Speaking at a news conference today, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta aimed at dramatic understatement when he declared that a US military attack on Iran might conceivably have some unintended consequences.
Panetta’s comments were the first inkling that any US officials, who seem otherwise overwhelmingly in favor of launching military attacks anywhere on virtually any pretext, might have at least given a second thought that attacking Iran could be unwise.
At the same time, Panetta’s awareness of the ramifications might not mean anything. His predecessor, Secretary Robert Gates, cautioned against “loose talk” about starting a war with Libya and within weeks the US was bombing the nation.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon seems also concerned about the prospect of war, insisting that the international community should consider diplomacy the “only way” to settle disputes with Iran.
Give a fool enough rope and he'll hang himself. The other nations seem to have given America an endless supply of rope.
"Unintended Consequences"
Euphemism for "They might be able to shoot back"
Good one! However, in this particular case, it appears that the 'unintended consequences' are that China and Russia are warning the US not to do it or else. Ha'aretz had a big spread on that yesterday.
Haaretz also seems to be ok with the "Iran building nukes since 2003 now proven" balderdash.
More useful idiots.
Who is the woman next to him in the picture? Another Shapiro?
That would be Senator Barbara Boxer, warmonger from California and staunch defender of Israel's right to do whatever they want to do in the name of victimhood.
Awww, c'mon. She ain't nothin' next to our very own Diabolical Di Feinstein, San Francisco's War Monger In Chief. She's never met a war she didn't like, since she never met a war she couldn't get rich from. Oh, via hubby of course. Conflict of interest and all that.
A US soldier was killed in Kandahar by small arms fire on Wednesday, November 9. The fourth US soldier to die in Afghanistan this month. It is interesting to have reports about British and other foreign soldiers reported regularly by AntiWar but why are US combat deaths being ignored once again. None of the four soldiers killed this month have been reported as they happened by AntiWar or any other US media that I am aware of. Listing them all at the bottom of the site on Saturday while better than nothing doesn't cut it. Why are these foreign soldiers given precedent when they represent only 30% of combat fatalities in Afghanistan? We are from the United States and our first responsibility as a protest of this war should be to report what is happening to our own soldiers. It makes no sense and you have never attempted to give an explanation of this policy.
Believe or not – the whole world doesn't revolve around America.
I am not happy with the smile on Panetta's face. This stupid Pentagon crap is getting too real for comfort. There will be consequences here at home as well as abroad. OWS will look like a nursery rhyme compared to an America angry with the wild millitary.
The Curse has been set, No one will win the Afghan War.
End of the story.
Like massively increasing the USA debt and works to massively decrease the value of the US dollar. When the value of the US dollar hits zero, the US is gone as well. This, attacking Iran, appears to be the bad guy plan to destroy the US dollar by increasing the price of oil. Attack countries that are big oil producers, steal and take their oil off the market, which will greatly increase the price of oil, which will, along with US debt increases, work to send the value of the dollar to zero. Its treason, attacking Iran, because attacking Iran is the same as making war on the USA. Panetta to Secretary of Defense and Petaeus to CIA is treason as well because he CIA has handled the US President for years and Petreaus to CIA and Panetta to Military effectively merges the Executive and the Military and takes the USA one step closer to being taken over by a military coup.
@ Randycrow…you do realize that the Executive is responsible for management of the military (Defense Department) – that the Defense Dept is not a separate being in the construct of the government – and has been from Day 1.
When I was employed at Defense, deep within the bowels where the long, long range plans are devised and kept there are studies (and subsequently, plans) that outline the circumstances and issues that would be prevalent when Peak Oil becomes barren oil fields. Now, the "experts" have been saying that the time when the oil fields start drying up is a long way away – and they've been saying that for a long time. Maybe, maybe not – they're not always precise.
One of the issues (and plans) covers the questions of what does the US do to secure the resources it requires to continue functioning long past the point when other countries devolve into chaos. I look at what is going on now, in Iraq, Afghanistan, with Iran, and the oil countries in Africa and I think, you know, I've seen this scenario before. The subtext of the plan is that when the US sits on the remaining resources then the rest of the world will come begging.
The fallacy of this line of thought, of course, is the assumption that the governments of these needy countries will not sacrifice their citizens to gain what they need. If the US assumes that China or Russia will come hat in hand to beg for Iraqi oil or Iranian oil, then they're smokin' some serious ganga. And if the American people believe that once the USG secures all that oil and other necessary resources, that we will be able to continue living as we do now… Well, the kerfuffle currently revolving around Occupy Wall Street will seem minuscule to what will come.
If you are asking if I understand that the Executive tells the Military what to do, yes, I understand this. My problem with Panetta going to Secretary of Defense and Patreaus going to head the CIA is that they effectively, IMO, it puts them in the position to effectively run the USA in a Martial Law. We all know IF, as in IF, Panetta and Patraeus run the USA by de facto Martial Law this would violate the US Constitution and would be treason. I feel it is way too risky to even think about allowing Patraeus be head of the CIA and Panetta, former head of the CIA be Secretary of Defense because to do so puts them in a position to run the USA by de facto Martial law. My point of taking oil off the market is based upon my belief that there is an effort by Big oil to take oil off the market because Big oil is deliberately trying to destroy the USA and the people and our form of government by taking oil off the market knowing it will increase the price of oil so high, high oil prices will destroy the US dollar and our country. You make a point, if I understand what you are saying, that the USA controlling oil puts the US in a strong position against Russia, China and all the other countries of the world which some may argue is a good thing. My point is to toss the strength of controlling the world's oil plan, it will come at the price of increasing oil prices to the point the currencies of the world go to zero and when that happens, the US and the freedom of the people are gone and we will all be people living as slaves in a communi$t police state. Of course, the planet Earth may go the way of Mars if things do not go as the bad guys' plan.
My point was that once the US THINKS it controls the world's oil resources, the Chinese and the Russians will not sit by idly. When the dust clears, it won't matter who thinks they control the resources. On a planet that has limited resources; oil, minerals, and the master resource, water, when the nations of the world go to war for control of those resources, there will be no winners because it will be a war where no expense will be too large – or necessary. Already there are wars going on over water rights around the globe. With our current usage patterns, this is not going to change any time soon.
So, to return to the point, when it is all resolved, the price of oil will not be relevant. And we won't be living in a communist society, it will be a feudal society where the elites (or those with the most guns) will rule.
Russia is one of the worlds largest suppliers of oil so it doesn't need Iranian oil. Iraq and Libya were selling oil for other than dollars. Iraq and Libya have been taken care of so that leaves Iran which also sells oil for other than dollars. By making dollars mandatory for oil purchases, the counterfeit dollar has value. This is why the propaganda machines are turned against Iran. They did a good job with Iraq and Libya.
Russia is a problem. They can fight back and know our schemes. Plus, Russia has an agreement with Iran that states if one is attacked they will consider both are attacked.
Is our pride, Satans sin, going to make us do something to bring on the final war?
Israel did not help in the Korean war effort. Israel did not help in any United Nations operations. The USA made the largest air lift in history to save Israel from the attack of the arabs in 1973. We have done our share and if Israel believes that Iran needs to be attack then let them pick up the rifle and they can do the attacking instead of getting our kids killed so they can benefit. Richard perl who was a leading member of our defense department is not milking the Iraq oil industry for Billions. He along with many of people of questionable loyalty were the leading reason why we attacked Iraq.
Israel has not been in a miltiary conflict since 1973 other than the disaster they had in 2006 when they attempted to steal southern Lebanon. It is time to wish them well and tell them we will help with any problems they create but this time since in the IDF. Israel already has a major problem that the jews are becoming a minority in Israel will not benefit by getting a few hundred thousands jewish boys killed in a useless war. If they find that they become a minority in Israel then they can look at their own folly.
Never believe a word that comes out of Panetta's pie hole. As has been mentioned before, Mr. Gates was a prime example of someone who loved to screw with peoples perceptions.
First off, Israel's AIPAC dictates our foreign policy amongst other things. Their goal is to be the super power in the mideast. No competition. The Zionist are secular, not God fearing people. Strength to them is "might makes right". Because they have the Lion, America, by the nose they feel impervious to anything, plus Israel demands over $3,000,000,000 in "aid" annually and military aid. They will attack Iran knowing America will back them up. Problem?
Iran has an agreement with Russia stating an attack on either will be considered to be an attack on the other. With the level of pride, Satans sin, that exists in DC, the district of criminals, anythings possible. Interesting point. Any student of the bible can show you that in the prophecies where Israel will be invaded by the country to its north. That's Russia
Americas own goal is to control oil so that cannot be sold for anything other than dollars. Oil will be the commodity giving value to the counterfeit dollars its pumping out. American enemies? America wouldn't need any if it didn't make other countries enemies, its enemies.
IRAN — NO PAPER TIGER
If Iran gets bombed, it will be our corporate rich who make the decision and it will be based only upon profit, what best enhances profit.
For most all the oil tankers that sail the seven seas have sailed passed the shores of Iran, and flat out Iran has warned that if attacked — not one oil taker had dare come down its Straights.
And Bahrain, where the US Fifth Fleet Headquarters is docked, is it not 10 minutes by air from Iran and then bombs away?
It appears that some of those unintended consequences are the fact that China and Russia are not only warning the US against invading Iran but Russia is also threatening to help them develop the bomb. The Empire has lost its murderous and hegemonic touch, that's for sure.
FRENCH REVOLUTION — BACK OFF RICH
curmudgeonvt, says, “And we won’t be living in a communist society, it will be a feudal society where the elites (or those with the most guns) will rule.”
Agreed about a communist government not being able to rule, for communism is controlled by the educated middleclass who think we laboring class people are to dumb to have any control, and without our help they would surely be out gunned by the nuke terrorizing High Society and Country Club class.
But, not so fast on the elite rich nobility being able to rule all those would join the Occupy Wall Street movement, For is this Occupy rebellion, is it not what the French Revolution of 1890 was all about? For when the educated upper middle-class figured our how cunning and deceitful were the elite, the blood bathe began and it was exactly as the Tale of Two Cities describes it.
Panetta might have come to realize that the IAEA was suckered by the Israelis with these phony charges and is trying to talk back the State and WH wild statements.
gsealey
November 12th, 2011 at 6:02 am
The US, Britain and Israel an Axis of Evil? It looks that way. The evidence of moral depravity appears overwhelming but the majority decent people in these countries
EMPIRE USA — CREATED BY MISTAKE
The Deceleration Of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson, who started out wanting to create a fair and just Republic, one that based all its laws on the reality that this day of life is more then anyone deserves. For it life is more then we deserve, then our property is more then we deserve and it all belongs to those who have less then us. To wit:
ROUGH DRAFT
“all men are created equal and independent… they derive rights inherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life…”
But then, the Deceleration Of Independence was edited by Ben Franklin and John Adams. And as they all owned slaves and desired a luxury life of leisure, as the laws of their new Republic had to make such excessive property a right that they deserved, they had to destroy the truth that life was a free gift we should be most grateful for. To wit:
FINAL DRAFT
“all men are created equal… with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life…”
And so, in all of Empire USA the word grateful if completely blacked out, and in its place we have the dominant paradigm,
“Be All You Can Be.”
Earn all you can earn.
Take all you can take.
Own all you can own.
Be a dictator over all who are on land that you own.
PRIDE — A WORKING CLASS PROBLEM — GIFT FROM THE RICH
Wlidey Moore
“Is our pride, Satan’s sin? Is it going to bring on the final war?”
Readers let me guess, most proud are you thinking that the 1% rich are quite upset that we blame them for all harm done to our economy. Well, get humble and grasp the reality that it took all of the upper half of society to do such a self-love, greedy and stupid thing as a housing bubble doomed to expire in a convulsion.
HOUSING BUBBLE: A scam and fraud most greedy by the 51% voting majority, namely the 51% most wealthy. The building, marketing and sub-prime mortgaging of upper class homes to a working class that the 51% upper class knew full well would be taken back by the banks — would be theirs to remodel, resell and make a second killing upon the misery of the working class. From High Society, to the Country club class, to all the suppliers, contractors, inspectors and supervisors of the educated middle-class, it was the entire 51% ruling class that now stands guilty.
And all our wars, the same scam, the 51% most wealthy enriching themselves upon the working class that does virtually all the bleeding and dieing therein.
So, our 1% High Society is most happy, when blinded by pride we blame all our misery on a 1% rich, on the 1% Israel lobby and the 1% we know and hate as paid actor politicians.
And so, exactly what do you think would happen if the Occupy Wall Street movement started calling out:
51% got bailed out — we got sold out.
51% got all the wealth — we got all the debt.
51% built the housing bubble — make them pay for it.
51% get rich on war — we get dead and crippled no more.
51% get grubby, your slaves are gone — nationwide the strike is on.