Chris Floyd: Big Dog, Little Tail: The American Elite Resolves on War With Iran

[babylonsister]

Big Dog, Little Tail: The American Elite Resolves on War With Iran
Chris Floyd

Friday, 27 June 2008


I.
Let's be clear about one thing: Israel will not attack Iran without the full knowledge and approval of the United States government. The trigger of the "warning shot" of Israel's long-range air-strike exercise last week was actually pulled in Washington. The Israelis will not force or deceive the U.S. government into an attack on Iran; that attack – which grows more certain by the hour – will take place because America's bipartisan foreign policy establishment and military-industrial complex (to the extent that there is any real difference between the two) want it to happen, or are willing to let it happen.

It is of course an article of faith for some people that the Israeli tails wags the big American dog. This rather ludicrous assertion is nothing more than the pernicious doctrine of "American exceptionalism" tricked out in "dissident" drag. For its underlying assumption is that good ole true-blue American elites would never commit war crimes or seek empire and geopolitical dominion unless they had somehow been tricked into it by those wily Jews. This is exactly backwards. If Israel was of no use to the American elite's domination agenda, then it would be discarded, or at least downgraded in terms of military, economic and diplomatic support.

When a nation serves the American elite's interests well, it is rewarded, and its various shortcomings are overlooked, however egregious they might be. Saudi Arabia is a prime example. Egypt is another. Iraq is a negative example. When Saddam's regime was thought useful, it was supported, copiously. When Saddam was no longer useful – especially when he threatened the Bush Family's long-time business partners in Kuwait – then he became "a new Hitler." When Iran was governed by a tyrant friendly to Washington, it was lauded – and larded with the usual military support and diplomatic muscle. When unfriendly tyrants took over, Iran became a land of Persian devils. The list of such examples from American history goes on and on.

If Israel had, say, opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq, it would have found itself shorn of much of its American largess very quickly. Israel is in fact almost entirely dependent on the United States for its military and economic well-being; in return it gives unstinting support to the interests of the American elite. It is in many ways one of the most abject client states in the world today, outside of Iraq or Afghanistan. The fact that there is a convergence of interests and ideology between militarist elites in the United States and Israel is hardly surprising. It would only be surprising if this were not the case. And so we see a cross-pollination of ideas, strategies, techniques, technologies – and even, in some cases, personnel (e.g. the "Clean Break" group) – between these elites.

For the same reasons, we also see a strong "Jewish Lobby" in the United States. For although those lobbying organizations do not actually represent the viewpoint of the majority of American Jews, they do offer unwavering support to the American elite's domination agenda. These organizations – like Israel itself – also serve as useful stalking horses and lightning rods. In the first instance, they can stake out radical positions which would be too impolitic for America's governing elite to espouse too openly. In the second instance, they can always be conveniently blamed for "radicalizing" or "duping" the American elite if one of the latter's schemes for loot and dominion go wrong. And of course they can be used to punish domestic politicians who fail to hew slavishly enough to the elite's imperial line. But if AIPAC came out tomorrow with, say, a demand that America dismantle its worldwide empire of military bases, or condemned the invasion of Iraq as a war crime, we would see its influence decline almost instantly. Again, it is the convergence of interests with the American elite, and their willingness to serve those interests, that give the government of Israel and non-representative organizations like AIPAC such a prominent role.

more...

http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1548/135/

[Faygo Kid]

1. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Thanks for posting this.

It is indeed the American elites who decide our fates. Look at Addington's contemptuous testimony before Congress this week. He knows - and they know - that the elites (like him) can do whatever they want, with impunity.

I greatly fear for Obama's safety. And the prospects that we will even have an election in November. I do not doubt for a moment that an attack on Iran is imminent.

Excellent article.

[seemslikeadream]

2. full knowledge and approval of the United States government.

[babylonsister]

3. You know it. I hope most people do. nt

[unkachuck]

4. I like Mr. Floyd.....

....he's so, correct....

[MattSh]

5. Excellent Chris, as usual, AND,

the moderators haven't banned this to the Israel/Palestine forum. I remember a few months ago, I posted a poem, a freakin' poem, by a Palestinian women, and it was banished to the Israel/Palestine forum quicker than Bush can tell a lie.

Maybe only Palestinian writers get banished there.

[scarletwoman]

6. I already rec'd this earlier, but didn't have time to post.

So, here's my kick. You know I love Chris Floyd, I appreciate your posting his writings.

Thanks,
sw

[JohnyCanuck]

7. K & R

[Psyop Samurai]

8. "stalking horses and lightning rods"

Floyd knows their diabolical game.

It takes years to figure it out, and most people never will. It is a masterful deception, perpetrated mostly by unwitting dupes, one that keeps people in an endless loop short of the essential reality.

Quote:

For although those lobbying organizations do not actually represent the viewpoint of the majority of American Jews, they do offer unwavering support to the American elite's domination agenda. These organizations – like Israel itself – also serve as useful stalking horses and lightning rods. In the first instance, they can stake out radical positions which would be too impolitic for America's governing elite to espouse too openly. In the second instance, they can always be conveniently blamed for "radicalizing" or "duping" the American elite if one of the latter's schemes for loot and dominion go wrong.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, may very well be our Rosetta Stone.

[AntiFascist]

9. Is is interesting to know the history of the creation of the state of Israel...

while creation of a homeland for the Jewish people had widespread political appeal, behind the scenes, even way back then, the elitists may have developed the strategy of using Israel as a political football in gaining a hold on Arab oil fields.

[Psyop Samurai]

10. While I've not delved into it in great depth, it would appear so. nt

[bluesmail]

11. I can only add my approval for his knowledge and his (K&R)

writings ~especially~ on the subject of Israel/AIPAC/United States which could be called the Axis Of Evil. Thanks for posting.

[T.Ruth2power]

12. Kick for this

Too late to 'R'

There are some good comments at the end of the article. Two from Chris.