Dimitry writes:

-- The problem lies in you lack of understanding of the form of writing you are participating in. This is editorial or opinion column, NOT journalism. Your irritation at its perceived shortcomings is a direct outcome of you ignorance of where you are. --

Here's an interesting piece I discovered while doing some additional research on this subject which I think does a pretty good job of characterizing the relationship between blogs and traditional journalism.

http://www.jdlasica.com/articles/nieman.html

==As usual, your idealisms don't have foundation in the real world. I can see the humor value - but you are doing so to the detriment of the right to bear arms by bringing infringements into the scenario.==

There are always "infringements into the scenario" (I think I understand what you wanted to to say). That's just the way life is - you never know the full set of circumstances - so you end up shooting an innocent bystander in an attempt to get the perceived bad guy. Most weapons in the house end up killing someone innocent by mistake. That never seems to deter the macho-challenged Christians to arm themselves, "just in case". The irony is that most folks who have guns in the house live in reasonably safe neighborhoods, where a rational analysis would adivse against firearms.

//...we would achieve the the American ideal - a nation under arms, with ammunition and hatred for all..\\ -Dimitry

As usual, your idealisms don't have foundation in the real world. I can see the humor value - but you are doing so to the detriment of the right to bear arms by bringing infringements into the scenario. Have you been swilling vodka this evening?

It's typical for you...

==California gangbangers don't give a squat if they have a registered firearm; a lot of killings are done by them with stolen firearms from their own black market obtained from home burglaries.==

Do you mean to suggest that criminals DO NOT register the guns they use in CRIMES? What? How dare they?

==What makes this situation worse for Obama, is that you have a number of Dems convinced that law-abiding citizens are better served by taking away their rights to keep and bear arms. A major failing point for Obama; a lot of gun lobbyists are 'up in arms' with more than a few of Barak's ideas on the subject. Some dems practice their right to have firearms and will be discouraged by his leanings.==

I think the answer is to require everyone to have a gun and to abolish the police force. This way, you will be responsible for your own life all the time, and if you are too slow on the draw after an argument about a dime in chage or a parking space - well, that's just God's will. Further, the public savings would be significant, the undertaker business would grow tremendously and we would achieve the the American ideal - a nation under arms, with ammunition and hatred for all.

//So, whom did you kill?\\ -Dimitry

A pistol target and a piece of wood - and the dirt berm behind them. They didn't even say 'ouch'...

Bought a box of 100 rounds for tomorrow; practice for my CCW ('carry and conceal weapon' permit) test. The laws on CCW are inconsistent across the US. Texas and a lot of midwestern states (NE, IA, SD, OK, etc..) allow their individual counties the discetion of issuing these permits.

States like California - and others - really need to have more issuance of qualified applicants to make up for criminal use of firearms. California gangbangers don't give a squat if they have a registered firearm; a lot of killings are done by them with stolen firearms from their own black market obtained from home burglaries.

What makes this situation worse for Obama, is that you have a number of Dems convinced that law-abiding citizens are better served by taking away their rights to keep and bear arms. A major failing point for Obama; a lot of gun lobbyists are 'up in arms' with more than a few of Barak's ideas on the subject. Some dems practice their right to have firearms and will be discouraged by his leanings.

Sounds like criminal bragging.

==I can always count on you to mold me to your own purposes.==

I really don't know you that well...we are hardly even friends...you rarely call...please say no more.

==I had fun shooting today; couldn't go the day before because the weather wasn't cooperating. I did very well; a five inch group from fifty feet using 230 gr hollow points .45 ammo.

Do any shooting?
Oh, that's right - I forgot - you are a Dem...==

So, whom did you kill?

The single premise: Nothing credible was identified as the target.
Therefore, what?
The rules of logic, by Aristotle, remember him? Elderly man with bad eyesight? 350BC

His rules of logical Deduction require two premises. To conclude that something happened because NOTHING was said to have happened would gurantee an "F" in logic.

On degrees of plausability...
What if the target was the wrong one?
Would we identify the accidental hit? Of course, not.
What if the target was in the border between Columbia and Peru? Would we admit it? You say,¨"But that was NOT where nothing happened! You, stupid idiot!"

Let´s face it, an "honest" mistake is no longer credible, we best go along with a target that did not exist.

My new book, I just boughtÑ "Mission Accomplished! How We Won the War in Iraq" Cerf & Navasky, 2008, has hundreds of official quotations that can be verified with an Internet Search, followed by the real facts of the story.
Not too different from the story here about Iran. Review Logic 101.

//I am glad you finally gave up the lie that you are an "independent"\\ -Dimitry

Thanks for getting it wrong again. I can always count on you to mold me to your own purposes.

You can be a conservative Independant; as being 'conservative' is more of a description of reasoning than any manditory lockstep political position.

My Dad used to say 'scrath the surface of any southern conservative democrat and you have something akin to a republican. Not always true; but it was true when he told me that - some thirty years ago.

I had fun shooting today; couldn't go the day before because the weather wasn't cooperating. I did very well; a five inch group from fifty feet using 230 gr hollow points .45 ammo.

Do any shooting?
Oh, that's right - I forgot - you are a Dem...

==This in turn creates an enviorment which forces conservatives to rise to the opportunity and bring them back to reality. Therapy for the neo-lib nut jobs and a public service for the conservatives to enter in. ==

I am glad you finally gave up the lie that you are an "independent". As I have written many times - you are a full-out conservaive, right wing nut job. Congratulations on admitting this very obvious fact!

Also, we have such 'cool' arguements that it becomes and ongoing dialog between pseudo-libs and conservatives that readers can relate to (Ha!). As this helps the readership of this blog.

Just the same, Arkin tends to take a non-conservative approach whaich created a roosting port for those neo-libs nut jobs. This in turn creates an enviorment which forces conservatives to rise to the opportunity and bring them back to reality. Therapy for the neo-lib nut jobs and a public service for the conservatives to enter in.
That's just an honest observation...

In the previous post I state both that the comments section is provided as a reader service and as a strategy to increase readership and ad revenue. While these positions may be seen as contradictory, they are not. Most large websites want to retain the viewers in their domain as long as possible. Providing services such as forums is one way to do that - the participants are more likely to visit other parts of the website, engage in other discussions, read more articles, click-through to advertisers, etc. The key here is to recognize the business aspect as the main purpose of the enterprise; this is far different than any common definition of "public service."

==And I think the NYT and most other main stream media outlets have acknowledged the disservice they did to the country in not pressing harder for the facts.==

Barely. NYT publishes a fairly short "mea culpa" and have not returned to the subject since. Michael Gordon continued to publish government propaganda from anonymous sources on the front page unabated.

-- A thought provoking opinion pieces is exactly what Arkin does for the Post - which is why they have him writing for them. Your hopes of quashing independent opinion, notwithstanding...--

"It's a blog, a minor league editorial, dude. There are dozens at the Post alone. No one is fact-checking and spell-checking ..."

==Do these words look familiar? Hardly a ringing endorsement for Arkin as legitimate journalism, is it? As the author of above quoted phrase, you point out yourself that Arkin's blog does not rise to the traditional standards expected of the "4th estate".==

The first was a response to your attack, the second was a response to a grammatical correction. You seem to misunderstand the difference between journalism and opinion or editorial sections of a paper. Your "legitimate journalism" carries an value-ladden opinion that attempts to invalidate the value of editorial. And, yes, your out of context quoting does nothing to increase the integrity of your point.

==That said, I acknowledge his blog plays an somewhat important role in offering subject matter and focus for this discussion group; sort of like a moderator for a town hall meeting.==

I think you are incorrect. The comments section is provided as a service to the readers. The discussion thread is not the goal of WP, nor is Arkin a "moderator" in any sense of the word. In short, you ascribe much too much importance to your own words on some blog.

==I also wonder. Does the WP REALLY have Arkin writing for them, as you state? (e.g., is he on their payroll?) Or do they just give him space on their webpage?
Nowhere in his bio does he claim an affiliation with the WP.==

Ok, lets go to basics. WP "gives him space" on their webpage. I presume they pay him. That's the same thing as WP "having Arkin write for them". Whether he is "on the payroll" or is considered a free-lance writer is irrelevant - companies often keep workers off the full time payroll in order to not be liable for a full benefits set.

==Heck. His e-mail isn't even part of the WP e-mail domain. No. I don't think the WP has Arkin writing for them. I would hazard a quess that the WP actually views giving him space on their webpage as akin to a "public service" or a recurring contributor to "letters to the editor".==

I think you have a very weird idea what is meant by "writing for a paper". As long as Arking gets paid for his column and the paper prints it or publishes it online, he "writes for them". Your rather fanciful idea of why WP pays their columnists is interesting, but I would propose that most businesses do not setup large discussion forums with paying columnists as public service. WP wants readers and eyeballs for ad revenue, they figure this is a good way to get them.

==And what gave you the idea that I hope to quash independent opinion and thought? I participate in this discussion group, exchanging ideas and thoughts regularly. Learning quite a bit, actually. I just don't think its fair to call Arkin's blog "journalism" when I don't think it is.==

Your negative tone and your apparent "glee" at a possibility that WP has finally "seen the light" and are about to cut this writer loose for his "bad journalism" has identified your views better than any self-conscious declaration of support for "free-speech".

The problem lies in you lack of understanding of the form of writing you are participating in. This is editorial or opinion column, NOT journalism. Your irritation at its perceived shortcomings is a direct outcome of you ignorance of where you are.

Having said that, the vaunted "high-quality" and "fact-checked" journalims has been seen over and over again as nothing of the sort. Many, many "respected" journalists have published outrageous, uncritical and non-factual stories, usually attributed to some "anonymous government sources". These journalists propagated lies and propaganda, much, much more dangerous than anything Arkin is doing - because they appeared on the front page, mascarading as "factual" and "responsible" reporting, causing people to form opinions that were based on lies.

I will venture a wild guess and say that you did not right angry letters to the NYT or elsewhere, demanding better journalism so that the country would not be misled into a war.

Dimitry writes:

-- A prime example of bad journalism. --

Agree. And I think the NYT and most other main stream media outlets have acknowledged the disservice they did to the country in not pressing harder for the facts.

-- A thought provoking opinion pieces is exactly what Arkin does for the Post - which is why they have him writing for them. Your hopes of quashing independent opinion, notwithstanding...--

"It's a blog, a minor league editorial, dude. There are dozens at the Post alone. No one is fact-checking and spell-checking ..."

Do these words look familiar? Hardly a ringing endorsement for Arkin as legitimate journalism, is it? As the author of above quoted phrase, you point out yourself that Arkin's blog does not rise to the traditional standards expected of the "4th estate". That said, I acknowledge his blog plays an somewhat important role in offering subject matter and focus for this discussion group; sort of like a moderator for a town hall meeting.

I also wonder. Does the WP REALLY have Arkin writing for them, as you state? (e.g., is he on their payroll?) Or do they just give him space on their webpage?
Nowhere in his bio does he claim an affiliation with the WP. Heck. His e-mail isn't even part of the WP e-mail domain. No. I don't think the WP has Arkin writing for them. I would hazard a quess that the WP actually views giving him space on their webpage as akin to a "public service" or a recurring contributor to "letters to the editor".

And what gave you the idea that I hope to quash independent opinion and thought? I participate in this discussion group, exchanging ideas and thoughts regularly. Learning quite a bit, actually. I just don't think its fair to call Arkin's blog "journalism" when I don't think it is.

Dimitry writes:

-- A prime example of bad journalism. --

Agree. And I think the NYT and most other main stream media outlets have acknowledged the disservice they did to the country in not pressing harder for the facts.

-- A thought provoking opinion pieces is exactly what Arkin does for the Post - which is why they have him writing for them. Your hopes of quashing independent opinion, notwithstanding...--

"It's a blog, a minor league editorial, dude. There are dozens at the Post alone. No one is fact-checking and spell-checking ..."

Do these words look familiar? Hardly a ringing endorsement for Arkin as legitimate journalism, is it? As the author of above quoted phrase, you point out yourself that Arkin's blog does not rise to the traditional standards expected of the "4th estate". That said, I acknowledge his blog plays an somewhat important role in offering subject matter and focus for this discussion group; sort of like a moderator for a town hall meeting.

I also wonder. Does the WP REALLY have Arkin writing for them, as you state? (e.g., is he on their payroll?) Or do they just give him space on their webpage?
Nowhere in his bio does he claim an affiliation with the WP. Heck. His e-mail isn't even part of the WP e-mail domain. No. I don't think the WP has Arkin writing for them. I would hazard a quess that the WP actually views giving him space on their webpage as akin to a "public service" or a recurring contributor to "letters to the editor".

And what gave you the idea that I hope to quash independent opinion and thought? I participate in this discussion group, exchanging ideas and thoughts regularly. Learning quite a bit, actually. I just don't think its fair to call Arkin's blog "journalism" when I don't think it is.

Dimitry writes:

-- A prime example of bad journalism. --

Agree. And I think the NYT and most other main stream media outlets have acknowledged the disservice they did to the country in not pressing harder for the facts.

-- A thought provoking opinion pieces is exactly what Arkin does for the Post - which is why they have him writing for them. Your hopes of quashing independent opinion, notwithstanding...--

"It's a blog, a minor league editorial, dude. There are dozens at the Post alone. No one is fact-checking and spell-checking ..."

Do these words look familiar? Hardly a ringing endorsement for Arkin as legitimate journalism, is it? As the author of above quoted phrase, you point out yourself that Arkin's blog does not rise to the traditional standards expected of the "4th estate". That said, I acknowledge his blog plays an somewhat important role in offering subject matter and focus for this discussion group; sort of like a moderator for a town hall meeting.

I also wonder. Does the WP REALLY have Arkin writing for them, as you state? (e.g., is he on their payroll?) Or do they just give him space on their webpage?
Nowhere in his bio does he claim an affiliation with the WP. Heck. His e-mail isn't even part of the WP e-mail domain. No. I don't think the WP has Arkin writing for them. I would hazard a quess that the WP actually views giving him space on their webpage as akin to a "public service" or a recurring contributor to "letters to the editor".

And what gave you the idea that I hope to quash independent opinion and thought? I participate in this discussion group, exchanging ideas and thoughts regularly. Learning quite a bit, actually. I just don't think its fair to call Arkin's blog "journalism" when I don't think it is.

==And, IMHO, ill-informed speculation and irresponsible journalism may do more harm than good.==

I couldn't agree more. For example, fear-mongering, sycophantic, uncritical regurgitation of government propaganda, as practiced by Miller and Gordon on the pages of the NYT, did a lot to reinforce the fraudulent case for the war with Iraq. A prime example of bad journalism.

==Which is why Arkin writes a "blog" rather than a column for the WP. And perhaps why even the link to his blog has now been removed from the WP's "Opinion" page.==

Really? How about a computer glitch? A thought provoking opinion pieces is exactly what Arkin does for the Post - which is why they have him writing for them. Your hopes of quashing independent opinion, notwithstanding...

Deb Rice writes:

-- A viable 4th estate is essential. --

I disagree.

A 'responsible' (vice 'viable') 4th estate is essential for a healthy democracy.

And, IMHO, ill-informed speculation and irresponsible journalism may do more harm than good. Which is why Arkin writes a "blog" rather than a column for the WP. And perhaps why even the link to his blog has now been removed from the WP's "Opinion" page.

War without end, amen.

Is this what we leave to our children?

Man ruins everything he touches.

Ron writes:

-- It amazes me how for US service men & women, killing via remote screens that resemble video games is equated to heroism. --

I hope you aren't pointing the finger of blame for that phenomenon at US service men and women.

Having served over 26 years in the military, it is rare servicemember who considered themself a hero. Mostly, they acknowledge their fear and shortcomings and, contrary to what some commenting here might think, they would rather be anywhere else in the world than in a shooting war. (Oh, how often while deployed I dreamed of the luxury of "... watching my kids playing in the other room").

No. The people who have confered the 'hero' label on our servicemembers are those seeking to salve their own conscience for sacrificing little while those others go out and do the dirty work on their behalf.

And to be clear. I don't think of those serving today as 'heros'. That word is bandied around so much that it has lost all meaning to me. I've been there, done that. Those servicing today are no more 'heroic' than anyone else.

To the men and women serving, warfighting isn't about being "brave" or being "cowardly". When the bullets start flying, it's only about surviving. Which usually means killing the person who is trying to kill you (or your brothers and sisters in arms).

That battlefield reality is the unambiguous experience that binds all vets and warriors. And in my experience, it is usually the uninitiated in those realities that think in terms of 'bravery' and 'cowardice'.

Thank you for telling Iran how we are going to attack them. I'm sure the pilot who has to do that mission is going to appreciate it.

Response to this comment...

"It amazes me how for US service men & women, killing via remote screens that resemble video games is equated to heroism. Get out on the field and fight face to face with your enemy, then you can talk about heroism.

The reason it amazes me even more is when we are attacked by men and women forced to use devious means to have any chance at all, we complain about how cowardly they are, as if they should really just walk at us in open spaces and wait to be mowed down by superior weaponry or blasted by rockets shot from far away, when they show up as spots on some screen."

Let me remind you, most of our soldiers are not targeting civilians. The entire purpose of most of our enemies is to blow up innocents. Obviously our enemies have no choice to use guerilla tactics, but they certainly have a choice whether to target innocents or military targets. That's probably part of why Bush put our troops in Iraq, so that terrorists would have a readily accessible military target. That's why he said "Bring em on"

Regarding "Sneakers'" comment : "US military fights for appropriations and corporate kickbacks."

This is the point isn't it. Our military is motivated for reasons inculcated in their entire being that have little to do with the reality where those that send our soldiers to die are make a killing, a financial killing that is!

"So you listen here boy, you might be poor but, I have an offer for you. You go kill in the name of freedom and I might pay for your education so you can get a job. I will get rich in the process but that's all part of the game."

We have come to equate "free enterprise" with "freedom", as if the two were inseparable. Haven't we seen c;early enough by now our interpretation of of a free country allows the most ruthless and heartless people to become more and more wealthy on the backs of a population that does not know the difference between anarchic capitalism and freedom?

We think we are ahead of the rest of the world? We are a nation of people so protected from the rest of the world we fail to see there are other options than economic anarchy without social responsibility or even concern.

It amazes me how for US service men & women, killing via remote screens that resemble video games is equated to heroism. Get out on the field and fight face to face with your enemy, then you can talk about heroism.

The reason it amazes me even more is when we are attacked by men and women forced to use devious means to have any chance at all, we complain about how cowardly they are, as if they should really just walk at us in open spaces and wait to be mowed down by superior weaponry or blasted by rockets shot from far away, when they show up as spots on some screen.

It makes me wonder who the real heros are; us, well protected and using modern technical means to obliterate the enemy, or that same enemy willing to die to inflict far inferior casualties on us.

We are not talking about right or wrong, because our enemy is as convinced as we are he or she is right. I think the enemy is wrong, but I doubt we are the braver ones....

"Major," body counts don't count.

Especially when the victims are innocent civilians slaughtered by gutless freaks from five miles up.

US lost in Vietnam for the same reason it loses every war: US military doesn't fight wars; US military fights for appropriations and corporate kickbacks.

I sit here reading this and watching my kids playing in the other room. this maj. warthen is some kind of warmongering prevert. proud that we killed all those Vietnamese? sick bastard. i hope you get some exotic form of cancer as your family stands at your bedside and watches you slowly, painfully die...go meet your maker and see if he agrees with your sick ass.

Please write this down on paper and read it over and over again until you understand. In fact read it until you OVERstand. You need not follow military movements, read articles from thousands of journalist, so called experts, analyst, scholars etc to know that the US will attack IRAN. All you need to know is that President Bush said he will do it before leaving office and said this on several occasions. Bush may be all the devil could conjure up and you may believe he has made alot of mistakes but one thing he has and will not do is commit to something and then not do it. That fact combined with knowing that this has always been the plan in the middle east should be enough to convince you that IRAN will be attacked. When is the question!!! I hear the term ``OCTOBER SURPRISE`` but remember that strategic surgical bombing requires good weather and a little research will reveal that october is not the month. In fact, July to November weather would make it very difficult but May and June would be optimal. Weather conditions can make or break a military operation specially if it is surgical aerial attacks so if nothing happens by june it probably will be postponed until 09. What will be the results of bombing IRAN? Who knows, but I would be far away from the US if possible and if not then be prepared for the worst and you can judge for yourself what that might be. good luck, you will need it.

Well yet another article, about yet another war. Evidently under the directives of the other occupied territories aka Capitol Hill, it is mandatory for US to threaten one or another country before breakfast, set up a military base before lunch, and threaten to nuke two or more nations after the evening meal, or US government cannot function.

This latest escapade, which is a hang over from the infamous Syrian "Nuclear Reactor" bombing, that has not been even hinted at in the article, although this time around presented as the intent for attacking Iran.

Needless to point out that the ziocon masquerading as neocon operatives have been busy beating the drums of war, for the duration of the unfolding of 21st century up until now. With the 3 and one half of state (one cannot attribute a whole unit for the bankrupt lickspittles posing as the "Media") broadcasting propaganda for initiation of war contrary to, and in contravention of Nuremberg principles. ie the "Media" stand guilty of crimes against humanity too.

However, noting that the Russians are openly stating; US administrations promises cannot be relied upon. Also noting that China, and Russia, have been carrying out joint military manoeuvres, and their close proximities to Iran. Hence, to find the contemplation of even more wars by the US administration, it points to a clear, and present attempt in suicide. Therefore, we can safely assume that these presented psyops are designed to coerce the Iranians, whilst pushing the threat premium on crude even higher for the absorption of the massive amounts of dollars printed and thrown at US economy by Helicopter Ben.

Therefore Mr. Arkin and his analysis taken within the above context can make any sense, despite his cryptic and vague presentations of the facts, aligned to the loose narrative that is so much bandied around in the "Media", along with attempts in blatant hedging, to absolve himself from future repercussions of this kind of penmanship.

why do some on the right think that because one is antiwar they must be liberal?
foolish people..
there are many antiwar republicans.
time to go independent..had enough of f'd up people.

Even if you make sure you have a backups to GPS and more than adequate satellite bandwidth, Iran will be like Bermuda triangle for you, day or night.

After reading many of the reponses posted here can anyone now not understand that antiIsraeli/semitic/Zionist feelings will be the Enduring Legacy of the impending disaster unleashed when the the Operation Inhale Nuclear Fallout in Iran is finallized?
Why do smart people act so dumb?
Doesn't anybody respect their thyoid gland.

guyh, the link I found was at National News and Headlines page.
Arkin you better tell us where to find you when you finally say the wrong thing to the wrong person.
Tanax, assuming you are correct; How did we get in this mess? Are your eyes brown? Because you seem to be full of it, right up to here.

I hope they wait until hurricane season is over. Imagine trying to evacuate the gulf coast with no gasoline available.

iran has already developed a nuclear weapon.......and we know it

there will be a military strike on iran in the not too distant future

The U.S. will pay for its crimes. It's too bad that we can't hold the Neocons accountable for this mess.

You forgot Russia, who has repeatedly stated that an attack on Iran is viewed as an attack on Russia.

..and don't forget those SS22 Sunburn missiles, to be used against our carriers.

..and our troops caught in the middle in Baghdad.

Early warning has disappeared from the list of blogs on the site. Is this a conspiracy to silence you?

Jet Jock... Could the refueling numbers be cumulative? Maybe all F16s combined for 13 hookups. Just a thought...

There ain't going to be any Iran War, These people are just driving CRUDE OIL PRICES high.Its all about Petroleum.So was Hitlery doing with the 'obliterate Iran' comment. But people are too trapped in hysteria to notice this obvious relationship.
Its a BIG scam imo.
This oil spike is entirely created by the MEDIA OUTLETS.
Btw Mr.Arkin I am very suspicious of your agenda after I read your "6 reasons" article following Fellon's er. retirement, which was obviously in response to the Global Research's 6reasons article.

I just wish that the sane people in this country could all live in 4 neighboring states in the middle of the country and withdraw from the U.S. so that the crazies in the rest of the country could go die overseas or get bombed for spreading their kooky-ideology or just live out the remainder of their frightened pathetic lives under the jackboot rule of the dictator in D.C. that they want to blindly follow into Hell.
I want out, screw the sissies who fear Bin Ladin...they can tremble at the sight of a man in flipflops eating cheetos in a cave overseas. I refuse to follow psychopaths!

thoughts on "'Crude jolt for US as Iran scraps oil trade in dollar' - The Economic Times"

http://thiscanadian.typepad.com/this_canadian/2008/05/crude-jolt-for.html

~~~
Spread Love...
BlueBerry Pick'n
ThisCanadian com
~~~
"We, two, form a Multitude" ~ Ovid.
~~~
"Silent Freedom is Freedom Silenced"
"Do no harm"

Jet Jock: The flight would cycle across the tanker every 30 or so mins to keep aircraft at a very high bingo in case of tanker refuelling system malfunction or a malfunction of an individual fighter.

American foreign policy is still being dictated by the same people who've told you that chaotic fires create symmetrical damage.

This is why we're over there?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD06SAf0p9A

The media, including the Post, is responsible for the mangling of the minds of this country's people.

Until we have a fully independent investigation of 9/11 as called for by the majority of victims families, we cannot justify this War on Terror.

And NO! we did not lose the war in Vietnam. We killed 3 million of them while only losing 58,000 of our own. Can't you liberal crybabies count?

hey listen

America and the other zionist stooges that are so called the inventors of the War On Terror will attack Iran
these pigs live for war and profit from it
and the rest of the american cattle will just follow along
nothing is going to be accomplished just duck and cover and hope the bombs all miss you that's all
I would like someone to just assasinate the zionist cabal one by one
starting with kissinger and breszinski

I am glad you folks are watching. Even if the situation does not go down as you anticipate, eyes on the possible activities make our republic safer. A viable 4th estate is essential.

//I'm afraid Arkin has most likely misread the tea leaves, or is being intellectually disingenuous by intentionally stretching his analysis in order to boster a preconceived notion.\\ -Frank

Again Frank, I agree with you here. That's what I think about Mr. Arkin as well. Maybe we should have a blog page here on the real intentions of Arkin's blog. The subject should be: "Which politics to support to keep a Nation divided" or "Why does Bill Arkin stick it to Americans in the face of ther enemy?"

Sorry plainfacto I meant that for Stephen F. Kislock III. Read the post wrong...

plainfacto: Bad historical anology. You left out a pretty big chunk of the WTO during Second World War. North Africa, Sicily, Italy...and that little fact that the Germans were also fighting the Russians on the eastern front. How long did the Democrats kill innocent "Vietnamese"? See, I can play silly games with dates too.

I hope the Bush wedding in Crawford, TX goes well.

Arkin writes:

-- But if this was really a rehearsal to attack Iran, it was a mission where getting the airplanes over the target was more consequential than what was actually bombed. --

From what Arkin describes this was more an exercise/experiment in learning how to use US Air Force assets against a time-critical/ time-sensitive target (TCT/TST). TCT/TST remains one of the more perplexing problems in global counterterrrorism in that it (1) focuses on taking action against a highly mobile target whose position is known for only a short duration, (2) and knowledge of that location and timeframe is acquired just hours before the target gets there.

Despite what Hollywood portrays, Air Force capability to do TCT/TST (except from a CAP station) is virtually non-existent.

Traditional targeting (as would be expected for an Iran air strike) would done months ahead of time against fixed targets.

I'm afraid Arkin has most likely misread the tea leaves, or is being intellectually disingenuous by intentionally stretching his analysis in order to boster a preconceived notion.

Today oil reached $I27 US a barrel!!! Wow.
Make an attack on Iran and shut down their oilfields and gasfields,and also close the Persian Gas to tankerst then
oil will bounce to 2oo-300 US Dollars a barrel.
Better get a bike or or perhaps a horse-drawn cart!!..because there won't be many gas stations still open in the US on the day after the attack on Iran...oh and
get ready for a huge jump in food prices as a result of the oil crisis to come..dearer farm chemicals and fertilizers..huge costs for haulage of goods..Wow...and they want another war in the Mid east.
Perhaps Cheney and Bush should be in a mental asylum!!..instead of the White House !

I certainly take the larger comment re. warning to heart and this operation is quite interesting as a confirmation of capabilities, but I don't know that one should hinge a specific forecast on this as many observers are likely to do. Given the overall context (i.e., "deconflicting with 160 strikes from other aircraft") I wonder very much whether they simply ran out of closer assets and had to reach further back into the cuboard than they typically do. If so, the interesting thing to my mind really is whatever it was that on the receiving end of such a large set of strikes.

Mr. Arkin,
So what is your point? Do you actually believe that from your desk that you have any information that is usable? Do you think that the wire agencies have any information that is worth anything (and somehow proves your point)? You seem to meet story deadlines on massive assumptions.

Please, calling all "journalists," for the millionth time, wake up. The only information worth having is half a world away, highly dynamic, and classified (read: you will never have it), and any speculation on your part is a complete waste of time. Please stop shining yourselves as complete morons, for your own sake. Smart people in smart positions who are responsible for more than you can possibly imagine routinely make smart decisions with the best information that they have available. For you to question it so seriously only shows more insight into your lack of knowledge, lack of experience, and lack of professional growth. Do you have any greater success with armchair quarterbacking football games from your couch at home? (hint: no one at the game can hear you talking to your TV)

Man, what a lame article.

Something doesnt make sense; 2100 miles to target, 4200 round trip -- and 13 refuelings. That means each F-16 was only averaging just over 300 miles per hit on the tanker? That doesnt make any sense given an F-16s combat radius.

*** Google(www.ufodigest.com):
- The Bible and the Third World War - the 1000 Year Kingdom
- Messiah - His Spaceships
- Eris - the Planet of the Cross and the Natural Extreme Phenomena, etc.
*** Details in the book "Planet Eris and the Global Warming" (can be found at Amazon)
*** NASA AND PLANET X
http://www.australia.to/story/0,25197,23040466-937,00,00.html

To C O Jones

I'd explain it to you but I think the people at thearc . org would better understand your problems.

Until we get around to recognizing that it is the Isralies (that is the State) preempts any time it is convenient or supposed to be then they unleash hell. This is not the United States of America but the U.S.I. make no mistake we are the criminals not obeying the law as we force others to do.

Until we get around to recognizing that it is the Isralies (that is the State) preempts any time it is convenient or supposed to be then they unleash hell. This is not the United States of America but the U.S.I. make no mistake we are the criminals not obeying the law as we force others to do.

Would someone explain to me the difference between the Nazis with their 3rd Reich and the Neocon/Israelis with their plan for world domination, a 4th Reich?

To Plainfacto,
Clinton, said she will Nuke Iran, LackofFacto!

==Somebody will have to listen eventually - when it blows up in their face they will...==

Like the Iranian revolution, say?\\ -Dimitry

That has GOT to be the stupidest thing youy have ever written.

//Well, keep at it. Jobs where Christians can kill people are really sought after - but I am sure if you are persistent you will get one!\\

I take it back. That was the dumbest thing you have said so far. You are under that illusion of that stupid stereotyping that everyone working for the CIA must be an assassin. Dumb...

//That makes it 'bout 78th time we heard about CICERO.\\

Good. But it is the first time I mentioned the Colt 45. Ha!

==Somebody will have to listen eventually - when it blows up in their face they will...==

Like the Iranian revolution, say?

==I got turned down for BW. :) CIA turned me down - too. However, the Agency said I could reapply again.==

Well, keep at it. Jobs where Christians can kill people are really sought after - but I am sure if you are persistent you will get one!

==I'm going to 'git some targit practice' tomorrow wit a 1911 Match Colt 45; my Dad's gun during Operation CICERO. ==

That makes it 'bout 78th time we heard about CICERO.

==Time is not on our side , centrifuges are spinning in IRAN , 9500 of them allegedly.
Or else we'd have to learn how to live with an Iranian Bomb.==

Psst...I don't know if you know this, but these crazy Airanians have horns, too...

Pass it on.

Pilots must make their hours into their logbooks.Over there in ME they can even claim "combat mission hours", that's all.An easy way to run the bill 3 billion$ a week.

We must come to a conclusion soon about the course of action in ME. Time is not on our side , centrifuges are spinning in IRAN , 9500 of them allegedly.
Or else we'd have to learn how to live with an Iranian Bomb.

Iraq senate debate is live blog still open
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/iraq-debate/2008/04/life_is_a_tale_told_by_a_blogg.html#comments
and as a back up to it
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/south-florida-sun-sentinel/TTJLB805JMS205RVQ#lastPost

//"Hard as nails", gang fighter PF tells the "libs" what it's really like "out there in the real world".\\ -Dimitry

Somebody will have to listen eventually - when it blows up in their face they will...

I got turned down for BW. :) CIA turned me down - too. However, the Agency said I could reapply again.

I'm going to 'git some targit practice' tomorrow wit a 1911 Match Colt 45; my Dad's gun during Operation CICERO.

You are completely correct. Unfortunately, most of our leaders and many Americans don't seem to think that international laws, charters and treaties we sign actually apply to us.

Dimitry,

Isn't that because America is the perfect representation of what it criticizes, rogue? The USA cited all of the UN Resolutions that the nation of Iraq violated prior to attacking Iraq.

Afterwards. the USA ignored the will of the United Nations and ordered not only Saddam out of Iraq, but the law-abiding USA ordered the UN Inspectors (appointed by 192 other nations of the world) out of Iraq.

And the reason they ordered the inspectors out, was because they were in the process of obviating America's fabricated pretext for going to war. The lie had been uncovered and dispelled! Hans Blix said it best, we will never get other nations to comply with the rule of law, until America abides by the law itself.

I suppose the native and black Americans could speak to a white American supremacist view of an American Rule-of-Law, other than its own on-the-fly rules that serves its purpose and the wheel of the dominant culture at a given time.

America truly believes that laws are made to be broken when the USA is involved.

Rules are also made to be broken by Americans, particularly when it relates to the rights of other nations and people of the world!

The Rev asked to be excused from jury duty a year and a half ago. The attorney's asked why? I replied, because I really do not have any respect for the whole process. Hush filled the courtroom!

The Rev about as much respect for an unjust judiciary as it has for an unjust executive branch in Washington DC!

Glad we have Patriots like you backing us up. Next time I nearly get my head taken off by an RPG I'll be thinking of ya'!

Maj. A.A. Warthen (USMC,

I watched an excellent documentary a week ago, I wish I could remember the name. It was about veterans in Iraq, who were tasked with escorting trucks across the supply lines of Iraq.

They actually had a soldier that everyone called Rev. After watching that show I decided to be nicer to you folks. When you get back home we can debate! Watch your head for now!

==It is not as though we aren't already in a shooting war with Iran through their Lebanese proxy - Hezballah.
Wake up, sleepy heads.==

"Hard as nails", gang fighter PF tells the "libs" what it's really like "out there in the real world". Git yo gun now, son!

How is that job with Triple C or Backwater coming along? Did you pass your physical and marksmanship tests?

==Under international law, truly preemptive attacks are only permitted when there is definite chance of an imminent attack. ==

You are completely correct. Unfortunately, most of our leaders and many Americans don't seem to think that international laws, charters and treaties we sign actually apply to us. The "legal eagles" around the president and vice president don't even think president's powers are limited by domestic laws, much less international law, which most of them put in quotes. They don't really think they are binding at all.

//How long have you Neo-Con's, been killing Innocent Iraqi Civilians?\\ -Stephen Kislock III

You are as blind as you are ignorant - with this pseudo-lib rant that is held up at the request of Clinton/Obama. Even they know Iran is a problem; or maybe you haven't been keeping up with the latest pseudo-lib dogmatic changes? When do you want to come clean?

?Major AA Warthen, "D-Day" June 6, 1944, "VE-Day" May 8, 1945. I am assuming you are to young to remember, but "D-Day", was the Invasion of Europe, "VE-Day", was Victory in Europe.

This time frame is less than a Year! How long have you Neo-Con's, been killing Innocent Iraqi Civilians?

Hey Rev?

Democrats don't fight wars (and lose them)?

Korea: Truman (D): 35,000 dead (tie)

Bay of Pigs: Kennedy(D): a few thousand cubans

Vietnam: Johnson (D): 58,000 US dead, several million SE Asians

Carter (D): Fall of the Shah, Invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union: Still counting.

Bush has a long way to go to catch up with his Democrat counterparts. Just thought I throw that in there.

Glad we have Patriots like you backing us up. Next time I nearly get my head taken off by an RPG I'll be thinking of ya'!

One more thing, I'm tired of people saying that we're losing the war.

Posted by: Maj A.A. Warthen (USMC)

I'm with the Major, the mission In Iraq was accomplished in 2003, and several more times after that! Tee hee

What I believe that America is really hoping for, is to get some other Arab or Muslim nation to come up with a pretext, as an American proxy, for America to launch a counter-attack on Iranian facilities. And who knows, a nuke might accidentally fall off ot ehe plane!

Anal retentive Cheney, and Bush are still upset about the Iranian hostage humiliation of America 2 decages ago.

I know, how about Saudi Arabia, they would make an excellent proxy?

Besides, GB is a lame-duck President, it will not diminish his value in any way were he to come up with a pretext to hit Iraq before he leaves office.

He and Cheney (I don't care what the American people have to say) want to hit Iran, in the event that the Dem's take over in Washington next year.

You know those Dem's, they won't attack innocent nations and people, it takes a Republican to get a Republican's job done!

These two neanderthals believe that the American people will evolve someday, and that they will be honored for their accomplishmentsm and perhaps have a monument constructed in their honor.

They should have one, and it should be placed somewhere in the deep south at a place like say WACO. WACO stands for, 'we ain't coming out", and clearly as far the USA is concerned, 'we ain't coming out of Iraq or the Middl-East anytime soon!

Warthen may be partly correct! The practice attack in Afghanistan may be designed for a "proxy" Air Force that operates from the same distance. You have to remember that the Bush Administration has no brain and are capable of any stupidity. Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Mahdi Army are nationalist organizations and have "national" ambitions. Al-Qaida has international ambitions. Does the U.S. need to fight all of them? This is not WWII, Korea, or Vietnam. You are not dealing with Nazis or Communists!

One more thing, I'm tired of people saying that we're losing the war. We're not losing the war we're fighting it! Wars, especially ones this complicated, take time. Thank God none of you were around during our past struggles, I'd still be a slave and you'd be reading this in German.

To say that the theory behind this "story" is a stretch would be a huge understatement. The Taliban have no credible air defence system. F-16's are the last fighters the Airforce would choose for a "first strike" surgical air campaign against Iran. If we wanted to rehearse a strike on Iran we could do it more effectively by using bases within the continental United States. The most lilely reason the mission was so secret was because you don't want to risk advertising to the Taliban (in Pakistan) that you're coming. Furthermore the threat of a war with Iran (at this point in time) has been greatly diminished by the global spike in gas prices. If we bomb Iran its a forgone conlcusion the Iranian Navy will attempt to shut down the straights of Hormuz. The resulting chaos would send the price of oil skyrocketing out of control. I'm not singing the administrations praises. The mistakes they've made have been more than well docemented. That said; this article is nothing more than anti-Bush/War hysteria. If war with Iran comes (due to our pre-emptive military action) it'll be after a ton of very visible (and exhaustive) diplomatic efforts. We won't bomb until we've made it clear to the world Iran has left us with little choice.

//"Hezbollah needs to make a choice - be a terrorist organisation or be a political party, but quit trying to be both," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.\\ -BBC News

whole story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7390943.stm

It is not as though we aren't already in a shooting war with Iran through their Lebanese proxy - Hezballah.
Wake up, sleepy heads.

Excellent piece. Very insightful.

I think what we are looking at is a general escalation of violence in the Middle East. Only this morning, we had attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, and attacks on the Mahdi Army in Iraq over the last few weeks. As mentioned on CNN, this is a proxy war between the U.S., along with others in the region, and Iran. While, Sunni elements are now fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon, It is a Shia against Shia in Iraq. In both cases, the current fighting was started by the government actions. I believe the Bush Administration is trying to escalate the conflicts in the region in order to lock the new administration in 09 into a wider war. I would not be surprised if they did contemplate an air attack on Iran. I believe your analysis is correct. The Middle East is going to blow up! This maybe Israel's last anniversary, because it will be attacked if Iran is attacked.

If the bombing was such a "meritorious" success, then why are we LOSING the war in Afghanistan?

A plane which costs more than the entire GDP of Afghanistan managed to bomb a war-ravaged misery-ridden third world country.

Big deal.

Having to resort to such tactics is actually a sign of our foreign policy failures in the region. It is a cause for embarrassment not pride.

And we want to do this again in Iran? OK, so say we use our out-of-control military budget that exceeds that of Iran, Iraq and all the rest of the world combined, in order to bomb some sites in Iran.

Then what?

Man, talk about a one-trick pony.

If the bombing was such a "meritorious" success, then why are we LOSING the war in Afghanistan?

A plane which costs more than the entire GDP of Afghanistan managed to ombing a war-ravaged misery-ridden third world country.

Big deal.

Having to resort to such tactics is actually a sign of our foreign policy failures in the region. It is a cause for embarrassment not pride.

And we want to do this again in Iran? OK, so say we use our out-of-control military budget that exceeds that of Iran, Iraq and all the rest of the world combined, in order to bomb some sites in Iran.

Then what?

Man, talk about a one-trick pony.

"Pre-emptive"???? Why is any US or Israeli attack on another country immediately labelled as being "pre-emptive"?

Under international law, truly preemptive attacks are only permitted when there is definite chance of an imminent attack. There is no such imminent risk of any attack by Iran on the US, and so any US attack on Iran is not "pre-emptive" -- it is aggression plain and simple.

I wish you people in the media would stop using these labels to justify aggression.

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