Larry Johnson - Sees A "Glimmer Of Hope For US Policy Towards Iraq & Iran"

[kpete]

Glimmer of Hope for US Policy Towards Iraq and Iran
By Larry Johnson on October 5, 2007 at 5:22 PM in Current Affairs

Call me Don Quixote, but we may have a chance to get US policy towards Iran and Iraq back into the realm of sanity despite the Bush Administrations’ suicidal tendencies. I base this in part on the results of briefing on consecutive days this week two very diverse groups of members of Congress. I will not tell you whether they were Senators or Representatives or both. Nor will I divulge the full details of our closed door discussions. (And, I did not get paid anything nor am I asking any member of Congress to do anything other than act in the best interest of the people of the United States).

Wednesday night I participated in the briefing of 14 members of Congress, a majority of whom would be labeled as liberal Democrats by most Republicans (but a couple of classy Republicans did attend that session). The following day I briefed 12 Republican legislators, who by Democratic standards, are considered libertarian to ultra conservative. The topic was the same–Is War with Iran Inevitable and What are our Options?

I was encouraged on several fronts. First, I got to brief two members who are vying for their respective party’s presidential nomination. Second, there appears to be an emerging consensus among Republicans and Democrats–who, under most circumstances, are at each others throats–that we need to find a way to protect the strategic interests of the United States in the Middle East without going to war with Iran and while extricating our troops from the civil war in Iraq.


.......

The time to cut apron strings is upon us. I left the briefings recognizing that members on both sides of the aisle recognize something needs to be done. Both sides recognize military spending is out of control. Both sides recognize that we can no longer continue pouring two billion dollars a week into Iraq.

more at:
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/10/05/glimmer-of-hope-for-us-policy-towards-iraq-and-iran/

[rodeodance]

1. to 'recognize' the problem is a good first step-now a SPINE is needed to stand up to Bush

[stellanoir]

2. I'm glad he's hopeful.

Yet nearly 5 years after * blatantly violated the terms and provisions of the IWR and failed to get UN approval for an invasion and when Saddam was in compliance, 26 of these towering geniuses finally "recognize military spending is out of control."

Let's give 'em a Darwin award.

They qualify for killing our democracy with ingenious stupidity.

[MissWaverly]

3. I do respect his opinion

he's been committed to giving Congress a reality check, I just wish they would listen for a change.

[Annces]

4. K&R n/t

[annabanana]

5. Whew!

What a hopeful article that is..
Are saner heads going to finally prevail?

This, coupled with a loosening stranglehold on the media, may save America yet.

[havocmom]

6. If Johnson is guardedly optimistic, so am I

He knows much more of the chess game and all the players. Might be a sign the good spooks and military brass are making headway getting through the disinformation smoke the malAdministration has been blowing at Congress

There are many, many people in public service who actually serve the public. It is sad so many have to leave public service in order to speak and serve the public better.

There is something seriously wrong with this country. But if the Larry Johnsons of the population are getting through to members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, we might yet save America.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Who's Larry Johnson?