Washington Moves The World Closer To War

Since my January 11 column http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2012/01/11/the-next-war-on-washingtons-agenda/ and the news alert posted on January 14 http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2012/01/14/news-alert/, more confirmation that Washington is moving the world toward a dangerous war has appeared. The Obama regime is using its Ministry of Propaganda, a.k.a., the American media, to spread the story that President Obama, Pentagon chief Panetta, and other high US officials are delivering strong warnings to Israel not to attack Iran.

For someone as familiar with Washington as I am, I recognize these reports for what they are. They are Br’er Rabbit telling Br’er Fox “please don’t throw me in the briar patch.”

If you don’t know the Uncle Remus stories, you have missed a lot. Br’er Rabbit was born and raised in the briar patch.

What these “leaked” stories of Washington’s warnings and protests to Israel are all about is to avoid Washington’s responsibility for the war Washington has prepared. If the war gets out of hand, and if Russia and China intervene or nukes start flying, Washington wants the blame to rest on Israel, and Israel seems willing to accept the blame. Nikolai Patrushev, who heads Russia’s Security Council, has apparently been deceived by Washington’s manipulation of the media. According to the Interfax news agency, Patrushev condemned Israel for pushing the US towards war with Iran.

You get the picture. The helpless Americans. They are being bullied by Israel into acquiescing to a dangerous war. Otherwise, no more campaign contributions.

The facts are different. If Washington did not want war with Iran it would not have provided the necessary weapons to Israel. It would not have deployed thousands of US troops to Israel, with a view toward the American soldiers being killed in an Iranian response to Israel’s attack, thus “forcing” the US to enter the war. Washington would not have built a missile defense system for Israel and would not be conducting joint exercises with the Israeli military to make sure it works.

If Washington did not want Israel to start the war, Washington would inform the Israeli government in no uncertain words that an Israeli strike on Iran means that the US will NOT veto the UN’s denunciation of Israel and the sanctions that would be placed on Israel as a war criminal state. Washington would tell Israel that it is good-bye to the billions of dollars that the bilked American taxpayers, foreclosed from their homes by fraudulent mortgages and from jobs by offshoring, hand over by compulsion to Israel to support Israel’’s crimes against humanity.

But, of course, Washington won’t prevent the war that it so fervently desires.
Neither will Washington’s NATO puppets. “Great” Britain does as it is told, subservient and occupied Germany, bankrupt France, Italy occupied with US air bases with a government infiltrated by the CIA, bankrupt Spain and Greece will all, in hopes of an outpouring of US dollars and devoid of any dignity or honor, support the new war that could end life on earth.

Only Russia and China can prevent the war.

Russia took the first step when the newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister for military affairs, Demitry Rogozin told a press conference in Brussels that Russia would regard an attack on Iran as “a direct threat to our security.”

Washington is counting on subverting Russia’s opposition to Washington’s next war. Washington can time the attack on Iran right after the March elections in Russia. When Putin wins again, the treasonous Russian opposition parties, financed by the CIA, will unleash protests in the streets. The subservient and utterly corrupt Western media will denounce Putin for stealing the election. The orchestrated protests in Russia will turn violent and discredit, if not prevent, any Russian response to the naked aggression against Iran.

For Rogozin’s warning to be effective in preventing war, China needs to enter the fray. Washington is banking on China’s caution. China deliberates and never rushes into anything. China’s deliberation will serve Washington’s war.

It is possible that the crazed neocon Washington government will have one more “victory” before Russia and China comprehend that they are next on the extermination list. As this date cannot be far off, life on earth might expire before the unpayable debts of US and EU countries come due.

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About Dr. Paul Craig Roberts

Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. His latest book, The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West is now available.

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  1. The risks to attacking Iran are so immense, try as I might I simply cannot understand how the people running the US can think the costs are worth it. Can someone please explain to me what the Neocons/Obama people are thinking? Do these people really (and I mean literally) want WW3? If that is their plan then attacking Iran makes sense. If WW3 is not part of their agenda then I don’t understand their is this obsession with Iran. Does Israel really control the White House? If this indeed is the case, how did they amass this awesome power? Do the American ruling class no longer care about their own country? Why would they allow the Obama team to risk everything for the sake of Iran (since they own most of the country)?

    By: ThePoorAristocrat . January 16, 2012 . 6:21 am |

    • There are those accused of being on ‘the fringe’ who think that some in power have a eugenics agenda. That is, they want to reduce the vast majority of the worlds population made up of ‘useless eaters’ so they would have the planet to themselves under a ‘New World Order’. They not only don’t care about the deaths of billions of innocent people around the world, but actually enourage it. (Supposedly, these madmen have bunkers in which they woud wait out the period of destruction.) Of course all this sounds absolutely nuts, at least to me. But, given the apparent insanity of some of these governmental actions, I sometimes scratch my head and wonder.

      By: Jed Smith . January 16, 2012 . 10:55 am |

      • I also wanted to add that in F. William Engdahl’s book “A Century of War: Anglo-American Oil Politics and the New World Order” he brings up the idea that one of the reasons Israel is supported, is for its role as a military base for destabilizing the Middle East and Central Asia. In the Anglo-American view of global power politics (as expounded by Sir Halford MacKinder) this region is of vital importance for the control of the planet.

        By: Jed Smith . January 16, 2012 . 11:03 am |

    • Dr Roberts referenced Michel Chossodovky in the January 11 column which dates the war plans to 2002. It is, as are all of Chossodovsky’s essay’s, very informative and fact based. I suggest reading it, and many other perspectives found on Global Reseach.ca.

      Do these people literally want WWIII…yes. Do the American ruling class no longer care about their own country? No, it “should be” very clear that they have set out to destroy it and may very well have. While large segments of our population are so deeply indoctrinated and propagandized they fail to recognize it, we nonetheless are living in a totalitarian police state. I believe that Dr. Roberts stated that we are the easiest to control and least free people on earth. I agree. What motivates totaltarian domination? That may the most difficult question of all time.

      You asked for an explanation. I’ll take a stab from an entirely different angle. I am the son of eastern european(Belarus) immigrants who knew first hand the terror of both the Nazi concentration camps and Stalin’s gulags. My earliest memories include witnessing conversations about the horrors, and the politics. I have spent 40+ years in the “social sciences”: history, political science, law, and economics and am now retired. I could provide a a long disertation on the interrelation and application to this topic, and still come up short. Why is this? All have become the tools of psychopaths in their pathological quest for total domination. Who knew that Orwell’s literature would become a blueprint for madness.

      A new science is emerging. It is the study of evil itself i.e. mans inhumanity to man. Psychopaths are devoid of what the majority of people all have in common to various degrees. We have empathy and moral consciousness making us easy prey due to an assumption that all other humans share the same, and are “good.” Psychopaths are devoid of these traits and are very real. Imagine yourself as being able to lie, cheat, steal, scheme and kill without conscience, or worse yet, to gratify a pathological desire for domination. No “rules” apply..laws, and all else, are something to be twisted to an advantage. Psychopaths are proven to be both charismatic and and masterful manipulators who easily rise to power. Dr Robert Hare, the worlds leading expert on psychopathology, has defined them as intra-species predators. Google his books “Without Conscience” and “Snakes in Suits.” (Wall Street) Similarly, many criminologosts are distinguishing between sociopaths and psychopaths.
      I have read enough textbooks to fill a public library. I think the most profound book I have read is titled Political Ponerology, A Science on the Nature of Evil as Adjusted for Political Purposes. It was everything I knew but could not quite put a finger on, and left my head spinning.

      We are dealing with Evil itself…people who as defined by Dr. Hervey Cleckly, operate under a “Mask of Sanity.” Conclusion, we can learn to recognize them, but we will never understand what motivates a natural born predator.

      By: Dan . January 16, 2012 . 11:22 am |

      • Excellent post.
        Most people are easy victims to the psychopaths because they cannot imagine that others would think/act that way. In addition, we get confused by labels – attributing this kind of behavior to an abstraction such as ‘government’ or ‘the state’, (perhaps even to ‘historical’ or ‘societal forces’). Yes, there are institutions; they are the codified relationships between individuals. Soldiers in war may destroy a town because their squad leader orders it. He got his crders from the company commander, who got it from his immediate commander, and all the way up the chain of command to the politicians who started the war to begin with. The soldiers on the ground probably have no animosity toward the people in the town. The may have even enjoyed the experience of sitting down and breaking bread with thsee people, if given the opportunity. The psychopaths who seek and grab the leadership roles in institutions with destructive tools, are much more dangerous than Jack the Ripper. They can lead the majority of normal people down the path of psychopathic action, without those people realizing it. Evil psychopathic individuals have been a scourge on humanity for centuries.

        By: Jed Smith . January 16, 2012 . 12:38 pm |

        • To diagnose these behaviours one has to be a professional. Psychopathy is not in DSM-IV for a reason. What is that?

          There are no effective treatments for these disorders and that’s why they are such a problem.

          The truth is that there are some behavioural (as with medical) problems which are part of human genetic diversity, and which cannot be “treated”, just as there are some defining features of political-economic systems which cannot be changed without changing the entire political-economic system. Libertarianism means non-governance – it promotes the acceptance of diversity/choice. If one calls for governance in a Libertarian democracy one is likely to get MORE measures which make governance harder, if one persists one may even be branded a Nazi.

          This is why some of what has been posted about psychopathy has been criticised as naive – un-informed. incorrigible etc.

          That these Identity Disorders are genetic and that they may be increasing in population frequency, is indeed a major concern.

          By: brown-dog . January 16, 2012 . 3:17 pm |

          • I don’t want to take this too off topic, but I don’t think one has to take a psychological or psychiatric viewpoint at all. (And I have doubts about the philosophical basis of those particular disciplines). – - If you may, you can refer to the ‘evil’ nature & actions of some leaders. Evil has been recognized & written about by many people for thousands of years, before and without DSM-IV. Just open some of the classic literature.
            Again, please pardon taking this a bit off the topic of the move to war.

            By: Jed Smith . January 16, 2012 . 6:39 pm |

      • Reminds me of the movie Eyes Wide Shut perhaps my favorite Kubrick movie. Still, I don’t see a motivation to destroy what has already been achieved by the international oligarchs who pull the strings are are the virtual Senate of this world. They have achieved nearly everything they desire in terms of control and the future shows no opposition to they’re ability to feast on us–why create instability? There’s no threat anywhere to the imperial order–this whole thing is an Orwellian show they can assassinate anyone they want anywhere in the world with increasing ease–particularly now that drone technology is really growing–we can all be targeted any time. See my comments below for my full argument.

        By: Banger . January 16, 2012 . 12:59 pm |

        • Perhaps what they fear is an awakening by a critical mass of people in the world.

          As de La Boetie pointed out in “The Politics of Obedience: The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude” such tyranny can only exist if people go along with it. There are far more normal people wanting to live a good life and just take care of their families, than power mad psychopaths in the world.

          By: Jed Smith . January 16, 2012 . 1:19 pm |

          • I think it is extremely unlikely that “the people” in the face of the very strong control elements and institutions around today have even a remote chance of opposing the current set-up or changing the basic arrangements. The reason why I say that is that there is almost no relationship between what people think they know (through media etc.) and what is actually going on. My hope is that people will discover the strength within and from that something can bloom–but that will take some time.

            By: Banger . January 16, 2012 . 3:55 pm |

      • The nature of “psychopathy” – “pathological narcissism”, “criminogenic behaviour” and Anti-Social Personality Disorder, it’s currently highly complex and fraught – with some serious legal implications, as it lies at the heart of the prediction and management of offending behaviour, which, as The State is rolled back, and the Private Sector bids for business in probation and prisons etc., is going commercial. To see just how complex, and how controversial this all is, if you are interested, I suggest you look up some of the recent controversy in the professional literature between Hare and Newman vs. Cooke and Skeem, which I hope makes anyone think twice about jumping to any conclusions.

        http://forensicpsychologist.blogspot.com/2010/06/psychopathy-controversy-goes-primetime.html

        Part of the controversy, lies in the fact that these checklists are based on a multiple correlation technique (a statistical (data reduction) computation) called “Factor Analysis”, but as many of the items themselves are intenSional (mentalistic verb based) rather than strictly behavioural (and none are physiological) it is hard to know what is really being reliably measured because of greater variability and reliability (they are TRAINED which begs some questions if you think about it). Factor Analysis itself has its own controversies (both here and in intelligence research), but the assessment of individuals by “experts” with respect to some of the checklist items on the PCL-R is problematic given their intenSional nature and because when used to predict re-offending, the very “Factor” (group of PCL-R checklist items basically) which one might think would be most useful, is in fact not so. As this checklist (and the training to use it professionally) is a key part of diagnostic work in the forensic field, especially across the Atlantic, for some, that can literally be a matter of life or death (in the USA), so this is an important issue.

        Most of the work on the odd physiology (such as the following), tends to suffer (like so much of this type of work with respect to other disorders) from a basic methodological problem of VERY small numbers of subjects drawn from a very low target group in the first place, along with quite a lot of difference in brains as a function of genetic diversity and life-span events (injuries) in the first place. As with climate “science”, reliable measurement is a major problem as our people making bold claims for attention and revenue. It happens everywhere.

        http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2011/12/06/are-psychopaths-like-hannibal-lecter-brain-damaged/

        By: brown-dog . January 16, 2012 . 3:28 pm |

        • Not to disagree, but you have exposed the paradox related to developing a “standard” or “codifying” morality. I firmly believe that this can not, nor ever should be attempted by Dr. Hares “checklist,” (meant to identify) or by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or by a legal system in which a “high preist” with no specific knowledge, training, or experience can become a final arbiter. This list could multiply exponentially, but in all cases and often with the most benevolent societal interests at hand, institutions are overtaken and corrupted by predators in which dominance and destruction can spread throughout a social order on a macro level. In my original response I attempted to relate how history, science, law, and economics become the tools used to manipulate and control entire societies. War, torture, hate, bigotry, death and a host of inhuman acts of predatory agressions become justified under a “mask of sanity.” All one has to do is turn on a TV. (I don’t, and haven’t for decades.)

          In the book Political Ponerology author Andrejz Lobaczewski (Lo ba chev ski) focuses on psychopathology as it relates to the spead of macro social evil and many of the means employed. Ponerology, from the Greek “poneros” or “evil,” details how entire societies become “ponerized” and “pathocracies” develop. Looking back over the past few decades, would anyone dispute that the structure of the United States is not “sick?”
          Throughout Lobachewski’s book he repeatedly makes the same statements and conclusions: they destroy your ability to use common sense. In context it is striking. This is a social problem which must be dealt with, not a medical problem which can be codified.Left to the ability to use common sense, the vast majority of people would chose to lives their lives, raise their families, and live in peace. I highly recommend reading Dr. Lobachewski’s book. Whether we invade Iran now or at some future time, our quest for full spectrum dominace and dollar hegemony most certainly needs to be recognized for the evil it encompasses. This was a very enlightening thread.

          By: Dan . January 16, 2012 . 7:03 pm |

      • Thanks for the post, it’s interesting to hear someone put it in undestandable terms for those of us who don’t see others that way… or because of the way we view/think, we don’t suspect others to be on a level of evil as you describe… it’s also scary..really..

        By: mike . January 16, 2012 . 5:41 pm |

  2. I think Russia really couldn’t care less about a strike on Iran,it would put an end to the Iranian pipe line to India,which is a problem for the Caspian Sea pipe line,to India,that Russia wants to build. They’re simply trying to save face,knowing full well that Israel and the US will strike Iran. We all so need to soak up some QE funny money we’re spreading like manure.

    By: joseph . January 16, 2012 . 6:35 am |

  3. On reflection, one wonders how Stalin’s complaints about “capitalist encirclement” should be viewed in light of present circumstances. Were they all that specious?

    By: AndreiVyshinski . January 16, 2012 . 8:14 am |

  4. * MY POEM FOR RON PAUL * (Version 6)

    Blame the Banksters and Senate Institution,
    For Fragmenting the American Constitution,
    The Sheeple glued to TV’s and Entertainment,
    Allowed NDAA signing “Indefinate Detainment”.

    Dr. Ron Paul would restore the Constitution,
    He believes Liberty and Justice is the Solution,
    And by removing the Senate House Prostitution,
    It would stop today’s Tyranical Pollution.

    Please Vote Ron Paul to WIN the race,
    So Government Demons have a red face,
    This can happen if you get off your chair,
    And going to the polls to show you care!

    (D.A.W.B.)
    …

    By: AETHERMAN . January 16, 2012 . 8:16 am |

  5. On Syria -it’s worth asking what the USA and NATO wants other than regime change (which is illegal), as it seems that Asad is damned if he does exert authority and damned if he doesn’t.

    Is this not why there’s so much volatility and hostility brewing across the globe towards the USA, UK, and Europe? The population of Pakistan alone is three times our English population, and we’re now alienating them too by association with NATO. India is already a BRIC member, Pakistan and Iran want to join the SCO, and South America and the Caribbean have just formed a bloc which doesn’t include the USA.

    “US State Department spokesman Mark Toner condemned the Syrian president’s position.

    “I find it ludicrous that he is attempting to hide behind some sort of shell game [and] claim that he doesn’t exercise authority in his own country,” he said.

    “There’s just no indication that he’s doing anything other than cracking down in the most brutal fashion on a peaceful opposition movement.”

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16065131

    The truth is that If OUR criminal gangs had weapons and even threatened to fire them, our police would shoot them, just like the Syrians do.
    There can be no doubt that would happen here on a larger scale if criminals roved the streets with AK-47s etc, so why is Asad being painted the villain other than to pursue ILLEGAL regime-change? What’s to stop aggrieved foreign powers fomenting the same behaviour here in Britain and the rest of Europe if this behaviour is seen to be encouraged abroad by our politicians?

    Is it any surprise that China and Russia issued a clear warning to NATO over Syria? The small election protests in Russia will no doubt be described as Western inspired, which won’t help matters. A small hours BBC programme on education in Syria recently had the staff referring to each other as ‘comrade’. How did it ever come pass that systems which esteem working WITH each other rather than for one’s own interests at the expense of others, became the bad guys which must be subjected to regime-change?

    This subversion will, however, no doubt increase stock-market volatility, which is probably very good for the Libertarian system and those well placed to benefit from market volatility (i.e those with lots of other people’s money to gamble). For the innocent, non pathological rest, it’s just a system which breeds misery, as there’s no escaping the perpetrators it seems. :-(

    By: brown-dog . January 16, 2012 . 8:56 am |

  6. Purim begins on March 7 this year, which is 3 days post elections in Russia. I hope you’re wrong, Dr. Roberts, but considering the proximity of the Iraq war to Purim ’03 your Iran/Russia scenario is definitely plausible and seems all too likely.

    By: Jason . January 16, 2012 . 9:20 am |

  7. “high US officials are delivering strong warnings to Israel not to attack Iran.”

    They can’t get it? These scams are hard to read?

    And if they would catch up on revisionist history (ha!), they would understand that you believe not until proven true, which will not be forthcoming.

    When one enlightens themselves on reality, one understands that by definition of a “democracy”, anyone that rises to the “top” in politics must be a prostitute, a puppet, free of conscience, a hypocrite, and a liar (and don’t care). (No video on A. Lincoln and T. Roosevelt. Too bad.) How else would you “satisfy” the cross section of these humans with promises before an election, which mean nothing later?

    How long have “leaders” relied on ignorance?

    By: Ken Ashley . January 16, 2012 . 10:50 am |

  8. Again , thank you Dr. Paul Craig-Roberts for speaking out the truth again.

    My ( very naive ) wish is that :

    China,Russia, India and Brazil get together (which I suggest they are already – the BRIC nations) and make a 1 hour “Detailed Statement” – on Video – of the war-game-plan : how these war-games are being played, who the aggressors are, and why.
    Such a “Video” is sure to get the world’s attention, such that the aggressors are suddenly standing there in public with no clothes on – and hopefully dare not take the next step.

    BTW, I’m sure there is a long list of well known Bloggers that could guide them through the script.

    Wishful thinking ?
    … has anybody else got a better idea to avoid imminent & needless death & destruction ?

    PS:
    I consider “Secrecy” to be the main scourge of today’s world … & “Pollution” a close second .
    … & if “Secrecy” was abolished , Pollution would probably disappear as a result.
    FWIW

    By: Phil . January 16, 2012 . 10:50 am |

    • India? Count India out. All that India wants to be is USA’s next poodle, the next UK or Israel. And in any case that country is coming apart like a pig in a blender.

      By: tp . January 16, 2012 . 1:08 pm |

  9. Israeli attack of Iran makes no sense. All in all, their strike ability is limited to about 70 F-15s. They have no strategic air carriers. Those F-15s would need to fly long way, and, even with the mid-air re-fueling, would not be able to carry much of bunker-busting ammo. So, what would they achieve ? The hail of rockets from Hesbollah and Hamas, and, possibly, from Iran and Syria, nothing more.
    A design where Israel starts and the US continues is too obvious and too stupid. The US would have no business protecting the obvious aggressor against the retaliatory strikes.
    The only country that could strike Iran in earnest is the US. There are no proper political preparations to such a strike. There is no grand provocation like 911, just parochial whining of the substantial termonuclear power Israel that the nuclear Iran somehow threatens it.
    I have a feeling that neither the American ruling class, nor Israelis know what to do, and rift between them might be genuine. Public statements about profound disagreements and attempts to shift responsibility are not consistent with the genuine posture for an aggressive war.
    Most likely, nothing will happen.

    By: Greg Steshenko . January 16, 2012 . 11:04 am |

    • Correct. CW II goes on until someone really goes broke, again. Have they run out of False Flags ideas? Throw more babies out of incubators. (Bush senior on video. He must be proud.)

      By: Ken Ashley . January 16, 2012 . 11:36 am |

    • Yes , lots of chatter in foreign policy circeles against the Israeli Lobby wuth even Foreign Policy, the organ of the CFR, naming Israeli false flag terror operation posed as CIA. [this is blackmail to threaten to expose 9/11 ? ] see link

      U r correct imo, nothing will happen until after the election, and by then Netanyahu will be gone for humiliating the President and the Congress. A new European led crack down on Israel will emerge, welcome to the one state solution and end of the whole idea of the exclusively Jewish state.

      By: bilal . January 16, 2012 . 1:50 pm |

  10. Though, one viable design is possible, but it must not involve any Israeli attack under any circumstances. Moreover, in that case Israel must stay aside of the events as far as possible. I’m talking about intensification of the “color revolution” in Syria, that would gradually shift to the close air support by NATO, and eventual invasion of the country from Turkey. To follow that Lybian scenario, Russia and China must betray Syria and allow such an air attack through the UN proceedings. It is not going to happen this time.
    An apparent progression of such an unlikely situation would be: an attack on Syria provokes Iran, Iran strikes somehow in support of its ally Syria, then the US strikes Iran in response… Yet, even under the most favorable for the US circumstances, there are still some great unknowns: the reaction of Hesbollah, and a Syrian strike on Israel that would turn this war into an Arab-Israeli conflict. The Syrian rulers have nothing to lose, and they understand that in defeat they would end up like Hussein and Qaddafi. Therefore, they might order strike of Tel Aviv with the chemical warheads that would take this war to a totally different dimension and unforeseen consequences.
    Again, lacking the Russia/China’s acquiescence to a bombing campaign against Syria, and given the unpredictable strategic consequences of such an attack, it is likely not going to happen.

    By: Greg Steshenko . January 16, 2012 . 11:40 am |

    • I agree with you–and see my comments below. I don’t believe there is any reason for the oligarchs to go further into this war–the goal is just to keep up the pressure and fear for obvious Orwellian purposes. Phony conflicts are much more effective than real ones.

      By: Banger . January 16, 2012 . 11:53 am |

  11. I still don’t see a war with Iran looming any time soon for several reasons.

    First there is a lot of resistance to that within not only in important parts of the CIA but also within parts of the military, including military intelligence–that would not be enough but those people are still, as I understand it, still in positions of authority.

    Second, the world economy cannot stand a “shock” at least not for the next year or two–things are still very delicate and the people who actually call the shots in the ranks of the international oligarchy don’t want to deal with the unpredictability of war now that they have almost complete power in the world. When you have a strong and unassailable order it is unlikely that they would take such significant risks. In just ten years we have an utterly transformed world under almost complete control of a fairly rigorous and stable world imperial regime. Iran is a threat to nobody as the assassination of another nuclear scientist proves–the oligarchs can kill anyone they want anywhere in the world at any time.

    Thirdly, an attack on Iran would unbalance the Sunni/Shiite conflict which has been so useful in making sure that no conceivable Islamic threat to the world order emerges–it has been, in my view, the policy of Israel and Saudi Arabia to encourage this conflict in order to keep tensions high and disable any truly democratic movement in the region which would be a threat to both regimes.

    What we will see is what we are seeing now–continuing efforts to destabilize the Iranian regime and infiltrate agents into positions of power to keep the Orwellian tensions going as long as possible. Keeping this constant threat of Iran on the front burners is a requirement for the military industrial complex as are tension with Pakistan which ebb and flow.

    My sense, from knowing how Washington works, is that the posturing around this issue is just more political theater from an international Empire that needs these things to keep the movement towards neo-fuedalism going. So far it has worked perfectly.

    By: Banger . January 16, 2012 . 11:51 am |

  12. Of course israhell wants to attack Iran. They’ve been wanting to do so for over a decade. Israhell wants total domination over then entire middle east even if they have to butcher everyone else to do so. The talmudic zionist belief is that they are god’s chosen people. That all others are goyim….stupid goats, cattle, sheep, etc. which means less than human and that means you and I as well. Israhell’s so called jews believe we are nothing but stupid goyim to be used for whatever purpose satisfies their perverted and degenerate desires. It is the zionist neo cons in Washington who have spent years formulating and solidifying their sleazy plans for zionist world domination. Start by slaughtering the other peoples of the middle east, even if they are christians, jews or whatever, it doesn’t matter to the talmudic ashkanazi jew. These goyim need to to be wiped out.
    Washington will oblige israhell. Congress will have no problem with another war, after all it means more money in their own bank accounts and more for their cronies in the military industrial complex. The zionists own and control the government, the mainstream media and Hollywood. For years the movie industry has been pumping out anti muslim propaganda to brainwash and incite Americans into supporting wars againsth Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and anybody else in that region. Far too many Americans lack the intelligence to see through the propaganda, lies and deceit. The sheeple have been dumbed down to the point of outright stupidity. They will will their little flags and chant “USA,USA,USA” while thousands of innocent people and American soldiers die for israhell. They will cheer on our brave soldiers who are “defending” America’s “freedom and democracy” all the while the government in D.C. crushes the Constitution and Bill of Rights. They will love big brother.

    By: JohnZ . January 16, 2012 . 12:29 pm |

  13. Dr. Roberts: So all opposition parties in Russia are CIA-sponsored and it is your view that there should be no opposition to Putin? You are a fan of Russian dictatorships? Should we follow the same here in the US and discard our constitution in favor of a plutocratic government in which all opposition is considered sponsored by the NKVD? Those pesky Russians, they should just keep quiet.

    By: Stephen D. . January 16, 2012 . 1:41 pm |

    • Stephen, your comment is snide and uninformed. President Obama discarded the US Constitution when
      he signed the National Defense Authorization Act. President Bush had already discarded it, but Obama codified the disregard. Many astute US commentators and OWS think we are under plutocratic government rule and have been for some time.
      It is well known the the US Endowment for Democracy finances the Russian opposition through NGOs. You can learn a lot by using google. Try this: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-the-united-states-still-the-land-of-the-free/2012/01/04/gIQAvcD1wP_print.html
      and this: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28652

      By: Paul Craig Roberts . January 16, 2012 . 2:22 pm |

      • Dr. Roberts:

        I am aware of all you mention. No doubt the USA has been sliding into a more Roman-type empire for a long time, perhaps inexorably since our revolution. Certainly within the last decade or so the process has moved into hyper-speed. Nevertheless, vestiges of our republic and constitution remain and it would be grossly unfair to characterize any opposition to the “plutocrats” as being fostered by nebulous forces from outside our country (Ron Paul is a Soviet stooge).

        Bringing up the National Endowment for Democracy whenever opposition mounts to a plutocratic, autocratic or communist dictatorship is unfair. By doing so you continue to maintain that such opposition cannot have a legitimate base which is absurd. If they are infiltrated by American or Western agents, that can have some affect but to simply state that opposition to Putin is all a CIA front indicates little awareness of political cross-currents in Russia. Moreover, the fact that Western powers assisted the anti-Soviet movements in the old USSR is hardly an argument for maintaining the USSR.

        By: Stephen D . January 16, 2012 . 2:57 pm |

        • With all due respect sir, your take on US foreign policy is a bit naive and uninformed. Confessions of an Economic Hitman (Perkins); the Shock Doctrine (Klein); Super Imperialism (Hudson) are some books I would recommend to start. There are many many more.

          The level of corruption in the US and lack of democracy is stunning and makes other countries look like two-bit beginners, yet many are oblivious. If you really believe that anything is left after the largest financial crimes in history go not only unpunished, but rewarded with trillions of taxpyayer funds; if you really believe that anything is left after acts of high treason go unpunished; if you really believe that NDAA is not the final nail in the coffin of the Constitution (and Magna Carta) than you need to start paying attention more closely.

          By: JonnyJames . January 16, 2012 . 3:33 pm |

    • Stephen I think makes a good unintended Point, how should we examine some of the internal US opposition to Obama, or more generally, to US policy? It seems clear that the entireity of the foundation-think tank, pro gov and simulated opposition, is wholly owned by multinational corproations and behidn them their owners. Who r they?
      Its midleadign to call Goldman Sachs or any other multinational as American, they have no American self identification, and we dont know who owns it? who owns the shares? From time to time Ive checked, and it seems that every major multinational involved in usury, drugs, petrol-ag, weapons sales (eg citibank, goldmans, lockheed, monsanto, etc ) are all owned by a small handul of investment managers, behind them we dont know. Cross linked board membership indicates some cooperative behavior in running these sectors. In the US Anti Trust literature, this would be referred to as a Pool or a Unification of interests, clearly anticompetitive market failure, cooperative ologopoly unifed behind the scens as direct cooperation is too obviously illegal.

      I believe PCR could explain how this occured as a function of endogeneously created economies of scale through strategic regulatory barriers to entry. A clique of owners of large corproations can make it impossible to enter big pharma or big ag if sufficient regulatory barriers r set up. New entrants cant hire 100 washington lawyers. This explanatory hypothesis seems verifed by a little travel, compare prices of goods outside the west with those same goods inside, they sell at many times the unfettered price. Deadweight loss then explains the western malaise.

      Only solution would be real free trade internally and externally, replacing IMF WTO ologopoly dumpting . china slave goods with a true market. Cost of transportation would return American heartland cities back to immediate viability as Walmart economics is a losing venture once regulatory incentives barriers r set right.

      By: bilal . January 16, 2012 . 2:55 pm |

    • The reality of international politics (and all politics is now internationa, i.e. globablized) is that the the nation state as previously knows as a discrete entity is an endangered species. What we have is a new Imperium ruled by an informal (or maybe formal for all I know) oligarchy. Some countries seek to have more independence and Russia is, for a variety of historical reasons, one of those countries and thus the view of Putin and those around him are that you cannot have a democracy in the face of the constant machinations of various Imperial agents as can be seen from events that immediately followed the fall of the SU attest. In fact, I don’t think democracy as we have come to understand it in the West is viable in the long-term. We are in the equivalent period that followed the end of the Peloponnesian War in the sense that democracy could not and did not flower in the face of larger political forces. It’s the end of an era. Putin is just trying to keep what he sees as Russia viable–he knows “democracy” is impossible.

      Maybe he’s wrong, maybe I’m wrong but, to me, the forces at work around the world have much to easy a time manipulating democratic movements–it’s child’s play, I assure you for the most brilliant people in the world who sell their skills to the highest bidders and/or cannot resist offers they can’t refuse.

      I’ll give you an example: Syria. Right now everyone believes that the battle is between “democracy” and autocracy–that’s not the case at all. It’s between the Shiites and Sunnis–has nothing to do with “democracy” except for a few liberals who a genuinely cosmopolitan who would like liberalization. From people who have visited Syria over the years (and Lybia) these “tyrannies” supported a fairly decent way of life for the average people and kept the peace. Now, the machinations of the Saudis, Israelis and Anglo-French-American intel services have brought affairs to a head. Sure Assad is a jerk but he knows what it takes to rule a multi-religious state in between the stunning movements of modern politics.

      By: Banger . January 16, 2012 . 4:39 pm |

      • You state your case well, and I think many people would agree with it. I think our chances of turning things around are slim . . but not zero. (If it were zero, it would be more rational for us to spend the time we have left enjoying the life available to us, rather than bothering to discuss a lost cause.) The answer is not ‘democracy’ – - – (“two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner”) – - but the restoration of the American democratic republic. The difference is that in our republic, there is supposed to be the protection of individual inalienable rights. Government was to be kept as small & local (thus accountable) as possible. We were to defend our people, but not go about the world trying to create an empire. At most, our freedom & prosperity would be an example that others in the world may choose to emulate – - or not. Their choice. – - – This vision that was shared by many of the Founding Generation may seem terribly naive, but how well has the alternative worked out for us ? – - – Depending how you date it, the American people have been under mental/’spiritual’ assault for the last 100-150 years. The public schools don’t teach us about our history or foundational ideals; that’s on purpose. Theres a great deal of work to do to turn this around. But on the other hand, there are more people learning about these topics and about how the world really works than probably at any time in history. More people support Ron Paul and the ideas he speaks about than at any time in recent history. Even with slim odds . . . what else is one to do with the relatively brief time they have to live their lives ? It is a battle worth fighting, no matter what. The next generation of innocent young people growing up, deserve our best efforts. – - -

        By: Jed Smith . January 16, 2012 . 9:24 pm |

        • I don’t really see it that way. The ideas of the enlightenment were great and we had a great run–many good things came out of the American experience but we are now heading into a different era. I don’t think it has to be “bad.” I think some adjustments towards individual liberty will be made as a practical matter. Reluctant slaves and drones don’t do the kind of creative work that is and will be needed. But I don’t think in today’s world democracy, as we have come to understand the term, is possible or even a particularly good idea for this historical period. The public has, as a whole, voted to maintain comfort and ignorance and thus to move away from democracy. Things are too complex, at any rate, and politicians and their bosses to slick for anything else to occur. Things change and new balances are created–I think something will work out that may not be so bad or maybe not.

          By: Banger . January 17, 2012 . 1:09 pm |

          • I didnt write about ‘democracy’, but about the restoration of our American democratic republic; the two are quite different. Their differences should be researched for oneself.
            The meme that people find themselves in a new era in which such a democratic republic cannot adapt is a common one that has been pushed in the past. In our own time, its been asked it the Chinese centrally planned system might be better, or at least more competitive. There were many who gushed enthusiastically about 1930s Germany under Hitler and Italy under Mussolini. (The trains ran on time.) Similarly there were the fans of the new Soviet regime in the USSR in the early years. – - In these and other times in history, hoped for benevolent oligarchs or strongmen – - – didnt turn out to be so benevolent in the end.
            A democratic republic Does require an informed citizenry. Our educational system has been usurped for a very long time.Most Americans have little understanding of our history or what it means to live in a democratic republic. I would suggest reading “The Underground History of American Education” by John Taylor Gatto to understand how this all ties together. Do a search and you’ll find the links to his website. You can even read the book online for free. Regards, – - -

            By: Jed Smith . January 17, 2012 . 6:36 pm |

      • Banger, I agree with your first two sentences, and think that you are deeply wrong
        in your qualifications of Putin, Assad, and democracy.
        I regularly read Russian media, and have no doubt that Putin is honestly in favour of democracy. He, Medvedev and their teammates are quite earnest about liberalising Russia. That makes them somewhat naive and gullible in my view, but no doubt that’s the way they are. This was also the reason for Medvedev’s permissive attitudes toward the West in 2011.
        See the link on my name for more.

        I think the weaknesses of democracy can be eliminated by giving more power to the people.

        I don’t know on the basis of what evidence Assad is “Surely … a jerk.”

        By: Levantine . January 17, 2012 . 2:24 pm |

    • I have mentioned the book by F. William Engdahl entitled “A Century of War” before, because I recently re-read it. (He came out with a new 2011 edition). The author touches on how western banking and political interests help strip Russia’s assets after the fall of the U.S.S.R. and put the country under the dominance of the US controlled IMF and the new oligarchs. The financial and human costs of this were devastating to the Russian people. (Deep impoverishment brought on such problems as rampant alcoholism and a drop in the life expectancy of Russian men, for example.) It is a strategy that has been used against many nations throughout the world. [reference "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man"] – - – Putin is no choir boy, that’s for certain – - but color revolutions have been used numerous times to undermine nations so that they may fall under dollar hegemony.

      By: Jed Smith . January 16, 2012 . 8:16 pm |

    • Anyone who knows anything about how our Judeo-fascist Empire operates (apparently that leaves you out), knows that any opposition groups in Russia have been targeted for subversion and should be assumed to be compromised.

      That’s not to say there’s no such thing as “legitimate” political opposition to Putin, but, when there’s a lawless, murderous, utterly devious and ruthless, international menace on the loose, making covert and/or overt war on the whole world, i.e., our Judeo-fascist Empire, nobody anywhere can have “freedom and democracy”.

      Oh and BTW, in case you haven’t noticed (and it appears you haven’t), we’ve already lost our Constitution.

      By: Nelson_2008 . January 17, 2012 . 5:58 pm |

  14. one would have to assume they are moving quickly in worry that Ron Paul will start really picking up speed and his strident voice with its access to the media in a strong run for the white house, will possibly awaken the ignorant sleepwalker amerikan populace to the cause of non aggression. My guess is we see this happen very shortly so they can lock everything in before the
    election.

    By: tom . January 16, 2012 . 3:39 pm |

    • As PCR has written–there’s really no chance for Paul but he is certainly the most interesting figure in the elections. Most people are completely hypnotized by the media narrative because they are desperate for a seemingly coherent narrative and have not capacity for reason of intellectual analysis at all.

      By: Banger . January 16, 2012 . 4:42 pm |

  15. When it doubt, resort to logical deduction, a capacity which few citizens possess even a trace of. The key to the Power success.

    “achieved by the international oligarchs ” – “is just more political theater from an international Empire”

    From “Banger” a ways up. Right. Not “US” policy. Only has an obsequious congress.

    Can a $15 trillion “national” debt that has almost no impact on events be explained? $150,000 per US taxpayer! Can Rothschild or Rockefeller pay it off with a check? Do they have national allegiance?

    US is only a base to pump up the taxpayers and cash in on some fool patriotism. The Power/Oligarchs are not constrained by out-of-date national boundary mind-set. Must be to explain so much. UK (etc.) is not a puppet, and UK has major players, of course. Follow the banking.

    Russia had something like 20,000,000 casualties from WWII, supposedly. Stalingrad beat to rubble like no other. Moscow, Leningrad, trash. So they want to engage in CW I? Not logical. US was ready to blast off to a record economy. Not a domestic scratch.

    But nothing is really “known”, and certainly about Russia. The old propaganda ploy. Keeps us speculating, mostly wild. But when in doubt, don’t hedge. Very likely the CIA runs the opposition in Russia. What else. Fits the 50 year old record. And consider the payoff. Like who did 9/11. Consider the payback. All about logic, in the absence of knowledge.

    Very clever. That CIA. The group that financed its own 10 year Laos bombing back in the 60′s.

    By: Ken Ashley . January 16, 2012 . 5:02 pm |

  16. nice insight into how Washington thinks.

    Why do you make it seem like it is Washington that wants this war? The tone of this article makes it seem like America wants this war, that America is the Master and Israel the servant… it is the other way around!

    Israel wants the war and Washington is looking for ways to oblige them without being made to seem the aggressor or at least with a way our. If you do not make this clear, the dominance of Jewish power, then this article is DIS INFORMATION !

    By: elwad . January 16, 2012 . 6:30 pm |

  17. I believe we are months away from a shooting war with Iran. September – October is a better time frame to be concerned about. As for now Syria is a much more likely target.

    ‘It is possible that the crazed neocon Washington government will have one more “victory” before Russia and China comprehend that they are next on the extermination list. As this date cannot be far off, life on earth might expire before the unpayable debts of US and EU countries come due.”

    Are you trying to say that an attack on china is a way to confiscate / default on 3 trillion in US debt, prevent a major dollar dump by china while at the same time decreasing monetary supply and propping the dollar up???? This also has the effect of removing one of the worlds largest gold buyers from the playing field at the same time. I had not considered these options.. Though provoking concepts.

    “If the war gets out of hand, and if Russia and China intervene or nukes start flying”
    I don’t think either side is that hell bent on destruction. This would be pure evil an intolerable situation for all of humanity.

    By: John Smith . January 16, 2012 . 8:59 pm |

  18. Zionist tail wags American dog, and this has been evident from the USS Liberty cover-up onward. Organized Jewry’s control on the Big Money and Big Media owns, hems-in almost all of our politicians. Except Ron Paul, which says much for the man. Of course, DC does have a convergent agenda vis a vis Iran: keeping (cf. Libya) the petro-dollar alive. Iran now makes its own currency deals with Russia, China, India for its oil and Washington is hot and bothered: if enough nations do this, dollar will collapse and with it the entire US economy. Big stakes here, and so the Iran War is at this point inevitable. One ex-US Senator I exchange e-mails with says July-September is the window, probably forced by American naval units attempting to run the Straits…and getting hammered. Agree with PCR that this could be the Big One. I feel vast Wings of Death beating overhead, and the numbers 1-9-1-4 keep running through my mind.

    By: CompassionateFascist . January 16, 2012 . 10:29 pm |

  19. Awesome post! I will keep an on eye on your blog.

    By: Samantha Darville . January 17, 2012 . 9:48 am |

  20. PCR, This is a recent and pertinent essay by Pepe Escobar:

    http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175490/

    Some previous commenters have mentioned Engdahl’s book, which is phenomenally insightful. The books and essays of Michael Klare and Pepe Escobar also provide insight into geopolitics and energy and supplement Engdahl.

    By: AA . January 17, 2012 . 11:03 am |

  21. surely the sudden announcement of a DELAY in the Iran oil embargo has everything to do with this DELAY. with China involved in the construction, how will that affect Russian/Chinese objections to an attack on Iran?

    9 Jan: Reuters: UPDATE 2-UAE delays oil pipeline to bypass Hormuz
    Pipeline seen operational by May, June, delayed from April
    The United Arab Emirates has delayed the launch of a crucial oil pipeline to bypass the Straits of Hormuz to mid-2012, which analysts said would add to supply worries at a time when Iran threatens to block the strait for all the Gulf’s oil….
    http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/09/uae-pipeline-idUSL6E8C91EF20120109

    21 Nov 2011: Reuters: UAE pipeline to flow first oil in December -sources
    Abu Dhabi government-owned International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) is undertaking the project while China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor (EPC)…
    Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) holds a 60 percent stake in ADCO. Its other shareholders are BP, Royal Dutch Shell , Total, ExxonMobil and Partex Oil and Gas (Portugal).
    http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/21/uae-pipeline-hormuz-idUSL5E7ML08220111121

    By: oddie . January 17, 2012 . 6:58 pm |

  22. Mr. Roberts

    While I agree that Israel-America is waiting till after March to attack Iran, at the very least, I do not agree that it is the USA behind the push for war. I think it is both Israel and the USA who are intent on destroying Iran, one way or another. I think this joint Israeli-American military exercise hoopla is just that, hoopla. The Americans can train the Israelis on the new weaponry the USA gave them without it. The U.S. troops are still there, in Israel. I don’t see any news of them being redeployed. The military exercise might have just been a ruse to get them deployed to Israel so they can defend Israel, not from Iranian retaliation to a joint Israeli-American attack on Iran, but from more local retaliation. Or to help Israel attack Lebanon or Syria, since Israel failed in their last war in Lebanon. The American troops are there as extra cannon fodder for the Israelis to use as they wish, not as occupiers or equals. They would need some excuse like that for the American people to buy a deployment to Israel. I notice there is little mention of the troops being deployed in Libya. They probably couldn’t find a plausible excuse for that. Maybe the stink in Israel now is a cover so people wont notice that Libyan deployment? Returning to Syria, for a minute, I would think that Israel-America will have to finish there before they can open full scale hostilities with Iran.

    There does not appear to be enough American military near Iran (or even available) for an American invasion of that country. They could run airstrikes, and use special forces to run terrorist ops there (as they are now doing), but Iran would remain able to strike back, and probably shut down the flow of oil from the Gulf. The only way to stop that would be a full scale invasion as was done in Afghanistan and Iraq which neither the USA nor the EU have the troops for (one can forget Israel doing any ground fighting there). A full scale invasion would also set the region on fire and there would probably be many more conflicts in the region’s Israeli-American puppets that could easily get beyond control. So that leaves limited war, like was done to Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan during the 90′s. This will have unpredictable consequenses, besides shutting down the Gulf, and could also result in a general revolt throughout the Middle East.

    Attacking Iran now, or in the very near future could also hurt the neocon election chances in the USA in November. An attack now would mean that by election time, antiwar sentiment would set in and risk seeing the neocons (Obama and Romney) fail, and Ron Paul possibly win. I think we all know how opposed the current power brokers are to that. If they do attack, I think they would wait till late spring or summer so the war hype wouldn’t have time to die down before the election. It’s unlikely Obama would be voted out if he had just committed the country to a new war right before the election, people would rally round the prez. But starting the war too early would allow people to cool off and begin thinking again.

    This brings me back to who is pushing for war. Rather than USA vs Israel, I think the internal “conflict” about what to do about Iran is between factions. Something like neocons and neolibs arguing over tactics, but agreeing on the goals. Or maybe the Peres’ vs the Netanyahus. The “neocons” want war, like with Iraq, the “neolibs” want to use “color revolutions” and covert warfare instead. Like they are using now in the Mideast in Egypt and Tunisia. Both of these factions are dominated by people who regard Israeli interests as more important than those of the USA, and use the USA, and every other entity they control, to further these interests. The overall goal is the neutralisation of Russian and China and they will use whatever method they can to do it. This means these neocon-neolib tactics I described will be blurred at times, as these planners pick and choose what they think will best serve their goal in each region or country they attempt to dominate. That said, major chaos in the region can help Israeli interests, as it removes the restraints (minimal, admitted) placed on them. Like with the 9/11 attack, an attack on Iran would cause enough chaos to allow them to go hog wild for a while and cover their aggressions. But this is now a gamble. The “neolib” faction sees such open aggression as potentially dangerous, since the resistance to Israeli behaviour is growing fast and unrestrained Israeli aggression could snowball this beyond what Israel’s worldwide supporters could contain. And result in Israel being permanently neutered herself, along with enough pushback to do the same to Israel’s support networks around the world.

    “Nikolai Patrushev, who heads Russia’s Security Council, has apparently been deceived by Washington’s manipulation of the media. According to the Interfax news agency, Patrushev condemned Israel for pushing the US towards war with Iran.”

    I’ll have to disagree with this, as well. I follow the English language Russian media fairly steadily and they generally treat Israel with kid gloves. When it is obvious Israel is behind something, the Russian government has almost always blamed the USA instead. For example, it was Israel who was the major player pushing Georgia to attack in 2008 to try and remove the Russian military from South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The Russians said at the time the Americans had Georgia start that war so the Americans could use Georgia as a base to attack Iran from. With the Americans in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as occupying bases on the southern side of the Persian Gulf, there would be no need for Georgian bases. But for an Israeli strike against Iran, Georgian bases would be ideal. In fact, there would be no lone Israeli strike without Georgian bases, since the Israelis would have to refuel both to and from Iran and would need permission from either the USA (in Iraq) or Saudi Arabia to refuel over these countries. But for the Israelis to be able to surprise attack Iran (the only way they will attack Iran), the Russians had to be pushed out of S. Ossetia and Abkhazia, since they would detect the Israeli operation and warn the Iranians. The Russians made it a point to destroy the Israeli recon drones operating out of Georgia, in order to cripple Israeli planning operations for an attack, in case the Israelis persisted. Patrushev publicly pointing a finger at Israel, and not the USA, appears to be a major change for the Russians. Russian resistance to what the Israeli’s are doing to Syria may be a large factor here.

    China has already warned about attacking Pakistan. Both the Chinese and Russians are well aware what Israel, America and the EU are doing to them. They know where the terrorism on their territories comes from and who is behind these so-called democracy movements popping up. I agree that an attack on Iran after March would better serve Israel-American purposes if coordinated with a “color revolution” in Russia after the election, should such an attack be decided upon. Did you see how Prokhorov said he might have Khodorkovsky as PM? http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120117/170810651.html The Russians are already countering this “color revolution” and I think they are about to crackdown on the foreign operatives there from several other stories I’ve read recently. Both China and Russia have been much more successful at countering the terrorist ops in their countries. The Iranians have also been more successful defeating these terrorists and the “color revolutionaries”. I don’t know what the Russians and Chinese are doing to combat this encirclement, and how Iran fits into their strategy, but they surely are well aware of what they are up against.

    By: зачем . January 17, 2012 . 9:50 pm |

    • Follow-up

      “For Rogozin’s warning to be effective in preventing war, China needs to enter the fray. Washington is banking on China’s caution. China deliberates and never rushes into anything. China’s deliberation will serve Washington’s war.”

      Maybe China already has entered the fray:

      Chinese Admiral Threatens World War to Protect Iran http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/china-news/chinese-admiral-threatens-world-war-to-protect-iran-154434.html

      The Chinese have also stated they would ignore the west’s sanctions against Iran.

      By: зачем . January 18, 2012 . 3:21 am |

  23. Hello Dr. Paul Craig Roberts and friends: This is just to say hello to you and your friends. And to wish you great health, because the world needs revolutionaries like you, that keep the hopes of freedom alive for the oppressed, hungry and poor people of this world, that are in great need of defenders of truth and liberty. THANKS !!!!

    By: Marxist Chavizta . January 18, 2012 . 1:27 am |

  24. DEAR PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS AND FRIENDS: PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD TO PROTECT YOUR SELVES AGAINST GREED, LUST, ANGER, ADULTERY, EGOISM, AVARICE, AND ALL THE IMMORALITIES OF THE ZIONIST, OLIGARCHIC, IMPERIALIST, CORRUPT CAPITALIST SYSTEM WE HAVE TODAY IN USA, EUROPE, MEXICO, HONDURAS, AND MOST COUNTRIES OF THIS WORLD THAT ARE RULED BY MAFIA CARTELS

    http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Ephesians%206:10-18&version=NIV&interface=print”>http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Ephesians%206:10-18&version=NIV&interface=print”>Ephesians 6:10-18

    Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

    By: Marxist Chavizta . January 18, 2012 . 1:31 am |

  25. I have long wondered why China and Russia continue to sit on the sidelines, seemingly frozen with fear like a deer in the headlights, while the U.S. systematically corrals the both of them. Do they not see the U.S.’ strategy? Do they fear suffering a tiny bit of economic harm if they rock the boat? Well, sitting there doing nothing is going to eventually suffer the two of them with a great deal more harm than doing something today.

    If China and Russia want to do something relatively painless, they ought to announce a joint agreement to begin liquidating U.S. dollar-denominated assets until the U.S. withdraws from its wars and military bases around the world. They could agree to sell, say, $100 billion worth of such assets per month until the U.S. complies. Doing so in that manner, with a clear expression of the desired goals and a clear understanding of what will cause a cessation of the liquidation, should result in an orderly decline in the value of the dollar and the U.S.’ dollar-based hegemony around the world. Should the U.S. refuse to comply with the demands then China and Russia will have at least insulated themselves financially from the inevitable demise of the dollar. At that point a military response from China and Russia is still available.

    Dave

    By: Dave . January 18, 2012 . 8:24 am |

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