Thanks Tom

January 29, 2012
Tomgram: Engelhardt, Iran Through the Looking Glass

Iranian Aircraft Carriers in the Gulf of Mexico
It Can’t Happen Here
By Tom Engelhardt

Exclusive: New Iranian Commando Team Operating Near U.S.

(Tehran, FNA) The Fars News Agency has confirmed with the Republican Guard’s North American Operations Command that a new elite Iranian commando team is operating in the U.S.-Mexican border region. The primary day-to-day mission of the team, known as the Joint Special Operations Gulf of Mexico Task Force, or JSOG-MTF, is to mentor Mexican military units in the border areas in their war with the deadly drug cartels.  The task force provides “highly trained personnel that excel in uncertain environments,” Maj. Amir Arastoo, a spokesman for Republican Guard special operations forces in North America, tells Fars, and “seeks to confront irregular threats...”

The unit began its existence in mid-2009 -- around the time that Washington rejected the Iranian leadership’s wish for a new diplomatic dialogue. But whatever the task force does about the United States -- or might do in the future -- is a sensitive subject with the Republican Guard.  “It would be inappropriate to discuss operational plans regarding any particular nation,” Arastoo says about the U.S.

Okay, so I made that up.  Sue me.  But first admit that, a line or two in, you knew it was fiction.  After all, despite the talk about American decline, we are still on a one-way imperial planet.  Yes, there is a new U.S. special operations team known as Joint Special Operations Task Force-Gulf Cooperation Council, or JSOTF-GCC, at work near Iran and, according to Wired magazine’s Danger Room blog, we really don’t quite know what it’s tasked with doing (other than helping train the forces of such allies as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia). 

And yes, the quotes are perfectly real, just out of the mouth of a U.S. “spokesman for special-operations forces in the Mideast,” not a representative of Iran’s Republican Guard.  And yes, most Americans, if they were to read about the existence of the new special ops team, wouldn’t think it strange that U.S. forces were edging up to (if not across) the Iranian border, not when our “safety” was at stake. 

Reverse the story, though, and it immediately becomes a malign, if unimaginable, fairy tale.  Of course, no Iranian elite forces will ever operate along the U.S. border.  Not in this world.  Washington wouldn’t live with it and it remains the military giant of giants on this planet.  By comparison, Iran is, in military terms, a minor power. 

Any Iranian forces on the Mexican border would represent a crossing of one of those “red lines” that U.S. officials are always talking about and so an international abomination to be dealt with severely.  More than that, their presence would undoubtedly be treated as an act of war.  It would make screaming headlines here.  The Republican candidates for the presidency would go wild.  You know the rest.  Think about the reaction when Attorney General Eric Holder announced that an Iranian-American used-car salesman from Texas had contacted a Mexican drug cartel as part of a bizarre plot supposedly hatched by senior members of the elite Iranian Quds Force to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in a Washington restaurant and possibly bomb the Saudi and Israeli embassies as well.

Comments

[warren,]

Back to the Sandbox and Who can Piss the Furthest, Thanks Tony.

[Antonio Andolini]

So, just what is it we are supposed to do? Appease Aquavelvajad (thank you, Dennis Miller)? Ignore him? Send the Secretary of State to make nice? "Have another hookah, Hillary."
I do not believe the USA needs to be the world's policeman. I don't believe in nation-building. But I do believe the world is a dangerous place. I do believe there are forces that wish to destroy this great nation.
So, what to do? Sit back and watch? If so, we do it from a position of strength and with a keen eye, ever watchful, and prepared for massive retaliation.
I learned first hand in grammar school that the way to stop being bullied is to punch the bully square in the face. The teacher and perhaps the principal will not be happy, but that's because they were unaware or unwilling or unable to prevent the situation in the first place.
Oh, and AG Eric Holder is a disgrace who should have resigned a long time ago.

[Antonio Andolini]

Well, what do you know? Seems that chart about defense spending and GDP that was on Rickety's site is from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Thanks Tom.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
http://milexdata.sipri.org/result.php4

[Antonio Andolini]

"By comparison, Iran is, in military terms, a minor power." According to SIPRI, Iran only spends 1.8% of its GDP on defense expenditures. If you are not building a nuclear bomb in those reactor facilities, then, I suppose, that is not a defense expenditure. They are just trying to generate electricity to light up all those incandescent bulbs, banned in the USA, that they got a good deal on.

[Antonio Andolini]

"All we are saying, is give Ron Paul a chance."
(with apologies to John Lennon.)

[warren,]

The Man who is the Spiritual Inspiration behind Byte & Chew is Comfotable with Mitt Romney. See's No Differance between Mitt and Barry.

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/44270

- And the beat goes on.

[Wing Nut]

Warren,

You are a funny guy. I hate to tell you but Romney is not Obama. Furthermore, Soros would not be able to manipulate Romney. No way in hell Newt Gingrich is the answer to our problems. And Ron Paul is just plain nuts.

Romney is the best choice if the goal is to defeat Obama. And, Romney is leading Gingrich (AKA "Obama-lite") in Florida by 15 points. Thank the good Lord that Floridians are apparently smarter than South Carolinians.

See ya,
WN

[Antonio Andolini]

Thursday, Feb. 2
• Attorney General Eric Holder is scheduled at 9 a.m. to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Operation Fast and Furious, the gun-walking probe.
http://oversight.house.gov/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=20&extmode=view&extid=370

http://oversight.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1572:issa-demands-access-to-second-us-attorney-who-supervised-operation-fast-and-furious-&catid=22:releasesstatements

[Antonio Andolini]

WN,
Like many Berlinites, you suffer from "Inevitable syndrome." Prisons, biomass, Northern Pass, Romney as nominee; "it's inevitable, why fight it?"
It is contagious, I admit. I am fighting off a bout of the "Obama's gonna get re-elected" strain.
2016 is coming.

[BO aka POTUS]

I hope you all support Mitt Romney if you are not going to support me. We both believe in Big Government and want it to continue. Thank You

Thanks WN we truly appreciate you supporting the status quo. It means you really do love it and us!

Obama/Romney 2012!!! (we're really both the same)

PS you are right WN, Paul is a nut. He wants to bring back the Constitution, what a nutty idea! We appreciate you helping us to stop that idea.

[Antonio Andolini]

My favorite Dick Tracy character was B.O. Plenty.

[This message approved by Romney/Obama 2012 & WN & Toonist]

Toonist and WN are Big Government lovers who believe:

Big Government should be permitted to tell people what to do with their private property
Big Government must be allowed to teach all our children and tell everyone what they must learn at any cost.
Big Government must control the monetary system
Big Government must regulate all parts of our lives
Big Government must have a say in personal and private decisions
Big Government has the right to kill and indefinitely detain any person they want
Big Government steal from the poor and give to the rich
Big Government can invade any country they want any time they want
Big Government should be allowed to tell people what to put in their body
Big Government should be allowed to curtail gun ownership rights
Big Government must curtail free speech
Big Government has a right to ignore the US Constitution as it sees fit
Big Government must control health care
Big Government must continue to send our money overseas to prop up foreign dictators
Big Government is the answer to all our problems
Big Government is ok, as long as it is either Obama or Romney or anyone else who will continue to support the status quo.
Big Government IS the answer.

WN and Toonist LOVE Big Government enough to keep voting for it and lieing in order to get what they want.

Obama/Romney 2012 - Because we believe Big Government can save us all.

[Problem, Reaction, Solution.]

The Truth about Big Government. (aka Romney/Obama)

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtzrqvPfnE0

Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqsppmBsTdE

[One American]

Toonist/WN - Who gets to decide what goes in my body?

[Rocky]

That's a fairly dumb question "One American". I know why you're asking the simplistic question, but the reality is that even you don't know "what goes in your body". If it wasn't for rules and regulations that require that the information be on the package, you would have no idea. Sorry, but simplistic solutions are not in order.

[Wing Nut]

I am not a supporter of Big Government. That is why I voted for Romney in the NH primary and that is why I'll be voting for him in the general election.

Tomorrow will be a good day for the future of America.

Take care,
WN

[Antonio Andolini]

The police-prison industrial complex continues its expansion. Wake up New Hampshire!
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120130/NEWS07/701309974/private-prison-interest-strong-for-new-hampshire&utm_source=newsletter20120130&utm_medium=email&utm_content=toparticle_morelink&utm_campaign=newsletter

[One American]

And there you have it, a statement that reflects the pure arrogance of Big Government. Can’t or won’t answer the question? Only dumb answers Rocky. You are saying that you don’t trust me to make my own decisions about my own life and what I feel is best for me. You know better and are willing to impose force and imprisonment against me if need be to see that I comply. But I am not sure what you are afraid of? You believe you have a higher right to my life then I do. Tell me why I should continue to live if I can’t be free to decide what I want to put into my body?

[Antonio Andolini]

As for what goes in my body, I decide what I eat and what I drink. Granted, I do not have as much control over what I breathe. Yes, Rocky, the government makes sure, supposedly, that what I eat and drink is not bad for me, but ever read that information on the package? The government regulates and subsidizes all sorts of unhealthy food and drink. There need to be some rules and regulations, but we also need to make our own choices and learn to live with the results of those choices.
Rights relinquished to the government will never be returned.

[Editor]

Oops WN, I corrected a few errors for you. You're welcome. :)

"I am a supporter of Big Government. That is why I voted for Romney in the NH primary and that is why I'll be voting for him in the general election.

Tomorrow will be a good day for the future of America, and Big Government.

Take care,
WN"

[Wing Nut]

Rocky,

While I agree that there are some things that need to be done by our government, there is no question that the size and scope of the Federal Government is currently out of control. Obama has not helped during his 3 years and in fact has made things much worse. That is why I'm voting for Romney/Rubio in 2012.

Take care,
WN

[Antonio Andolini]

Anything is possible, WN, but I wouldn't count on that ticket. Senator Rubio is just getting into the national spotlight and would do well to avoid all the $#!t slinging that will go on in the upcoming national election.
2016 is coming.

[Rocky]

Because you don't have a clue One American, not a clue.

[toonist]

Yo wing nut I know a fellow liberal who said that if Willard wins the Repub nomination she's gonna vote for him! Go figure.
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/400821_3150217924279_1530035362_33003719_173190140_n.jpg

[Antonio Andolini]

Yeah, I see the difference. Willard supports the shoe shine guy, Barack just fist pumps the janitor, excuse me, the sanitary engineer.