White House: Iran should avoid provocative actions

[sabra]

Source: reuters

WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday that the harassment of U.S. Navy ships by Iran was "provocative" and warned Tehran against taking such actions in the future.

"We urge the Iranians to refrain from such provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident in the future," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WAT008634.htm

[LynnTheDem]

1. But the US threatening to attack and kill people in Iran isn't

"provocative".

:eyes:

It's the idiotic hypocrisy they hate us for.

[Webster Green]

2. The chimp should shut the fuck up!

The ships are located there to provoke Iran.

These crazy mutherfuckers are determined to get it on with Iran, so they are cooking up another Gulf of Tonkin incident.

[katty]

23. cheney&chimp WANT the provocation and to react-their dream

[bullimiami]

3. does anybody believe the stories that come out of this wh or defense dept?

i sure dont.

[SpiralHawk]

4. "Or we will really let the propaganda BS fly. Smirk." - Commander AWOL

"Smirk." - Commander AWOL, republicon uber hero, Skull & Boner brigade of occult chickenhawks

[gratuitous]

5. Uh, yeah

And sending our boats into the area isn't "provocative." Or is Mr.Johndroe (is that an alias, or what?) referring to the possibility that Iran might launch an invasion of another country without just cause? Because that's the sole province of the United States under George W. Bush.

[Teaser]

6. Pot calling kettle provocative.

.

[rodeodance]

7. "Is that still on?" the Arab official replied sarcastically.

Forum Name Latest Breaking News
Topic subject Bush heads to Mideast amid low expectations
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3127790#3127790
3127790, Bush heads to Mideast amid low expectations
Posted by rodeodance on Mon Jan-07-08 09:10 AM

Source: mcclatchy



Bush heads to Mideast amid low expectations

By Warren P. Strobel, McClatchy Newspapers Mon Jan 7, 6:00 AM ET

WASHINGTON — President Bush , who once had grand ambitions to transform the Middle East through democratic reform, begins his first extended presidential visit to the region Tuesday with his sights lowered and his ability to influence events fading fast.

From the Israeli prime minister's modest house in Jerusalem to the palace of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia , Bush can expect a polite welcome during the nine-day trip. But with the U.S. presidential campaign under way, governments in the region already appear to be looking past Bush to his successor. They're expecting no major breakthroughs.

The official Arab view of Bush was summed up inadvertently by a diplomat from a major Arab state, who indicated disbelief that the president will use the trip to renew his drive for Middle East democracy.

"Is that still on?" the Arab official replied sarcastically. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of diplomatic sensitivities.

The contrast between today and the months afte

Read more: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102




millions spent to protect him--for a few photoops.
also, many lives at risk during this media visit

[stillcool]

14. I like this one...

Remember him? Bush begins Middle East tour
He is the forgotten leader, scorned by his people, disowned by his party. This week George Bush has a last chance to undo the damage done by his presidency as he begins a Middle East tour
By Leonard Doyle in New Hampshire and Andrew Buncombe in Islamabad
Published: 07 January 2008

Voters in the United States may have switched their attention to the contest to find his successor, but George Bush will embark on an ambitious nine-day tour of the Middle East tomorrow in a last desperate effort to salvage a legacy from two terms in office overshadowed by a catastrophic foreign policy that has earned him the distinction of being one of the worst presidents in the country's history.

The Bush legacy will not be peace in the Middle East nor an end to conflict in Iraq, but it could be a political earthquake among voters so dismayed by the mess he has made of America's foreign policy and fearful of economic recession that they are deserting his party in droves.

As he prepares to board a plane for Israel and wrap himself in the tattered flag of victory in Iraq, Mr Bush's real legacy to the American people is evident in the disillusionment on display in New Hampshire. Enraged Republicans are switching sides to support the Democrat Barack Obama. Others are backing Mike Huckabee, the maverick Christian conservative hopeful. Both triumphed in the Iowa caucuses on a platform of "change

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article3315020.ece

[fascisthunter]

8. Spoken Like a Rapist Blaming the Victim

"You shouldn't have worn that dress!"

[saigon68]

15. A Psychopathic Murderer and War Criminal

[LeftishBrit]

9. LeftishBrit: Iran, all other countries, and the White House should refrain from provocative actions!

Might one not call the pre-emptive invasion of Iraq a 'provocative action'???

[riqster]

10. Tonkin Gulf part deux. nt

[winter999]

19. What ever happened to part 1?

Forgive my poor memory.

[riqster]

21. That was the faked 'incident' that was used to get us into Vietnam in a big way

[pegleg]

11. A bit of perspective is needed here: The US is in THEIR territorial waters.

They are not in ours. The US is threatening THEIR borders, They do not threaten ours.

[winter999]

20. I thought the Navy was in international waters protecting shipping...

[kineneb]

27. see map- Straits of Hormuz

boundary line runs right through middle of strait

[boricua79]

31. to be clear

does that mean that International shipping in the Strait is either in Omani, UAE or Iranian waters?

If so, then it's not international waters. The U.S. has no legal excuse for being there...unless the Omani government or UAE is allowing them to use their waters...and even then, it would still be a provocative act.

Why are American naval ships in Omani, UAE, or Iranian waters?

[24HRrnr]

35. Territorial waters under existing agreements

normally extend 12 miles from the shore of the subject nation.

Iran has consistently demanded a much larger distance (I think 24 miles) which would effectively elinimate the small territorial waters possessed by Iraq - likely the original intent.

The Law of the Sea Treaty (not ratified) would also create economic zones that would be defensible.

[boricua79]

29. and you believe that?

It happens to only "protect shipping" around China, North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela.

As much as Americans would like to see their military doing the job it's supposed to be doing (legitimate self-defense), they still have not realized that the military is the armed force that protects the economic/political interests of the ruling power in government...and that's the rich. The upper class. They're interests are not the same as ours. They're not interested in the "rule of law" and "fair play". They're interested in cowing all other nations into fear...so that we may expedite our raping of this planet's resources for the gain of the United States...more specifically, the gain of American corporate interests. Our Navy is Iran to continue the psychological game of cowing the Iranians into submission...and to be there in case we decide to invade.

There is no positive reason for them to be there, and any offered is bullshit propaganda. The moment Iranian ships or any other ship seizes a commercial ship...THEN the United States can argue that it is protecting its shipping nations and no country in the world will complain about them patrolling the Strait of Hormuz. until then, it's pure imperialist cowing of others.

[tabasco]

12. Just like Poland provoking Nazi Germany.

The neocons are still determined to destroy the USA with imperial wars.

[redqueen]

13. Nah, they just want to empty the Treasury.

They're not so much concerned with what happens to this country, I don't think, so long as they and their buddies get all the money.

[acmavm]

24. I'm still waiting for that knock on the door and opening it to find

some clown with a pair of dental pliers telling me to open wide, they want the fillings out of my teeth.

They sure as shit haven't left us much else.

[paparush]

25. "We've come for you liver!"

[focusfan]

16. he is just wanting to start something(Bush)

somebody should have knocked his block off in school

[Kool Kitty]

36. I'll bet he got his "block" knocked off

a bunch of times in school, and that may be one of his main problems.

[AzDar]

17. Self-Delete....

Just....:puke:

[Tesha]

18. Iran: White House should avoid provocative actions (NT)

[Eurobabe]

22. Iran: Cheney should avoid microwave ovens. n/t

[paparush]

26. LMOA!

[Eurobabe]

30. please give me a DuZY, I am really off my game.

:rofl:

[Vinca]

28. Hmmmm . . . funny how these things happen when the Republicans are tanking. nt

[Amonester]

32. Ding! Ding! Ding!

$election Fraud in NH. Sibel talks. It's recession-time.

Same old, same old.

[damntexdem]

33. Well, I can see Dubya's point in telling Iran to avoid provocative actions:

he thought he had a monopoly on such actions. He probably sees the Iranians as copycats.

;-)

[BattyDem]

34. So ... declaring their military a terrorist organization wasn't provocative?

Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle. :eyes:

[pinniped]

37. This tough guy Gordon the Moran should go there in person and tell them.

Iran better not start sending those terra-text messages.:scared: