the point where people are picking them up from secondary sources.

Dobbs was recently described by a prominent economist as a "blithering idiot," which I think is dead on.

Dave

Given the huge popularity of the Iraq war in the United States, does anyone seriously believe that the US is seriously contemplating an attack on Iran??

They might be thinking they'd like to, so they can teach that upstart Ahmadinejad a good ole Texan lesson, but there are two chances of it happening right now: buckley's and none.

They couldn't be that stupid, could they? Could they .... ??

You've upset me now Dave. I didn't know who Lou Dobbs was because I ignore CNN because it is a massive peddler of Neocon missinformation. When online I stick to alternative media in the main, but tend to trust Al Jazeera if watching TV news.

Here's a link to a BBC article on
U.S. debt to China, putting it at the biggest holder of U.S. debt barring Japan.

The source I quoted I think was either counterpunch.org or globalresearch.ca the BBC article is on the first page of google.

Come on Liam ... CNN is a pretty good news organisation. You at least get the story punted up without too much window dressing, which is close to how it should be. There are other peddlars of what you describe as "neo-con misinformation", as we all know, but I'm not sure that CNN, as a genuine and serious news organisation, really fits into the category.

Then again, I suppose it depends on what yardstick you are using. Al Jazeera might be erring too far the other way. I certainly wouldn't take all of it on board without questioning its very obvious but understandable Arab bias. Somewhere between the two might be ideal.

So, yes, maybe the BBC? The poms are pretty good at doing serious news, serious old things that they are.

I'm not sure whose coat to hold here, Stan, yours. Liam's or Dave's.

It always helps to know who owns the stock in the company running the communication media. The Saudi oligarchs own quite a hefty portion of CNN's parent corporation. It pays the Saudis to keep the Americans (and the rest of the world) hooked on petroleum as a fuel source. It pays the various oil companies even more handsomely.

Now, Stan, do you think this is a mere investment for profit? I do not like the Wahhabis, but I do respect their business acumen. Funding madrassas is a form of controlling communication, owning stock in CNN is another. The Wahhabis, like most Moslems, take a unified view of the world and do not compartmentalize business from religion and government, as do westerners. All is done in the service of Allah.

Don't look at the whopper you eat, and certainly ignore the packaging. Look at the cook who puts it together, and then take a good hard look at the ingredients on the whopper. Look at the priorities of the owner of the restaurant where you are buying the whopper. THEN, once you understand the priorities of the owner, the cook and the ingredients, look at the whopper and its packaging.

While I generally disagree with Liam's particular views on the world, and on the Middle East in particular, I generally agree with much of his overall perspective.

CNN packages a product and does it well. But, is it news, or is it information carefully mixed with disinformation to give a specific picture of the world to the viewer? I look at the shareholders of the parent corporation and incline to the latter.

Is CNN "neo-con?" No. It is a trustworthy source of news? No.

You've upset me now Dave. I didn't know who Lou Dobbs was because I ignore CNN because it is a massive peddler of Neocon missinformation. When online I stick to alternative media in the main, but tend to trust Al Jazeera if watching TV news.

You're serious? Al Jazeera? CNN is pretty crappy, but Al Jazeera is pretty much solid propaganda.

Here's a link to a BBC article on U.S. debt to China, putting it at the biggest holder of U.S. debt barring Japan.

The BBC article is correct that a lot of US debt is owned by China. What that article does not say, but which you do say in your article is the Dobsism that China could "pull the rug out from under Washington", which is fundamentally not true. I assume you got that from the idiotic leftists at counterpunch.org. The debt instruments which China holds are structured in such a way that they cannot be called in on China's terms. They can only be disposed of under the terms built into them. China could dump them on the open market, but that would do more harm to them than it would to the US.

The source I quoted I think was either counterpunch.org or globalresearch.ca

You do understand that these are both extremely anti-american propaganda sites, right? They represent hardcore international socialism in its ugliest forms.

Dave

Nalle is hallucinating again!

There is no such thing as hardcore international socialism. In any form.

Ruvey wrote: "The Saudi oligarchs own quite a hefty portion of CNN's parent corporation"

Hey Ruve, old boy. Good morning from sunny Sydney ... I suspect the Saudi oligarchs own a hefty portion of quite a lot of things. Most Americans would be shocked if they knew how many.

Oil Qaeda?

I think, as an amateur on these matters, that an attack on Iran by the U.S., Israel, or both- would be the beginning of World War 3.
My opinion has always been that: The Muslims in the region could easily stand together against the foreign forces if they were all offended enough.
They are resilient in that it is evil to them, and a Holy matter.
Also, I have always thought: Everyone who has ever played a table-top war game knows that you just don't put all of your forces in the middle of a "theatre" with one road in, and one road out. That is exactly the postion we will be in when the armed muslim nations unite against us after attacking Iran.
Then, I believe Russia, and China will be involved- not just for their own interests, but also because it will be such a huge conflaguration that should be stopped/ or controlled.
I think it will then involve the the entire middle east, and the whole world.
Also, here in the U.S., the first sign of extremely life- changing events will be long lines at the gas stations, with enormous prices, and fighting- way worse than the 1976 gas "shortage".
This will wake everyone up to begin stocking up on emergency rations, and home protection (guns).
Everyone will be ready for what we really have been waiting for since 1945: World war 3
People will freak out! And, not all people are good people, or nice people, or level headed.
Again- this is my novice opinion.
I sincerely respect any comments on my mistakes if I have assumed anything. :)

Moonraven. Ever heard the phrase "these are not the droids you are looking for". Nice try, Obi Wannabe, but the force is not strong enough in you.

?????

Where do they get these weirdos?

"Ever heard the phrase "these are not the droids you are looking for". Nice try, Obi Wannabe, but the force is not strong enough in you."

Well done Captain Clambake ... but you are not a Jedi yet

Neither of you would even be hired as extras.

Hi Stan,

It's finally beginning to warm up in Ma'aleh Levona and J-lem...

Americans don't like to think about all the things the Saudis have their nasty paws in. I just cited CNN as the instant news organization in my comment...

Ruvy,

I just read about the Israeli ambassador to El Salvador having been sent back to Tel Aviv after being found naked and drunk after a sado-masoquistic orgy....

Who is this guy, Tzuriel Rafael?

Marthe,

The Israeli press had been careful not to name this guy. In all truth, it's the kind of thing that makes for laughs here. But, you called it. This news brief at Arutz Sheva follows:

Israel Recalls Ambassador to El Salvador

(IsraelNN.com) Tzuriel Raphael, Israel's American-born Ambassador to El Salvador, is being recalled after he was found two weeks ago on the grounds of his home bound, drunk, and naked. He was found together with a woman who is not his wife as well as several erotic toys.

The remainder of the newsbrief can be found at the website. I can infer that he had a taste for dominatrices. I can only wonder what kinds of sex toys were found with him.

The more important news here is that the Bank of Israel has gone on strike. This means that the ATM's will be empty and many banking procedures will not go forward. The bourse here may not open tomorrow.

In addition, the high schools are on strike. So my kids are home. Soon the General Federation of Labor may well call a general strike. Spring, it appears, has arrived in Israel.

Spring, it appears, has been sprung.

Anyone believe in the end of this world ?

"They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come."

welp we can only continue ruling the world eh? irans regime will pay as well as china and russia, god will judge :) we will also pay for our sins :(