Burn Me Twice: Preparations Continue for Iran Invasion

   Reuters reported this evening that the Pentagon is preparing to deploy 3,500 troops to Kuwait. According to senior defense officials, the decision follows a recommendation by Army Gen. John Abizaid, who made the call before DefSec Gates even returned from Iraq. The announcement is a direct slap in the face of incoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Joe Biden, who only today voiced his opposition to the president's call for a "troop surge." But, Populist Review readers know the inevitable troop surge isn't about Iraq. It's about Iran (see yesterday's post). And we agree with Steve Clemons that Bush has set a political trap for Democrats by drawing them into collusion on increased deployments and a larger military, a collusion neither will be able to finance.

   Our advice to the incoming Democratic Congress is simple: no draft, no increase in military personnel, no new deployments in or around Iraq, a timetable for troop withdrawals from the region, and a freeze on additional spending for the war. To widen the conflict at a time when our trade deficit is at an all-time high, our housing and manufacturing sectors are in disarray, our economy is descending into recession, our debt is at unprecedented levels, tax revenues have been drastically cut, and the death toll in Iraq is set to surpass 3,000, would be a calamitous and irreparable mistake. The Democrats have a responsiblity to stand against this administration's policies and they were given that responsibility by the voters. If they shrink at the task and become active co-conspirators in a broader agenda to widen the war, their claim to the throne will be negligible.

                                                   

Andrea Hackett is an freelance journalist, founder of the Las Vegas Dancers Alliance in Nevada, and editor of the Populist Review. She may be contacted at andreahackett@cox.net

Comments

[Jeb]

Interesting post. I hadn't read that about the troop deployment to Kuwait. I hope your wrong, of course, as I'm sure you do, that this is the beginning of some sort of offensive against Iran. To think, as some do in Washington, that Iranians would welcome our intervention now that we've bungled Iraq so badly is truly unbelievable.