We Recognize No Monarch

War is a Decision for Congress, Not the American Monarch

By DAVID SWANSON

Aiding a nation against a foreign invasion is not grounds for war.

The US aided France against Germany and still brags about it.

WMD possession is not grounds for war. The US has more of them than anyone.

The motivation for attacking Iran was laid out in 2000 by the PNAC, and as early as 1992 in defense planning guidance -- written for then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney by then-Pentagon staffers I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, World Bank Chief Paul Wolfowitz, and ambassador-nominee to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad.

If the motivation for attacking Iran was aid to Iraqi resisters, the U.S. would be attacking Saudi Arabia too.

There is no evidence that Iran has nukes. NIE in 2005 said 2015 was the earliest Iran could have them.

There is no evidence that the government of Iran is involved in aiding Iraqis, a fact that Peter Pace and the CIA agree with.

The evidence that anyone in Iran is aiding Iraqis is weak. The intelligence community has refused to take part. The military is making these claims. The Iran Directorate is no more reliable (or legal) than was the Office of Special Plans. Those presenting the case are refusing to use their names or to allow any cameras in the room.

The idea that Iraqis cannot produce roadside bombs of the type described by the U.S. military is absurd. And what makes it laughable is that four years ago, the White House was telling us that Iraqis could produce long-range missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, nukes, and chemical and biological weapons.

The people pitching this Iran story are the same ones who lied to us about Iraq. And they've been lying to us about Iran in recent months, including claiming that Iran kicked out IAEA inspectors, which the IAEA denied; claiming North Korea was helping Iran with nukes, which N Korea denied and evidence refuted; and blaming incidents in Iraq on Iranian-trained fighters claims that the facts have conflicted with.

In 1976 President Ford offered Iran the nuclear technology it is now trying to develop in the face of US opposition. In 2003, Iran proposed negotiations with the United States with everything on the table, including its nuclear technology. Bush refused.

Bush's threats and provocations are boosting support in Iran for a militaristic leader.

Threats by that leader do not justify war.

If you want to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons, talk to Iran, work with Iran, and keep the inspectors in. Inspections worked with Iraq.

Attacking Iran would be a catastrophe for Iranians, Israelis, Americans, and others. A war could escalate dramatically.

War is a decision for Congress, not for an American monarch.

David Swanson can be reached at: david@davidswanson.org


....and the truth shall set us free.