Reply #67: "Mr. Bush ultimately decided against the proposal to use military force." Hm-m-m. [View All]

[Peace Patriot]

I don't trust this NYT assertion. For one thing, I don't believe that Bush Jr. had the power to override Cheney/Rumsfeld. In fact, I think that this (Junior's lack of power--his being a manipulated tool of Cheney/Rumsfeld) was part of the problem that was addressed by a counter-coup--to force Rumsfeld out and neutralize Cheney--organized by Bush Sr, circa 2005-2006, via his Iraq Study Group (which, interestingly, had Leon Panetta as a member). The successful conclusion of this counter-coup was signaled, or hinted at, by Pelosi's odd statement--apropos of nothing--just after the 2006 elections, that "impeachment is off the table" (what table, Nancy?), which was followed shortly by Rumsfeld's resignation. And very soon after that, the nuking of Iran went away--as a real threat, with all that buildup to it. Bush Sr. helped organize the counter-coup probably mostly to save Jr. from various bad fates (for instance, consequences of Rumsfeld/Cheney's war on the CIA?)--but others involved were likely top military brass (opposed to nuking Iran and to bringing the boot down on people here), and some top corpos and politicos (nuclear war and martial law are not "good for business.") What I think occurred was a deal. The counter-coup offered the Bush Junta principals--Bush Jr, Cheney and Rumsfeld--immunity from prosecution in exchange for, a) not nuking Iran, and b) leaving the White House peacefully when the time came. (And, of course, Rumsfeld--hated by a lot of the military--had to resign.) This may well be why Bush Jr. issued not a single pardon in his last weeks. He didn't need to. How far down this crooked chain of command the immunity extended is an interesting question. Rove may be included (he certainly acts as if he has immunity.) Clearly Libby--a convicted felon--was not. (And Cheney's now whining about that.)

The counter-coup's next job would be to vet the presidential candidates, and exclude any from the White House (via Diebold & brethren, and/or corpo/fascist 'news' manipulation) any who did not agree to honor the immunity deal. And this may explain Obama's lame statement--regarding the Bush Junta's enormously long list of grave "high crimes and misdemeanors"--that "we must look forward not backward"--an absurd assertion. (Do we fail to prosecute murderers because the murder occurred in the past?) If the above scenario is more or less what occurred, Obama agreed--maybe thinking that he could do more good in the White House than not in it. That's a guess. Who knows what goes on in the mind of our presidential chess-player? I think he's very smart, and knows what's what (--he appointed Leon Panetta--no "civilian," believe me--to straighten out the godawful mess at the CIA, whose agents welcomed Panetta with cheers and champagne corks popping). He's gotten health care for all Americans off the ground--a seeming impossibility--and is aiming the country in the right direction on many fronts, despite serious, undemocratic limitations on his power, including the heinous media. He's one of the good guys. I'm convinced of that. He's doing what he can with a government that he has very little control over--an imperial government run by global corporate predators and war profiteers. We were spared (and the Iranians were spared) the nuking of Iran--an act that could easily have escalated into WW III (which would be the last war on earth, because the planet would not survive it). We were likely spared martial law and the suspension of elections and civil rights (such as they are)--with these legal documents that are now surfacing in bits and pieces (the ones we are permitted to see) being the "tips of the iceberg" of their martial law plan. I think some of those who may have been involved in "the Deal"--and those like Obama who may have agreed to it--did it for what they thought was our benefit.

I like my scenario because it explains so much. Junior was in over his head. Daddy Bush was clearly unhappy with what was going on, circa 2005-2006. He doesn't form "Iraq Study Groups" outside the government with idyll purposes (say, merely to advise). His true purposes--and those of some of the other players--to cover up Junior's ineptness, save him from CIA vengeance, and from being responsible for Armageddon, and to draw the veil back over our secret government (which Cheney/Rumsfeld were so crudely exposing) would gel at some point with the various motives of the other players, some good, some bad. Some to keep the mask of democracy over their vast corruption; others to give democracy a chance to be restored, or at least to keep the peace.

But now the Obama administration has to contend with evildoers like Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rove on the loose--Cheney lobbying for a pardon for Libby, for goddsakes; Rumsfeld probably planning Oil War II-South America--and other downsides to their immunity. If you are wondering why Obama tolerates all this, think of this scenario, above, and ask yourself if it doesn't seem quite probable.