An Iranian "October Surprise" and what to do about it

[joemurphy]

I'm coming to the conclusion that the "October Surprise" will be some sort of "pre-emptive" bombing attack on what we will be told are Iranian nuclear facilities. To my mind, everything points to this. A "successful" military action is about the only thing that will help Republicans in the polls and Bush's own sagging popularity. The cable news people, of course, will love it and it will dove-tail with this "security" mantra they've been singing since the Israeli incursion into Lebanon. Seymour Hersh's article concerning that incursion corroborates (assuming you believe him -- and I do) that the Neocons have something on the drawing board for Iran.

Knowing Rove (who unveiled the invasion of Iraq just before the last mid-term) the timing of the bombing will be politically-driven.

As near as I can tell, there's really nothing that Congress can do to stop Bush if he elects to attack Iraq. More than likely, all we'll get from them is silence and flag-waving, as the politicos will (as always) drape themselves in flags and cheer on "our boys".

So if that happens -- and it will be another horrendous foreign policy disaster -- do we, at last, take to the streets? Or will we just sit it out.

What do you think?

[bleever]

1. The Congress needs to make it clear that it reserves the right to declare

war.

Perhaps even by delaring that the Iraq War Resolution is no longer in effect, given that the WMD issue is settled, and that policing a civil war was not within the original mandate.

CONGRESS declares war.

[jpak]

2. Crude oil @ $127 a barrel

Gas @ $4.78 a gallon (if you can get it)

Heating oil @ 4.08 a gallon (if you can get it)

Yup - that would be some surprise for the morans.

Sure-fired GOP vote getter...

:)

[gordianot]

4. That would be a consequence within a day of any such stupidity.

[elocs]

3. I wonder what China would say/do? n/m

[PATRICK]

5. I think

more and people are getting to realize this but that, to their growing numbers and individual horror nothing is being done at any level to counter this exactly happening as you say. Something should be done intensely, effectively BEFORE Bush simply waves the troops into disaster. It will be all that much harder, or seemingly impossible, after.

Bush will go ahead. They DID try to create a pre-text for Iraq. Something fairly easy like putting a few planes in harms way. Saddam did not the bait. They bungled that because they did not comprehend wisely Saddam's hunker down psychology. But it did not matter enough. In 2002 they did not do much, thanks to Dems passive weakness and fraud the fix was in. This time it does look bad for the GOP. They will work very hard for the pretext this time, but will go ahead and make the war its own pretext because it has worked very well so far.

Or, mercifully postponing more leisurely bloodletting until after the election they will bluster the propaganda over some small thing to scramble the polls before November. In any event they will do something that will make them very sure of themselves. They will not gamble or risk a roll against unhindered democracy. And sooner or later they will make their planned wars.

[Nikki Stone 1]

6. We need to pound Katrina home. Bush doesn't care about you

He only cares about national security during election season.

[spanone]

7. I believe it's non-stop terror from here on in. It's their ace in the hole

[Sinti]

8. Personally, I doubt it will happen this way

Not that I doubt the cons want to go after Iran. I would assume they would need cover - it has to at least look as if Iran acted first. They're not going to stand naked in town square bomb in hand, singing at the top of their lungs... No cover - no bombing. However, that's not to say they won't get cover to do it.

I don't think there will be anything new/big until they execute Saddam. Which I think they plan to do this fall.

[Armstead]

9. Politically, I almost hope they try it because it would be so transparent

My last vestige of faith in the American people is that they'd hopefully see through it, and see it as a last straw for these neo-Con bastids.

But realistically, I hope to God they don't try ot, because that would truly unleash the Hounds of Hell.

[Jim__]

10. I'm not sure another war in the Middle East would boost repuke fortunes.

After a while, their incompetence just becomes apparent.

[cool user name]

11. At that point ... the straw would have broken the camel's back.

We take to the streets or we forfeit our freedom forever more.

[savemefromdumbya]

12. Maybe the hurricane will get Bush before he can do his October surprise?

[blues90]

13. Difficult to answer

Alex Jones feels there will be an attack sometime in sept or oct .

I look at bush's and Israel blowing the hell out of Lebanon and believe that whether or not this cease fire holds true that their goal is to incite a war going into Iran . Now as far as the bush and cheney thugs and an other attack on america , I don't think they are looking at populatity or care about failure to protect the USA . They have piles of excuses lined up to steer clear of blame by blaming someone else .

Bush and cheney seem to have the way around congress and if there were a vote even today , even based on the Iraq disaster I feel they would get their war with enough madman votes .

realize that if we were attacked again the panic would be back to high and by the time anyone got around to sorting through the facts that lead up to this bush would be out of office or have such a war that he would remain in for an endless term . I feel this is what they want .

If you consider how bad the economy is and Katrina , the troops who have been cut out of programs to help them and the equipement they still don't have . Bush trying to pass a law to change the definition of war crimes , the new military courts they want to replace what we have had for years , the talk about 600 some containment camps ready to use throughout the USA , NSA and the new leader with rummy in control and that horrid Hayden .

All things point to something bad coming soon , it is obvious the common citizen is at the bottom of this list here , we are expendable , if this has not been proven then we have been avoiding all we read and see .

They are in a dangerous position and are not going to give up quite so easy . I doubt polls or votes mean much in the big plan .