Larisa Alexandrovna: Propaganda (Due)-Iran (gate)

[Hissyspit]

http://www.atlargely.com/2007/05/propaganda_duei.html

Propaganda (Due)-Iran (gate)
The Bush administration continues its (already failed) media war with hopes of cooking up a reason to attack Iran:

Iran is secretly forging ties with al-Qaida elements and Sunni Arab militias in Iraq in preparation for a summer showdown with coalition forces intended to tip a wavering US Congress into voting for full military withdrawal, US officials say.

-snip -

The official said US commanders were bracing for a nationwide, Iranian-orchestrated summer offensive, linking al-Qaida and Sunni insurgents to Tehran's Shia militia allies, that Iran hoped would trigger a political mutiny in Washington and a US retreat. "We expect that al-Qaida and Iran will both attempt to increase the propaganda and increase the violence prior to Petraeus's report in September (when the US commander General David Petraeus will report to Congress on President George Bush's controversial, six-month security "surge" of 30,000 troop reinforcements)," the official said.

But I thought the surge was working? Or is this another threat of what might happen should Congress not do as they are told? Yes, a cynical question to be sure, but how many more times do we have to hear "vote for a Democrat" and al-Qaeda will kill you in your bed? In this case, however, I have no doubt that something very big will happen before the September surge update in order to prolong as much as possible the US occupation of Iraq (closer to the US 2008 election).

Why? Because an administration strung out on power and a party - Republican - in its last throes, needs to keep up the argument that a). there is a real war on terrorism and b). that only Republicans can keep us safe from the terrorists. With pressure building in Congress to pull the troops, and excuses running out for keeping our military occupied in Iraq, a "blame-Iran" strategy would serve the power-addicted rather well. Iran could be blamed for a large scale attack in Iraq, justifying both a military attack on Iran and a reason to continue funding the pockets of the military industrial complex. In addition, the Republicans can then argue that Democrats are weak on terror, to which the Democrats - not strong on backbone, will capitulate to save face - pushed along by their consultants of course. Again, is this cynicism on my part? Yep, but what else could account for this new round of propaganda, specific time-frames for when key events are to take place, and the obvious intersection of domestic politics?

Shame on any journalists who take these opinions of "US officials" as actual news to report, rather than reject it for what it is, pure propaganda.

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