Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue
24 April 2006
If the Bush Administration is good at anything at all, it’s scaring the hell out of the electorate. Whether it’s their lagging response to Hurricane Katrina, the intolerable invasion of Iraq, or the infamous, multi-colored terror-threat level, all the president’s men are contented in making sure we stay frightened enough to be controlled.
The latest threat meant to send Americans into panic attacks is Iran’s development of nuclear technology. Bush and his minions are kicking up a lot of dust, saying that Iran’s intent for nuclear technology is anything but peaceful. And while Bush, Inc. cannot prove Iran’s nuclear ambitions are militaristic, they’ve certainly proven they’re ability to lie about other militant intentions from that region of the Middle East before.
Frankly, I’m thrilled that Iran is developing nuclear technology whether for peaceful or military purposes. If the technology is being used for military purposes, I believe that’s just fine. When any country is set up as a potential military target by a hubristic and irrational leader like Bush, that country should start finding ways to defend itself quickly. And considering that the United States has been giving Israel nuclear weaponry for years, it seems appropriate that Iran counterbalance the threat an irrational Israeli leader could pose. If the technology is going to be used for peaceful means, it will do wonders for the Iranian people and their economy.
Iran’s leadership understands a great deal more about the Bush Administration than the White House thinks. They’ve seen the US invade a country that didn’t have weapons of mass destruction (Iraq), yet negotiate with one that does (North Korea). They also know that North Korea’s economic and political ties to China are a major sticking point to the US actually striking the tiny Asian nation. Oddly enough, Iran also has major economic relations with China. So for all the speechifying and saber rattling, Iranians are pretty confident that a militaristic purpose for their nuclear aims would be the main hedge against a US military strike against them. While the White House successfully plays the terrorism card in this country to keep us oh, so afraid, the Iranians know they have an advantage by keeping their cards hidden.
The Iranians also know that any US military strike against them would be disastrous to the US. The rest of the world has adopted a “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me” attitude towards Bush and his visions of an American empire. There’s no chance that the few allies we have left would actually join in a military action against Iran, except possibly Britain. Prime Minister Tony Blair has already proven so irrational many ministers in his own party don’t even listen to him anymore. But beyond the fallout from the EU, China certainly would not allow their Middle East trading partner to go it alone in any fight with the US. China could take any number of actions in retaliation for an American invasion, including devaluating the Yuan to nearly nothing, making the US Dollar too strong overseas; divest themselves of American debt instruments, demanding instant repayment; block US products from entering the Chinese marketplace (which is just over a billion people strong); and strengthening economic and military tie with another trading partner of Iran-- Russia. Think about the effect a conjoining of the Chinese and Russian military would mean for the Middle East. It’s also possible that the Saudi’s will start to believe their cordial relations with the Bush family a huge mistake, and begin to withdrawal the funds they’ve placed in George HW Bush’s care.
If the Bush Administration is seriously considering a war with Iran, they will show the world they are playing checkers in a roomful of chess masters. Whatever dreams of empire the Bush White House may have will quickly dissolve into a Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue.