Speaking today in an interview with CNN, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta insisted he cannot sleep at night, and that the US is “within an inch of war almost every day,” saying that North Korea, Iran and Syria were particular “threats.”
Unspoken in Panetta’s “inch of war” comments are that none of the three nations mentions are thought to be considering an attack on the US in even the wildest of speculations, and that the only question is if the Obama Administration decides to attack one or more (or in the case of Iran, if Israel attacks and the US joins in).
Panetta was non-committal on exactly how the US might start such wars, except in Syria, where he said that the US wouldn’t attack Syria “unless the international community backs involvement.”
This of course mirrors comments about Syria made by Panetta last month, in which he spurned the notion of getting Congressional authorization for a war with Syria, insisting that the administration’s goal was “international permission” and that it would only then decide to inform Congress about the imminent war.
Once upon a time there was a boy who liked to cry “Wolf”
The only difference is the American people ALWAYS fell for it so it worked out really good for him.
Panetta: US ‘Within an Inch of War Almost Every Day’ HUH? I thought we were at war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and drone strikes routinely in Yemen and Pakistan, I'd call that WAR. Drug test every cabinet official, Congress and the President.
And please all all the countries we have sanctions against, sanctions being an act of war in themselves.
Well Leon, if you stop being Israel's bitch for once you might not face the prospect of war almost every day.
Oh my God! I never realized there was that much danger out there! If the Secretary of Defense can´t sleep at night due to the imminent dangers, then what can the rest of us do, except perhaps consider suicide.
Poor, poor Panetta – after all of those years of macho training, all those medals, and reaching the highest military rank possible in the US Armed Forces, he ends up being so frightened of danger that he can´t sleep at night. His statement has to have military communities all over the world laughing themselves to sleep.
Good post, I'm laughing at this right now
How exactly are North Korea, Iran and Syria "threats" to the U.S.? North Korea is isolated, and as it's recent foray into space showed, hardly a "threat". Iran is being demonized and sanctioned for daring to stand against U.S. globalisation (that means in this context the spreds of American imperialism) and Israeli expansion and aggression, and Syria is being torn apart because not only the U.S. and France wish it so, but also Saudi Arabia and some of the Gulf states. Weakening Iran and Syria is more important to some Arab and Muslim countries than counteracting American and Israeli terrorism.
The facts are, the U.S. and Israel are the prime warmongers, supported by France, Germany, G.B. etc. Take away western aggression, the world would be, not entirely, but at a lot more peaceful. The weapons industries don't want that, and NATO has become an aggressive alliance. We now rely on Russia and China, for example, to maintain some kind of brake on western aggression, and these countries have their own repressive and aggressive activities to answer for, such as the strangulation of Tibetan culture and Russian actions in the Caucusas .
What actions in Caucases? As far as I know the only action is against armed gangs that infiltrate the region, mostly from Georgia, bring money, arms and communications gear to criminal gangs, and let them have their way with population. Something practiced here in Caucases for a long time, and recently well demonstrated its efficiency in Libya and now in Syria. In Caucases, one has to look at Chechnya to see how to counteract these groups, and how to support population against such groups. This is why Chechnya is today prosperous, while the gangs moved into Ingushetia and Dagestan. Of course, leadership of Chechnya is being demonized — just because it suceeded and because it has an overwhelming support of population. As for Arab regimes, keep in mind who are we talking about. These regimes have by far less democracy then Libya had, and have all their money in the West. Should they not obey, their money will be gone, and they will be turned over to the tender mercies of their population. And naturally, they hate Syria. The only country that has all religions thriving — Christian, Moslem Sunni and Shia, and others. The only country where women are free to get education, career, and marry who they want.
The Russian campaign in Chechnya was brutal, and the Russians don't want the Caucasus becoming an open door. Like all imperialists, the Russians like to maintain control, simply because they are powerful enough to do so, to serve their own interests. Countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan etc. may be nominally free, but don't forget who the dominant power is.
The Caucasus has had a long tradition of, let's call it, a very lax interpretation of law and order.
Are you inferring something when referring to Georgia? In 2008 the Georgians were being advised by the Israelis (and to an extent by the Americans), and decided on an ill-conceived adventure against break-away regions. The Russians maintain the whip-hand there. And what do the Georgians want to do? Join NATO!
How can you compare Syria and Libya to the Caucasus? Western imperialism has very particular but differing goals in regard to both these countries. For Libya read oil and control, for Syria read Iran and Israel, with in the case of Syria the addition of sectarian motives on the part of Saudi Arabia and some Gulf states.
Arab countries have whatever governments the Americans, the French etc. want them to have. It has nothing to do with democracy, it's simply a question of serving western interests. Consider Egypt. For decades a brutal dictatorship was in power, and that Mubarak government didn't shrink from using torture, and the shameful role Egypt played in assisting Israeli oppression of the native Palestinian population and it's own oppression of Egyptians was a result of being bought by the Americans. Guess what? Mubarak was a "democrat", because he held elections in which he was guaranteed to win by a landslide, and as a "democrat" he was feted by the Americans, the Germans etc.
So many Arab governments are the same. Look at Bahrain, Saudi Arabia etc. As I said, it's all about serving western interests, and making sure the Americans, Germans, French and British (the latter 2 still think and act as though they are colonial powers) get those large weapons contracts.
For the west, "democracy" is a fig-leaf. The West is afraid of real democracy. The "Arab Spring" – a nonsensical term – has gone nowhere, because after a hesitant start, the West eventually regained control of it.
Arab countries have whatever governments the Americans, the French etc. want them to have. It has nothing to do with democracy, it's simply a question of serving western interests. Consider Egypt. For decades a brutal dictatorship was in power, and that Mubarak government didn't shrink from using torture, and the shameful role Egypt played in assisting Israeli oppression of the native Palestinian population and it's own oppression of Egyptians was a result of being bought by the Americans. Guess what? Mubarak was a "democrat", because he held elections in which he was guaranteed to win by a landslide, and as a "democrat" he was feted by the Americans, the Germans etc.
Russian stock decreased sharply today. A report says that Russia will now allow NATO make greater use of it's territory to transport supplies to Afghanistan. If it's true, I take back my comment that Russia acts as a brake on western aggression. One wonders what payoff the Russians got. The West to look sideways perhaps when next the Russians pursue their interests in the Caucasus.
Mr. Panetta, you'd better start thinking why we are 'an inch from war' before it's too late. Hint: Israel.
Exactly who is the "international community?" France, U.S. and England. They want to stay on top and keep other countries from emerging and getting their fair share of the world's oil supply.
OMG!!! "Within an inch of war ALMOST every day." Gosh Uncle Leon, why is that? You know if Leon got some sleep every once in a while, he might not be so paranoid and/or cranky.
The US IS at war every day and every minute. It CAN'T live without war. The US is the most dangerous war-criminal threat to peace and humanity. It's been like that since when? 1898? 1913? In the beginning the US crimes were not as obvious as today, but now the US does not even care to conceal them — Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan … you name it.
Since 1860, possibly as early as 1812
Maybe it's just the jet lag talking:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-secu…
Russia has said that it will defend Syria and Iran against NATO aka: North American Terrorist Organization, and will not allow Syria to fall the way Libya did. China has also expressed this. When will the US wake up from its delusions of grandeur, and realize its limitations…
Man, where is your measuring stick?
Government officials and the "free" press has been hammering away day and night for ten years that "We are at WAR."
Have a dose of your own propaganda and sleep tight.
Oh, please, stop the bullsh*t already!
It's no surprise that the US is within an inch of war all the time…
When you have several hundred military bases all over the world, naval stations in every ocean and your corporate-military-industrial eyes in the sky, constantly manipulating, scheming, meddling, bribing, bullying, threatening and destabilizing, of course you will forever be within an inch of war.
NOW how will I sleep at night?
Lack of sleep is known to cause hallucinations and delusions. Take a couple of sleeping pills and things will look much better tomorrow.
So 19 clever hijackers, four or five of them suicidal, brought us from the peace dividend of total victory over international communism to endless recession, police state domestic policy and a state of (nearly hopeless) warfare, worldwide? How, exactly, do you account for such world-historical FAILURE?
these are truly crazy people, with enduring indifference to the lives of others and their families. Obama is at least as bad as Bush, both chicken-hawk coward of the first rank .
The only reason we're 'within an inch of war every day' is because our government chooses to be that way.
Then again, if this is how the US government describes itself in the international weenie-wagging contest, being 'an inch away from war' isn't very encouraging. Really- an inch? Only the hookers in Cartagena know for sure.
So let me see if I understand this correctly; Uncle Sam, for deterrent reasons of course, has the most expensive, most far-flung about the world, most 'powerful' military in history, married to the most capable global surveillance system ever known, & Sec of War Charlie Brown can't sleep at night because of "why is everybody always picking on me" syndrome?
One big reason the US is itching for war is because its economy is based on war. Millions would be jobless if defense (war) industry is totally shut down.
Looking for “international Permission” scares the daylight out of me. In so many instances the US officials use that term to mean UK, France, and Germany only.