W.House brands Iran, Hezbollah as terror "nexus"

[MGD]

Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:55pm ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House branded Iran and Hezbollah on Saturday as a "global nexus of terrorism" and applauded an Argentine court for seeking the arrest of former Iranian officials in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center.

In the Bush administration's latest rhetorical assault on Iran, White House spokesman Tony Snow issued a statement saying the Islamic republic was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians as the world's "leading state sponsor of terrorism." It gave no specifics.

The statement also said Tehran's financial and military support for Hezbollah had allowed the Lebanese Shi'ite militant organization to "perpetuate violence throughout the world."

"Hezbollah and Iran remain a dangerous, global nexus of terrorism," Snow said in the statement.


Earlier this month, the White House accused Iran, Syria and Hezbollah of plotting to topple the Lebanese government, which the Bush administration has held up as an example of emerging democracy in the Middle East.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-11-11T235453Z_01_N11407567_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-IRAN-USA.xml&src=rss

[More Than A Feeling]

1. "Boom, boom, boom," go the war drums.

[wholetruth00]

2. Here we go again. Carrying water for Israel.

[MGD]

3. I think it has more to do with our relationship with China than our relationship with Israel.

It's all about influence in the oil rich middle-east IMO.

[pinto]

7. That's an oversimplification of the issues, imo.

[aquart]

10. Bigotry always is.

[bemildred]

4. "Nexus"?

Did they get a new writer?

[daleo]

6. They are responding to the people's will, as shown in the election

They have courageously replaced the term "axis" with "nexus". Who says Bush doesn't respect democracy.

[bemildred]

8. Well, I'm sure Henry Miller would be pleased with the plug. nt

[savemefromdumbya]

5. shut down the executive branch please!

I think congress can sort out the middle east without them?

[goforit]

27. Yah lets have a real democracy.... by the people.

[aquart]

9. Gosh, that's useful.

[struggle4progress]

11. The Iran-Contra thugs were a "dangerous, global nexus of terrorism"

Can we go after them?

[MGD]

13. Perhaps our time would be better used attending to current issues as opposed to 20 year old issues?

[struggle4progress]

21. The Gates nomination -- from an administration that has constantly lied

to Congress and the American people, using politicized intelligence for war-mongering purposes, and that has blundered into a foreign policy catastrophe of immense proportions -- exposes an absolute unwillingness to change established patterns of behavior.

Twenty years ago, Gates established himself as a team player for a team of liars and warmongers: he misrepresented intelligence data on the Soviet Union and on Nicaragua, kept his mouth firmly shut about illegal activities, and was involved in DCI Casey's lying to Congress. During that period, the CIA, of which Gates was a part, misrepresented the intelligence on reports of Saddam gassing Iraqis in order to support Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war, provided terrorist training manuals and other material support to the Arghani mujihadeen and to the Nicaraguan contras, misrepresented the military and economic situation in the Soviet Union, mined Nicaragua's harbors, traded in cocaine, negotiated illegal arms sales with Iran, ran death squads in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador ...

The regular reappearance, throughout the current government, of a gang of thugs who were responsible for some ugly events twenty years ago, should be of some interest, since their policies have always left a trail of chaos and blood. If Saddam hangs, is it irrelevant to remember that some recently or currently or soon-to-be in government helped cover up his crimes? If Afghanistan is still a chaotic country, ruled by terrorist mujihadeen, is it irrelevant to remember how that terrorist culture was created, especially if some key players may still today or tomorrow be making more idiotic decisions that are likely to haunt us for decades?

In Faulkner's words, "The past is not dead: it is not even past." America has silently let Bush sprinkle the Iran-contra gang throughout his government. Why should we pretend these assholes come now to the table with no known history?

[krispos42]

25. He has a good idea

We should definately go after John Negroponte and Robert Gates...

[davidinalameda]

12. Hezbollah and Iran are both serious threats

we've seen that

[radfringe]

14. another catch-phrase bites the dust?

Just a short time ago - "Stay the Course" was buried... and replaced with "ADAPT TO WIN"

now "AXIS OF EVIL" has also been buried and replaced with "GLOBAL NEXUS OF TERROR"

granted "GLOBAL NEXUS OF TERROR" is a 'brazillion times' scarier than "AXIS OF EVIL"

If the bushies spent more time working on plans than they spend on lifting phrases from comic books - they might be able to accomplish something positive...

[MGD]

15. The electon is over. We won. There is no "they" anymore.

"If the bushies spent more time working on plans than they spend on lifting phrases from comic books - they might be able to accomplish something positive..."

If we spent as much time thinking of solutions as we do bitching about the administration, we might be able to accomplish something positive. The election is over, we won resoundingly so, we can cut the electionering anytime now and get down to business as far as I'm concerend. Or, can we not agree on which way to go yet? No offense intended to you radfringe. I'm just thinking.
edit typo

[radfringe]

16. yes the election is over

We now have the congress - no matter what the solutions are or what proposals will be presented - it still has to get through the bushies.

Dems in Congress are going to have a tough fight on two fronts.

First - Dems will need to pass legislation and be able to over ride bush's vetos. That bush will wield the Veto pen with vigor in the next two years is a given

Secondly - It must be made clear that any progress made/legislation passed is due to DEM efforts and NOT bush's. Also, while holding the bush administration accountable, the Dems must also hold themselves accountable/responsible for any scandals with emerge or re-emerge.

If the Dems are to be taken seriously about ethic reforms - they must be willing to put their own members under the microscope as well as the repubs.

[MGD]

17. I think Bush will be more receptive to our legislation than you think

"First - Dems will need to pass legislation and be able to over ride bush's vetos. That bush will wield the Veto pen with vigor in the next two years is a given."

Maybe. I doubt he wants us to be put in the position of having all this power and nowhere to go with it though. We might end up spending the next two years investigating/impeaching his sorry ass if he won't let us pass the people's legislation. My guess is, he's genuine about the bipartisanship. It will be interesting to see what hapens when the Democratic legislation starts crossing his desk though. It's going to be touch and go for a while though I'm sure. Regardless, if he starts dictating again, it's impeachment time and I think we can all agree on that.

"Secondly - It must be made clear that any progress made/legislation passed is due to DEM efforts and NOT bush's."

And that's really the biggest problem right there IMO because bipartisanship doesn't work that way. This is why, with regards to Iraq, we're going to have to form policy around the Iraq Study Group's findings. This way the necessary work gets done and neither side has to take the blame or gets to take the credit. Of course, if Baker comes back and says "everything is rosy, stay the course", we're back to square one.

"If the Dems are to be taken seriously about ethic reforms - they must be willing to put their own members under the microscope as well as the repubs."

Absolutely.

[radfringe]

19. hope you are right about the bi-partisanship

however, I remain skeptical because right after his meeting with Pelosi he makes another presser appearance and tells the repubs to hurry up and pass his agenda before the Dems take over

and he follows this up by resubmitting Bolton's name, even though he knows the Dems won't approve and there is a fair number of repubs who also object

On the other hand - his course of action will most likely be determined the outcome of of the inner circle battle. I'm sensing Cheney has lost a good deal of influence, Rummy's resignation is a sign of that - and the appearance of Baker and Gates into the inner circle is a sign of Poppy coming in to save W's butt once again.

Will the new puppet master be Poppy and his bunch, or will Cheney remain as the the puppet master?

I'm leaning towards Poppy's pals because of the increase in reports/stories hitting the papers about Cheney/Halliburton. the sure sign Cheney is on his way out will be if we start seeing snippets/hints of concern over Cheney's health.

One thing is for sure - the next 2 years should be very interesting

[struggle4progress]

22. Be bipartisan only with the real bipartisans

After 6 years, we've learned Bush's "bipartisanship" means -- diddly squat.

And have you followed Congress in recent years? Everything's been strong-armed. There has been no willingness by Repubs to reach across the aisle.

I want Dems to run Congress fairly, according to transparent rules, and to show a willingness to reach across the aisle: but Dems certainly shouldn't cooperate too much with those particular Representatives and Senators who've been screwing them over in recent years.

[peacebird]

18. "nexus of terrorism" - does that outweigh "axis of evil"? Where's N. Korea in this?

:eyes:

[rocktivity]

20. As opposed to "axis of evil," you mean?

Are they staying the course, or what?

:eyes:
rocknation

[leesa]

23. Iran responsible for "hundreds of innocent civilian deaths, huh? As opposed

to hundreds of thousands of Muslim deaths by the Western world, eh? As opposed to hundreds of thousands on Dubya's head alone. Oh yeah, they're the nexus, alright. Sheesh. What a load!

[krispos42]

24. Yet I can't figure out why they're pursuing nuclear weapons

I mean, jeez, you'd think they'd be all warm and fuzzy towards us.
:sarcasm:

[lovuian]

26. Think tank says Evil Axis dump and terror nexus in

these people need to be called out for their propoganda machine...