← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · il ragno
Thread ID: 5915 | Posts: 14 | Started: 2003-03-31
2003-03-31 07:54 | User Profile
March 31, 2003
ON THE MIDDLE EAST ESCALATOR This war is spreading fast
The media is up in arms about the report of Lt. Gen. William S Wallace, commander of our ground forces in Iraq, who said:
"The enemy we're fighting against is different from the one we'd war-gamed against."
The "cakewalk" has turned into a slog through a sandstorm, as Americans wake up to what they've so far bought into. No, it isn't like Gulf War I. This is not a hit-and-run assault but a war of conquest: and the occupation is going to be even uglier. However, Gen. Wallace's remarks about having a different enemy than the one they expected is true in another sense, one that he may not be aware of as yet: Syria and Iran are now in this administration's sights.
It didn't take long for the war to escalate. Gee, it seems like only last week (in fact, it was only last week!) that I wrote:
"The seeds of the next conflict are being sown as the present battle takes shape. Iran, which is reportedly developing a nuclear capacity, is a logical candidate for phase two of the neoconservative crusade to 'democratize' the Middle East, but it doesn't stop thereââ¬Â¦. The sheer momentum of this military adventure ââ¬Â¦ will carry us along to the next logical step: to Damascus, Teheran, Beirut, and beyond."
Less than 48 hours later, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was accusing the Syrians of funneling aid to the Iraqis and warning the Iranian-sponsored "Badr Brigade" ââ¬â funded by Teheran, but made up of Iraqis ââ¬â to stay out of Iraq.
I have news for Rummy, just in case he doesn't already know (which I doubt): they are already in southern Iraq, where the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the official name of the only Iraqi opposition group with real forces on the ground inside the country, is strongest.
In mid-February, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon openly articulated his heartfelt desire that
"Iran, Libya and Syria should be stripped of weapons of mass destruction after Iraq. 'These are irresponsible states, which must be disarmed of weapons mass destruction, and a successful American move in Iraq as a model will make that easier to achieve.'"
With Rummy on the warpath against Damascus and Teheran, how long before both are targets of U.S. bombers? I give it a few months, in the case of the former. As for Iran, the "let's 'liberate' the Middle East" crowd is hoping for a student-led upsurge to overthrow the calcified and ideologically-spent Khomeini-ites, but if that doesn't work out the U.S. will certainly be well-placed to launch a major assault. American troops, at that point, will ring the Iranian ayatollahs on every side: to the north, in Uzbekistan and the other obscure 'stans; to the East, Afghanistan, and to the West, occupied Iraq. The old one-two-three punch should knock Teheran for a loop, but that is just the mid-point of the War Party's ambitionsââ¬Â¦.
Remember the disgraced Richard Perle's Defense Policy Board briefing featuring ex-LaRouchie Laurent Murawiec ââ¬â the one where, in a Power Point presentation to Perle and the assembled worthies, Murawiec declaimed:
"Iraq is the tactical pivot Saudi Arabia the strategic pivot Egypt the prize." These are the ultimate strategic objectives of the neoconservative cabal that has seized power in Washington, in a de facto coup d'etat: they openly discuss this "domino theory" in which the Arabic despotisms are supposed to fall, one by one, in rapid succession. Naturally, the Arab "street" will welcome us as "liberators."
Like hell they will.
In the days leading up to the American assault on Iraq, antiwar pundits were on the lookout for a "Gulf of Tonkin" incident that would serve Rummy and the gang as a viable pretext. But what the rapid escalation of this war is showing is that the Iraq attack was it. This is the pretext for a wider war, one that started in Baghdad. We may wind up in Cairo before we're through.
The liberal media are carping about the length of this war ââ¬â all of ten days, as of this writing ââ¬â and they are shocked that the Iraqis have the temerity to fight back. Nobody told them that ââ¬â and so how could they know? It's pathetic, really, and all this compiling of optimistic quotes from various members of the War Party, while it serves a useful purpose ââ¬â discrediting the bastards ââ¬â is really beside the point. What we are in for is an endless series of wars, one naturally developing out of the previous conflict. Some day not too far in the future, as U.S. troops march into Syria, or Iran, or even Saudi Arabia, enterprising journalists will be compiling quotes from administration officials denying any plans to extend the war beyond Iraq's borders.
By then, of course, it will be too late.
In contemplating the consequences of this crazed plan of conquest, I am reminded of what columnist Charley Reese said the other day about our coming "victory" (any month now!) in Iraq:
"Congratulations to me and congratulations to you. All of us Americans are about to become the proud mamas and papas of 22 million Iraqis ââ¬â less, of course, the several thousand our forces kill."
Multiply that times 1,000 ââ¬â and then some ââ¬â and you have a multiple birth of alarming proportions.
Move over, Caesar. Go hang your head in shame, Alexander. And you ââ¬â yeah, you, the Little Corporal! ââ¬â all three of you are about to be dwarfed by Bush the Bold.
EARTH TO ABE FOXMAN: OH, COME OFF IT!
In response to my recently published op ed piece in USA Today, which pointed out that the war is not in America's national interest ââ¬â and that Israel is the one and only beneficiary of this war ââ¬â ADL chairman Abe Foxman penned the following missive that appeared, I am told, in the letters column:
"Rather than offer a cogent argument against a war with Iraq, Justin Raimondo presents the age-old conspiracy scenario of 'blame it on Israel' or blame it on the Jews."
Uh, no, Mr. Foxman, I did not write "blame it on Israel," although you adorn that phrase with quotes ââ¬â but fabricating citations is the least of your crimes. What I wrote is this:
"Our troops will be fighting a proxy war in Iraq, and beyond, not to protect U.S. citizens from terrorist attacks, but to make the world safe for Israel. When the dead are buried, let the following be inscribed on their tombstones: They died for Ariel Sharon."
They died for Ariel Sharon ââ¬â but don't blame the Israeli Prime Minister for that. The President of these United States wanted this war, and he must take the full responsibility for it.
From a made-up quote Foxman manages to smoothly segue into saying that my position is to "blame it on the Jews" ââ¬â as if Israel, and the fictional collective entity of "the Jews," are synonymous. But, here, get the full flavor of Foxman's sh*t-flinging:
"Raimondo's argument reflects an age-old predilection to point the finger at Jews for nefarious plotting at world domination, for pursuing their own interests to the detriment of the rest of the world. Indeed, in Raimondo's twisted view, President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Powell and National Security Advisor Rice have no real problem with Iraq. Indeed, these opinion-less leaders are only preparing for war against Iraq because they have been directed by their Israeli or Jewish masters to do so."
Foxman ignores the reality that the overwhelming majority of Israel's knee-jerk supporters in the U.S. are not Jews, but fundamentalist Christians. As I have repeatedly pointed out in past columns, the key determining factor in an American President's shameless appeasement of Israel is not some "nefarious" Jewish plot, but the Christian "dispensationalist" theology of his core constituency, as promulgated by Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. According to the "born again" Rapturists who make up the Bushian base, after the "saved" are carried up into Heaven in the Rapture, Israel will become the "new dispensation," the replacement of the Church as God's instrument on earth. This may seem like an obscure theological point, but it is not so to the millions of American Christians who believe that the "end times" are virtually upon us ââ¬â and who have been politicized by their religious hysteria and their ambitious preacher-leaders. Bush and his gang want to get re-elected, they want to advance the interests of their party, and they can't do either without the fundies who are the core of their militant activist wing.
Foxman ends his letter without quite calling me an anti-Semite, but he comes pretty damn close:
"As in any democracy, tough questions that challenge the decision to go to war, and the consequences and implications stemming from such conflict, are legitimate. Yet Raimondo's paper-thin thesis that U.S. foreign policy is dictated by what is best for the State of Israel is nothing more than fodder for conspiracy theorists and anti-Semites."
I, for one, am sick unto death of Abe Foxman telling us what is and is not a "legitimate" question ââ¬â when it comes to the war, or anything else, for that matter. Who died and left him in charge? I am hardly alone is pointing to the proverbial "elephant in the room" when it comes to observing that the invasion of Iraq is a proxy war fought on behalf of Israeli interests. Did Foxman write a similar letter to Slate.com when they published Michael Kinsley's view that Israel is a major reason for this war that none dare name? What about when Mickey Kaus opined on the same issue, agreeing with Kinsley? Did Washington Post reporter Robert Kaiser get a similarly odoriferous slimeball aimed at him when he cited an administration official as saying "the Likudniks are really in charge now"? Not to mention Arnaud de Borchgrave in the Washington Times.
Come off it, Mr. Foxman, and get real: Israel's amen corner in the U.S. is a coalition of Christian and neoconservative nutballs, in which Jews are a small minority. Without Jews, there would in all likelihood be no antiwar movement worth noticing ââ¬â and there certainly would be no Antiwar.com.
I have respect and great affection for the Jewish people. My mentor and teacher, the late Murray N. Rothbard, was Jewish ââ¬â along with virtually every major libertarian theoretician in modern times. For this reason, the Foxman letter makes me so angry that, for once, I can't even express the depth of my resentment and outrage. What galls me is that this liar has the nerve to sign off with "Sincerely"!
I am ceaselessly attacked by real anti-Semites for not facing up to "the Jewish question" ââ¬â and now I am being smeared by the ADL (and the extremist Jewish Defense League) for supposedly providing "fodder for anti-Semites." That's a pretty good indication I'm on the right track, as far as I'm concerned.
ââ¬â Justin Raimondo
I am ceaselessly attacked by real anti-Semites for not facing up to "the Jewish question" ââ¬â and now I am being smeared by the ADL (and the extremist Jewish Defense League) for supposedly providing "fodder for anti-Semites."
The difference, dear Justin, is when we 'ceaselessly attack' you, you light another Pall Mall and move on to the next order of business; when they do ya, they do ya simultaneously in the NY POST, the WEEKLY STANDARD, COMMENTARY, the NATIONAL REVIEW, TOWNHALL.COM, NEWSMAX, FRONT PAGE, FOX News Network, syndicated talk radio coast-to-coast, half a hundred Jew blogs and Brian Williams makes a little face when he utters your name while mentioning the story in passing. And, oddly enough, you feel compelled to write a few immediate-response columns answering every charge....something you never favor us with when we heckle you at Bund meetings. That's okay; you remembered to list 'anti-Semites' first on the Threat Board regardless, which tells me you already know how the Game is played. Just keep the heat on Hymie, boychik. You may not have realized it yet, but you just (resoundingly!) made the one Enemies' List it's not humanly possible to be removed from... ever. Any apologies or "explanations" you offer thePodhoretzim from here on out will be wasted breath.
2003-03-31 08:42 | User Profile
Reading Justin Raimondo's piece, right until the end, I kept asking myself... what would il ragano say?
On arriving at the answer, I was moved to utterance.
Amen. (still a useful idiot, though, so keep his stuff coming
2003-03-31 13:34 | User Profile
It's time for Raimondo to hear about MacDonald's triology for the first time ever again.
2003-03-31 17:48 | User Profile
**Israel's amen corner in the U.S. is a coalition of Christian and neoconservative nutballs, in which Jews are a small minority. Without Jews, there would in all likelihood be no antiwar movement worth noticing ââ¬â and there certainly would be no Antiwar.com.
I have respect and great affection for the Jewish people. My mentor and teacher, the late Murray N. Rothbard, was Jewish ââ¬â along with virtually every major libertarian theoretician in modern times. For this reason, the Foxman letter makes me so angry that, for once, I can't even express the depth of my resentment and outrage. **
MacDonald? Oh no no no no....not for Justin...not this week. He's being accused, as publicly as possible, of anti-Americanism and (much more importantly) anti-Semitism. And all because he keeps uncovering proof that American foreign policy is manipulated/directed/outright-dictated by a cabal of Jews here and in Israel.
You would think the fruit of Raimondo's reportage would trump any smear tactics following his revelations, but that simply isn't the way things are done any longer. When accused of not liking Jews, regardless of the context or even the relevance of the charges, the Default Response is always to thrash about impotently in a ludicrous fit of self-righteous philoSemitism as the quicksand rises past your waist, encircling your chest. The thinking being, when they read my distinguished list of Close Jewish Friends & Associates (hey...Murray Rothbard already!) - when they see how sincere my respect and admiration for Jews really is - surely that will deflect any onus, and answer all charges satisfactorily. My accusers will relent.
You know....like they eventually relented on Demjanjuk.
You're on The List now, Justin. Better men than you have learned too late that meeting these enemies halfway only means they don't have to travel as far, or work as hard, to destroy you. And for such a tireless defender of The Old Guard, it should strike you as bitterly ironic that the only public loyalty oaths required of American citizens are those offered to, and demanded by, Israel and her sleeper agents in this country....and that nobody bats an eye at this. It's just The Way Things Are; even Joe Sixpack dimly understands this immutable reality, and knows what awaits him should he ever cross that line.
You can wipe your ass with Old Glory - that's fine, in fact Horowitz and Radosh invented the practice - but don't you TOUCH that Israeli flag if you value your life and freedom.
2003-03-31 17:59 | User Profile
Great stuff, Spider. Have you delivered it to Raimondo himself?
2003-04-01 02:38 | User Profile
Originally posted by il ragno@Mar 31 2003, 17:48 ** .... the Default Response is always to thrash about impotently in a ludicrous fit of self-righteous philoSemitism as the quicksand rises past your waist, encircling your chest. The thinking being, when they read my distinguished list of Close Jewish Friends & Associates (hey...Murray Rothbard already!) - when they see how sincere my respect and admiration for Jews really is - surely that will deflect any onus, and answer all charges satisfactorily. My accusers will relent.
You know....like they eventually relented on Demjanjuk...
... You can wipe your ass with Old Glory - that's fine, in fact Horowitz and Radosh invented the practice - but don't you TOUCH that Israeli flag if you value your life and freedom. **
You know Il Ragno, at its most base, it's just another play on ... "No. That's not true! Some of my best friends are _." You can fill in the blank with anything (but white). Sure it's simplistic. But it's the truth. For now.
For most of us on this board - our best friends are not of the tribe. And we DO detest their inbred psychological pathologies that have led this country to its current sorry state. Although it's not quite the time to shout from your room that you're "... mad as Hell, and not going to take it from Hymie anymore!," the worse things get, the better chance we have for things to be repaired in the future.
2003-04-01 14:36 | User Profile
**You know Il Ragno, at its most base, it's just another play on ... "No. That's not true! Some of my best friends are _." You can fill in the blank with anything (but white). Sure it's simplistic. But it's the truth. For now. For most of us on this board - our best friends are not of the tribe. And we DO detest their inbred psychological pathologies that have led this country to its current sorry state. **
Roy, I attended a wedding this past weekend, NYC, a Christian woman friend 'o mine marries Jewish. Great chance to see the Tribe in motion. During conversations about the war, the French question arose, and I asked, "Well, doesn't France have the largest Jewish population in Europe? Are the Jews in France for the war?" "Yes and yes, but they must be very careful because there's so much anti-Semitism there! Europe has always been anti-Semite and now there's so many Muslims in France! They(jews) have to keep a lower profile than they do here(USA). You know, the Jewish population is dwindling. There's only 10 million jews worldwide. They killed so many of us....it's really scary times for jews today."
I'm really sorry I asked. But at least I get it straight from the Gifilte fish's mouth.
And Raimondo should know better too.
And Gentiles should know anything they can.
2003-04-01 14:53 | User Profile
Xman
I was hoping you would have reported whether or not the dreaded C word, as in Christ, was uttered during the ceremony.
I suspect it wasn't.
If a rabbi co officiates at a Christian-Jewish wedding he will pull his Christian counterpart aside and inform him of the ground rules. It can be summed up as follows: any mention of the C word and I walk.
The preacher/priest usually caves in a most ignominious manner.
2003-04-01 15:45 | User Profile
Originally posted by eric von zipper@Apr 1 2003, 09:53 ** Xman
I was hoping you would have reported whether or not the dreaded C word, as in Christ, was uttered during the ceremony.
I suspect it wasn't.
If a rabbi co officiates at a Christian-Jewish wedding he will pull his Christian counterpart aside and inform him of the ground rules. It can be summed up as follows: any mention of the C word and I walk.
The preacher/priest usually caves in a most ignominious manner. **
Eric, you are very quite correct. There was a Christian-Jewish officiate at this wedding. The rabbi clearly was in charge....no question about it. The Christian minister was nothing more than a window ornament.
The "C" word, of course, was not mentioned once, but alot of "God is love, God is compassion, God loves all people" babble. The rabbi went on to chant in Hebrew and afterwards the Christian rep would translate, like a good parrot. The rabbi was a bit macho, for lack of a better word, while the Christian minister was soft spoken and effete. Sad. Very sad.
Towards the end of the ceremony the rabbi let everyone know that there is great joy in the commonhood of the jewish and Christian faiths, and God loves all people. We must celebrate our faiths. Yikes!!!
It was just a bizarre affair altogether. Lotsa skull caps. People who were on the fringes of our large social circle 'coming out' that night, to proclaim their jewishhood. Man, I never knew there were so many!!
My friend has already conceded to raise any future children in both Christian and jewish religions. I have no idea how that can possibly work without causing brain damage to those children.
I must concede too: The Jews Rule. Period. This wicked world is Theirs. Wrapped and vacuum sealed like a new soccer ball. See the ball. Be the ball. Kick the ball.
2003-04-01 16:09 | User Profile
**I must concede too: The Jews Rule. Period. This wicked world is Theirs. **
Yeah, but you don't realize that until you attend a completely non kosher affair....down South or in the Midwest....and you hear the exact same sentiments uttered about France, The Iraq war, the"imperilled Jewish minority", etc. It's only then that it dawns on you that it's time to blow out the pilot light on America.
2003-04-01 16:18 | User Profile
Just as I thought!
The rabbi was a bit macho, for lack of a better word, while the Christian minister was soft spoken and effete. Sad. Very sad.
Macho and effete. Well there you have it. One is the center of the universe he inhabits relishing the opportunity he has been relishing since he was a kiddo: to show how freakin smart he is. The fact that a bunch of dumb ignorant goys are in the audience makes it that much sweeter.
The Christian on the other hand was probably thinking "we don't really know if Christ was divine or not but he sure was a wise and loving teacher. Anyway, I guess Sheldon was right in asking me to refrain from mentioning him during the ceremony. Gosh, look at that Matron of Honor. I wish she would join the choir. I hope they have something good to eat at the reception. I'm starved. It's stifling in here. I'll be lucky if I get 50 bucks out of this".
Towards the end of the ceremony the rabbi let everyone know that there is great joy in the commonhood of the jewish and Christian faiths, and God loves all people. We must celebrate our faiths. Yikes!!!
God loves all people! Even stinking idolators like you.
2003-04-01 17:04 | User Profile
**Yeah, but you don't realize that until you attend a completely non kosher affair....down South or in the Midwest....and you hear the exact same sentiments uttered about France, The Iraq war, the"imperilled Jewish minority", etc. It's only then that it dawns on you that it's time to blow out the pilot light on America. **
Il Ragno, yes, I agree with you. Have you had that experience yourself recently? I have to say, being a dissident in NYC is not easy,(as you well know) being very much in contact with the Enemy on very many occassions and having to keep your mouth shut when their lies are being blatanly spouted.
Macho and effete. Well there you have it. One is the center of the universe he inhabits relishing the opportunity he has been relishing since he was a kiddo: to show how freakin smart he is. The fact that a bunch of dumb ignorant goys are in the audience makes it that much sweeter.
EVZ, I forgot to mention that not only wasn't Jesus Christ mentioned during this service, not a word from the New Testament either...which, we know of course, contains alot of passages pertaining to the matrimonial sacrament. But of course there was plenty of Old Testament to be quoted. I don't think any Gentiles/Christians in the crowd even bothered to notice the disparity. At least I don't have to go to another wedding of this sort for a long time!!
Anyway, I hope I didn't go way off topic here.
2003-04-01 17:25 | User Profile
Originally posted by il ragno@Mar 31 2003, 10:48 ** When accused of not liking Jews, regardless of the context or even the relevance of the charges, the Default Response is always to thrash about impotently in a ludicrous fit of self-righteous philoSemitism as the quicksand rises past your waist, encircling your chest. The thinking being, when they read my distinguished list of Close Jewish Friends & Associates (hey...Murray Rothbard already!) - when they see how sincere my respect and admiration for Jews really is - surely that will deflect any onus, and answer all charges satisfactorily. My accusers will relent.
You know....like they eventually relented on Demjanjuk.
You're on The List now, Justin. Better men than you have learned too late that meeting these enemies halfway only means they don't have to travel as far, or work as hard, to destroy you. **
Simple realization that the charge of anti-semitism is a weapon and not a reason to attack would spare many the effort of having to prove something that is impossible to prove. Playing by zhid rules and accepting their public definitions when they really mean something else is like Iraqis getting decimated in GWI. The way the zhids like to fight is when they have overwhelming firepower courtesy of decades of skewing the playing field, and if you come to play to that field, you are playing by their rules. Instead of entering the rigged game and fighting an uphill battle, work on changing the rules by first not accepting them and then choosing your own fight.
2003-04-01 17:29 | User Profile
Originally posted by eric von zipper@Apr 1 2003, 09:18 ** One is the center of the universe he inhabits relishing the opportunity he has been relishing since he was a kiddo: to show how freakin smart he is. The fact that a bunch of dumb ignorant goys are in the audience makes it that much sweeter. **
When you are brought up in hate like the hate zhids are, and are high on andrenaline wherever you meet and triumph on the enemy (gentiles are zhids' enemy), it's only logical to be high on andrenaline. Zhids are afraid of anti-semitism, or better word for it would be awareness of the zhids, because it would level the field by installing in part of the gentiles the same fighting spirit and awareness of the situation that the zhids possess by virtue of their psychotic hate-the-goyim-cattle upbringing.
A world where zhids are at war and their enemies are asleep is what they want.