Feb 22, 2007, Vol. 2 No. 6

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:29

FIGHTING DEMS NEWS SERVICE

foreign policy * national security * military & veterans affairs

 

February 22, 2007

Vol. 2 No. 6      

 

THE NEWS HEADLINES

 

Stop Iran War Campaign Launched

Saudis Going Nuclear With Russia, Pak Aid

War Helping Al-Qaeda Regroup Experts Say

Afghanistan Could Become Next Iraq

Short & Sweet

 

THE OP/ED HEADLINES

 

Getting It Right on Iran

Stop Bin Laden From Defeating Bush

New Democratic Thinking Needed

About Fighting Dems News Service

 

THE ARTICLE SUMMARIES AND LINKS

 

STOP IRAN WAR CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
VoteVets.org and retired Gen. Wesley Clark jointly launched StopIranWar.com Wednesday hoping it will become the premier hub of a national campaign to stop a war with Iran.
FDNS Report At:
http://tinyurl.com/2wme6s

 

SAUDIS GOING NUCLEAR WITH RUSSIA, PAK AID
As America's reputation in the Middle East continues downward Russia's is on the ascendancy and the U.S. faces the prospect of unhappy political realignments directly affecting American interests and upping the stakes for the next president.  Nothing more clearly illustrates this than the recent talks calling for Russia to help the Saudis with nuclear power development along with providing weapons and satellites and the Saudi's reportedly sealing a deal with Pakistan to get a nuclear bomb if Iran develops one.
FDNS  News Analysis At:
http://tinyurl.com/3bb762

 

WAR HELPING AL-QAEDA REGROUP EXPERTS SAY
The Iraq war and the Internet is helping al-Qaeda regroup terrorism experts told a House Armed Services subcommittee recently.
FDNS Report At:
http://tinyurl.com/3cbvgv

 

AFGHANISTAN COULD BECOME NEXT IRAQ
American commanders in Afghanistan fear that an impending spring offensive by Taliban insurgents could topple frail U.S.-backed government.  "We have our finger in the dike because our resources and attention were turned toward Iraq," said Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA).  Sestak is a former Navy admiral who served in both wars.
FDNS Report At:
http://tinyurl.com/2nfq7v

 

SHORT & SWEET

 

Have They Learned Anything Yet?

 

During a recent White House press briefing Press Secretary Tony Snow was asked if knowing what he did today about the Iraq war would he still have gone into Iraq?

 

Snow's answer?  "Yes.  The President believes that we did the right thing in going into Iraq.  The question is, should you saddle any military planner with an expectation that they're going to have a perfect insight into what happens five years later."

 

The earlier question that led to the above had to do with the administration's miscalculation at the beginning of the war to the effect that the occupation would only require a few months stabilization period.  The question posed was "What went wrong."

 

"I'm not sure anything went wrong," Snow said explaining in effect that the administration should not be blamed for faulty judgment.

 

All The President's Leakers

 

Regardless of the verdict at least the trial has revealed that up to ten people in the White House, including possibly Vice-president Dick Cheney, disclosed to other officials or reporters the identity of former CIA covert operative Valarie Plame, wife of former ambassador Joe Wilson whom the White House was bent on discrediting.


THE OP/ED SUMMARIES AND LINKS

 

GETTING IT RIGHT ON IRAN
The truth about the Iranian threat is that the Bush Administration is not telling the real truth.  Like any effective propagandist President Bush is using a kernel of truth and, with the help of many in the media, laying the foundation for another war.  Only this time it will likely be a war of retaliation rather than one of pre-emption.
Contributing Editor Larry C. Johnson At:
http://tinyurl.com/2kutvo

 

STOP BIN LADEN FROM DEFEATING BUSH
Osama Bin Laden is on the brink of a major strategic victory over George W. Bush caused by the arrogance, ignorance, and partisanship of an Administration that does nothing except escalate its mistakes.
Contributing Editor Brent Budowsky At:
http://tinyurl.com/2rkzod

 

NEW DEMOCRATIC THINKING NEEDED
Daily now I am concerned about fast, naïve and panicky actions on behalf of Democrats. Recently, the Governor of Virginia, who I ordinarily respect, endorsed a candidate for the '08 Presidential race a full year before the major primaries take place, and probably before the best even arrive on the scene. The day before that, a stand-up comic announced his intentions to run for Senate as a Democrat. Will irony stop malfeasance and illegal politics? I think not. It was the assurance that the others would only respond with irony that enabled the brute to power in the first place. Another announced candidate hired bloggers well known and notorious for their anti-Catholic screed and was slow to fire them when this was brought to the attention of the public.
Contributing Editor Bernie Quigley At:
http://tinyurl.com/2jt8ht