I agree with Joe Klein's views. I guess he has come to realize perhaps lately that Iraq war is disastrous and totally unnecessary. With regards to Bush Administration's encouragement Israel to attack Iran this is what I wrote on my blog and I hope media takes note of the consequences of such an attack:

Is the Bush Administration Encouraging Israel to Attack Iran?
While the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) says Iran has either stopped or slowed down development of a nuclear weapon, Bush Administration is adamant that Iran is developing one. Apparently no lessons have been learnt from the "Weapons of Mass Destruction" fiasco, when Bush Administration hurriedly started the war preempting UN inspectors report which would have contradicted such a claim.

The recent and very visible exercises by Israeli air force have been described by some eager Pentagon officials as preparation for an attack on Iran. To many Middle East watchers this is probably just saber rattling and may in fact be to pressurize European allies to get on with it in Iran or else!

Has the White House or the Pentagon seriously considered consequences of an Israeli attack on Iran? Iran is neither Iraq or Syria and the fanatical Ahmedinajad regime will respond with everything he has got. Iran will retaliate by launching missiles on Tel Aviv (probably devastating the city) and close the Straits Of Hormuz sending crude oil price to $250 a barrel or higher causing massive problems for many economies of the world. An instant casualty will probably be the Iraqi Government as Moqtada Al-Sadr (supported by Iran) will bring the pro US Government down and cause chaos in Iraq.

The Israelis are not that stupid to launch another war. Their attack on Lebanese cities was watched in horror by the world. Instead of recovering two kidnapped soldiers it lost another 169 soldiers plus several hundred civilians killed. The most damage to Israel was to its invincibility built so impeccably in the six day war. Their super efficient army suddenly did not look so super any more. Israel seems to have learned its lessons and is now negotiating with its adversaries.

The larger question for the U.S. is, where is the US media in all this? Are they going to sit idly by while another war is launched and not challenge Bush Administration as they did before Iraq war? Why is media not analyzing and presenting to US public the consequences of such a misadventure?

A far fetched idea though, but is Bush Administration so worried by an Obama win and Democratic majorities in Senate and House this fall that it rather not have judicial probes opening up into the missing billions in Iraq, and massive no bid contracts to favorite companies etc. that it may cause another war and a security situation leveling the way for McCain to win - I hope not.

Posted at July 4, 2008 3:25 PM in response to Time's Joe Klein versus Foxman's Anti-Defamation League on THE NEOCONS!

Is the Bush Administration Encouraging Israel to Attack Iran?
While the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) says Iran has either stopped or slowed down development of a nuclear weapon, Bush Administration is adamant that Iran is developing one. Apparently no lessons have been learnt from the "Weapons of Mass Destruction" fiasco, when Bush Administration hurriedly started the war preempting UN inspectors report which would have contradicted such a claim.

The recent and very visible exercises by Israeli air force have been described by some eager Pentagon officials as preparation for an attack on Iran. To many Middle East watchers this is probably just saber rattling and may in fact be to pressurize European allies to get on with it in Iran or else!

Has the White House or the Pentagon seriously considered consequences of an Israeli attack on Iran? Iran is neither Iraq or Syria and the fanatical Ahmedinajad regime will respond with everything he has got. Iran will retaliate by launching missiles on Tel Aviv (probably devastating the city) and close the Straits Of Hormuz sending crude oil price to $250 a barrel or higher causing massive problems for many economies of the world. An instant casualty will probably be the Iraqi Government as Moqtada Al-Sadr (supported by Iran) will bring the pro US Government down and cause chaos in Iraq.

The Israelis are not that stupid to launch another war. Their attack on Lebanese cities was watched in horror by the world. Instead of recovering two kidnapped soldiers it lost another 169 soldiers plus several hundred civilians killed. The most damage to Israel was to its invincibility built so impeccably in the six day war. Their super efficient army suddenly did not look so super any more. Israel seems to have learned its lessons and is now negotiating with its adversaries.

The larger question for the U.S. is, where is the US media in all this? Are they going to sit idly by while another war is launched and not challenge Bush Administration as they did before Iraq war? Why is media not analyzing and presenting to US public the consequences of such a misadventure?

A far fetched idea though, but is Bush Administration so worried by an Obama win and Democratic majorities in Senate and House this fall that it rather not have judicial probes opening up into the missing billions in Iraq, and massive no bid contracts to favorite companies etc. that it may cause another war and a security situation leveling the way for McCain to win - I hope not.

Posted at July 3, 2008 3:26 PM in response to October Surprise: Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb...Bomb Iran

McCain's reference to Benazir Bhutto and Musharraf is a typical example of what Rep Brad Miller says about U.S. foreign policy. As a Pakistani I can tell you that nearly 80% of Pakistanis think Musharraf is occupying his office illegally through manipulated elections a-la-Mugabe and want him out sooner rather than later. President Bush and his cronies are pressurizing the newly (and popularly) elected Government in Pakistan not to remove Musharraf.

Similarly, in Pakistan Benazir Bhutto (may God bless her soul) was widely considered corrupt having amassed hundreds of millions of dollars during her last stint in power, but she returned to Pakistan with a clean slate after a deal brokered by Bush Administration with Musharraf.

Rep Miller is right, the U.S. foreign policy is made by idiots sitting in the White House or State Dept regardless of realities on the ground. No wonder there is such an anti-U.S. sentiment around the world.

Posted at June 24, 2008 6:16 PM in response to Does John McCain Understand the Music?

Europe massacred six million Jews and Palestinians were made to pay for it. Today Palestinians are despondent, they have no life or a chance for a reasonable existence.

President Bush gave Ariel Sharon the green light to destroy the Palestinians by calling them terrorists while talking about a two state formula at the same time. He never intended creation of a Palestinian state. His term of office is coming to an end and he has made no serious efforts in this regard. Hawkish Israelis don't want to give up occupied lands and that could be Israel's undoing. If Palestinians are denied a state and a civilised existence, they will only breed more extremists who will be hell bent on ausing trouble for Israel.

I agree with your comment whole heartedly that Israel must come to peace and take steps for creation of a Palestinian state so both Israel and Palestine can exist side by side in harmony.

Posted at May 2, 2008 9:25 PM in response to The Holocaust and The Occupation

Hillary Clinton's Last Hurrah!
Hillary Clinton's win in Pennsylvania with a 9.2% margin is indeed decisive and a morale booster. However, this translates into a pledged delegate pick of 10 only Hillary's 84 to Barack's 74. In the overall pledge delegate count Barack leads Hillary by 1494 to 1333, a lead of 161 delegates.

In Pennsylvania, the core constituencies voted in their usual pattern i.e. young, well off as well as African Americans for Obama and women for Clinton. The blue collar white workers however made the difference as they were not able to overcome racial prejudices and tilted the primary in Clintons favour. Most polls did indicate that Clinton will win by between 6 and 10 per cent. A poll conducted by a local university came closest to the actual result.

Pennsylvania is Hillary's last Hurrah as Obama is leading by over 15 points in North Carolina and is almost even in Indiana. Mathematially, Hillary has no chance to gain a lead in pledged delegates. But who cares about them, the Clintons (both Hillary and Bill) used all the dirty tricks they could against Obama to win Pennsylvania. New York Times was quite right to criticise their Republican like tactics. It seems that Clintons are hell bent on snatching the nomination even if their fight destroys the Democratic Party. This has already given respectability to McCain, who was otherwise visibly a weak candidate.

There is however no indication that Hillary will quit after Indiana and North Carolina. Clintons will probably go even more negative and use Karl Rove style strategy (James Carville is beginning to sound more like him every day) in order to muddy the waters and confuse super delegates so they hold off siding with Obama. Their game plan seems to be that if there is no clear nominee until the convention they can then deploy back room bargaining to win on the second ballot. This process will weaken and damage the Democratic Party and their chances of winning the White House in November will be greatly reduced.

According to latest Rasmussen Reports, Hillary is still viewed negatively by 53% voters (highest amongst the three candidates) and despite Pennsylvania they give Obama an 81.1% chance of winning the Democratic nomination (link below).

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

It is now up to the Democratic Party leaders and elders to decide if they want the fight to go on to convention floor in August and lose the White House in November or decide on a nominee after May 5 primaries. This can be accomplished by asking the 300+ uncommitted super delegates to decide now.

Posted at April 25, 2008 1:49 PM in response to Paul Krugman is Confused

Hillary Clinton's Last Hurrah!
Hillary Clinton's win in Pennsylvania with a 9.2% margin is indeed decisive and a morale booster. However, this translates into a pledged delegate pick of 10 only Hillary's 84 to Barack's 74. In the overall pledge delegate count Barack leads Hillary by 1494 to 1333, a lead of 161 delegates.

In Pennsylvania, the core constituencies voted in their usual pattern i.e. young, well off as well as African Americans for Obama and women for Clinton. The blue collar white workers however made the difference as they were not able to overcome racial prejudices and tilted the primary in Clintons favour. Most polls did indicate that Clinton will win by between 6 and 10 per cent. A poll conducted by a local university came closest to the actual result.

Pennsylvania is Hillary's last Hurrah as Obama is leading by over 15 points in North Carolina and is almost even in Indiana. Mathematially, Hillary has no chance to gain a lead in pledged delegates. But who cares about them, the Clintons (both Hillary and Bill) used all the dirty tricks they could against Obama to win Pennsylvania. New York Times was quite right to criticise their Republican like tactics. It seems that Clintons are hell bent on snatching the nomination even if their fight destroys the Democratic Party. This has already given respectability to McCain, who was otherwise visibly a weak candidate.

There is however no indication that Hillary will quit after Indiana and North Carolina. Clintons will probably go even more negative and use Karl Rove style strategy (James Carville is beginning to sound more like him every day) in order to muddy the waters and confuse super delegates so they hold off siding with Obama. Their game plan seems to be that if there is no clear nominee until the convention they can then deploy back room bargaining to win on the second ballot. This process will weaken and damage the Democratic Party and their chances of winning the White House in November will be greatly reduced.

According to latest Rasmussen Reports, Hillary is still viewed negatively by 53% voters (highest amongst the three candidates) and despite Pennsylvania they give Obama an 81.1% chance of winning the Democratic nomination (link below).

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

It is now up to the Democratic Party leaders and elders to decide if they want the fight to go on to convention floor in August and lose the White House in November or decide on a nominee after May 5 primaries. This can be accomplished by asking the 300+ uncommitted super delegates to decide now.

Posted at April 25, 2008 1:39 PM in response to Hillary's Game Plan -- A Path To Victory?

Well done, I agree with you entirely. The debate was pathetic, the questions stupid and cheap. Prime example of how the media is totally out of touch with public and keep harping on beat up issues that no one has an interest in any more. Shame on ABC, shame on Charlie & George.

Posted at April 18, 2008 7:04 PM in response to Journalists Slam ABC Debate Tactics

When Obama made the speech he was under a lot of pressure to explain his interaction with Wrighht and the church. Despite that he made a brilliant speech opening the door to a dialogue about things past suggesting that these be brought in the open and discussed freely so as to heel the past wounds permanently rather than brush them under the carpet.

I believe, this has made Obama an even stronger Presidential candidate, who can talk sense even when under pressure. More people respect him today because of that.

The media was totally clueless, while they were still harping on Wright the people had already moved on.

Posted at March 31, 2008 3:24 PM in response to Putting Fallacies to Rest

It is Time to Shut Down Hillary Clinton
With Democratic race getting nastier by the day and Republican nominee wandering the world looking Presidential, it is time that Democrats brought an end to the nomination race.

Hillary Clinton is stretching her experience claims each day. She and her camp are trying to dig up dirt on the front runner so much so that it could damage the Democrats in fall. Hillary's trip to Bosnia under hail of fire has been discussed much in the media. Last night on Larry King Live, the renown journalist Maureen Dowd who accompanied Hillary put paid to Hillary's peace claims in Ireland. She said that apart from having tea with old ladies, Hillary had no contribution towards the Irish peace on that trip.

There is no mathematical possibility of Hillary Clinton winning the nomination. She is likely to win Pennsylvania, but she is 21 points behind Obama in North Carolina according to latest opinion polls.

It is time that a large number of Democratic Senators, Congressmen/women and party officials step forward and endorse Barack Obama in order to shut down Hillary Clinton before she does more damage to the party. Perhaps this is what Harry Reid was talking about yesterday.

Posted at March 26, 2008 2:40 PM in response to Blogguest

It is Time to Shut Down Hillary Clinton
With Democratic race getting nastier by the day and Republican nominee wandering the world looking Presidential, it is time that Democrats brought an end to the nomination race.

Hillary Clinton is stretching her experience claims each day. She and her camp are trying to dig up dirt on the front runner so much so that it could damage the Democrats in fall. Hillary's trip to Bosnia under hail of fire has been discussed much in the media. Last night on Larry King Live, the renown journalist Maureen Dowd who accompanied Hillary put paid to Hillary's peace claims in Ireland. She said that apart from having tea with old ladies, Hillary had no contribution towards the Irish peace on that trip.

There is no mathematical possibility of Hillary Clinton winning the nomination. She is likely to win Pennsylvania, but she is 21 points behind Obama in North Carolina according to latest opinion polls.

It is time that a large number of Democratic Senators, Congressmen/women and party officials step forward and endorse Barack Obama in order to shut down Hillary Clinton before she does more damage to the party. Perhaps this is what Harry Reid was talking about yesterday.

Posted at March 26, 2008 2:13 PM in response to Bill Clinton To Campaigns: Stop Telling Each Other's Staffers To Resign, Already!