Summer time War with Iran?

Beloveds,

Next month my 24 year old daughter Jamiell deploys for her second tour in Iraq as an Army Medic. I am deeply concerned for her safety, especially if we start a war with Iran, which appears increasingly likely.

Sometimes, I do feel very much like a lone voice crying out in the wilderness for peace and justice. And I have to wonder: how much good can my one little voice do to slow what appears to be a juggernaut of greed and destruction?

Yet even if my one small cry comes to naught, as a father, I am compelled to act.

Below you'll find an article and, for US citizens, a link to lend your support should you choose to do so.

Thanks for listening,

In gratitude and love,
Bodhi

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If you want to avoid war it's up to you to let Congress know. You can send your message here.

D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h Subject: Summertime War with Iran?

Is another war brewing? ...this time with Iran?

The administration claims Iranian-backed Shia militias are attacking U.S. troops in Iraq. Iran denies its involvement. Other reports say that Sunnis have been responsible for 2/3rds of the attacks in Iraq. It's also important to note that Al Qaeda is a Sunni group, not Shia. So who is responsible for most of the killing? Is is really the Shia Mullah's in Iran?

These Sunni-Shia distinctions confuse John McCain, Bill O'Reilly, and millions of Americans. General David Petraeus played on this ignorance in testimony to Congress last month. He blamed Iran's support of Shia militias for MOST of the remaining problems in Iraq. He said,

Iran has fueled the violence... with the Iraqi Security Forces, we have also focused on the Special Groups. These elements are funded, trained, armed, and directed by Iran's Qods Force... It is clearly in our national interest to resist Iranian encroachment.

Petraeus' rhetorical performance earned him a promotion, from military boss in Iraq, to chief of Central Command. His military responsibility now includes virtually the entire Middle East, including Iran.

Is this promotion another sign that President Bush wants to attack Iran before he leaves office? Andrew Cockburn reports,

The administration faced a serious obstacle to action against Iran in the form of Centcom commander Admiral William Fallon, who made no secret of his contempt for official determination to take us to war. In a widely publicized incident last January, Iranian patrol boats approached a U.S. ship in what the Pentagon described as a "taunting" manner. According to Centcom staff officers, the American commander on the spot was about to open fire. At that point, the U.S. was close to war. He desisted only when Fallon personally and explicitly ordered him not to shoot. The White House, according to the staff officers, was "absolutely furious" with Fallon for defusing the incident.

There are other signs of a pending war with Iran. Headlines and newsclips over the past month tell the story. Here's a partial list:

* Diplomats: Iran Assembling Centrifuges, The New York Times, April 3, 2008
* Iran And Al Qaeda Among Greatest Threats to U.S.: Bush, The New York Times, April 10, 2008
* Cheney on the War Path Again? By Dan Froomkin, Washingtonpost.com, April 11, 2008 (The Vice President portrayed Iran as apocalyptic zealots who yearn for a nuclear conflagration).
* Iran Nuclear Ambitions are Major Gulf Threat: NATO, The Washington Post, April 24, 2008
* Hawkish Engagement Needed with Iran?, by Michael O'Hanlon, Brookings Institution (A call for military action).
* Hamas are Iran's proxy warriors: Rice, AFP, April 30, 2008
* CIA Director Says Iran Wants to Kill Americans in Iraq, AP, April 30, 2008

But the evidence isn't limited to heated rhetoric and hand-wringing. The U.S. government has also taken physical steps to prepare for war. Just last week CBS News reported that the Pentagon ordered military commanders to develop new options for attacking Iran. A second aircraft carrier has also arrived in the Persian Gulf, and a Marine amphibious force was allegedly sent there Sunday.

Even worse, Republicans aren't the only ones rattling sabres. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has suggested a scenario where she could, as President, "totally obliterate" Iran.

Do you want another war in the Middle East? We already have two wars there that are bleeding us dry.

Do you want your gasoline bill to soar? Bombing Iran would make that happen.

And ask yourself this: would bombing Iran really deter the Shia militas in Iraq, or simply cause them to increase their attacks on U.S. forces and the local Sunni population?

Here's something else to consider: The Iranian population is now pro-American, in opposition to their clerical leaders. Do we really want to throw away their support? We have done this before. We squandered the post-9/11 support and sympathy of the whole world, including even Iran's Shia leaders, by invading Iraq. Do we really want to repeat this mistake?

President Bush has shown that he really doesn't care what anybody else thinks. He is going to do what he wants to do. Only Congress can stop him, by taking firm action to prohibit an attack. But Congress is too spineless to take this action unless it knows the public is passionate to avoid another war.

If you want to avoid war it's up to you to let Congress know. You can send your message here.

Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h
is the official email list of DownsizeDC.org, Inc. & Downsize DC Foundation

 

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Nafetah's picture

Sometimes, I do feel very much like a lone voice crying out in the wilderness for peace and justice. And I have to wonder: how much good can my one little voice do to slow what appears to be a juggernaut of greed and destruction?

Thank you, My dear Bodhi. I have never posted on politics here before, but now there are at least TWO little voices crying out in the wilderness for peace and justice. I just sent my message to Congress, also. I had no idea you had a daughter who will serve her second term in Iraq. War with Iran would be a big mistake.  My thoughts and prayers are with the both of you.

Tons of Love to you, your daughter, and the entire Universe!

--- Post removed at author's request ---

cathymoore's picture

Dearest Bodhi,

I hear you love of your daughter as well as all human beings.

I share your passion to voice your concerns and your feeling that you are singing solo.

I so honor your decision to do it anyways ,because my friend, it is the right thing to do, even if "it comes to naught".

Being Canadian, I can't contact your congressmen but I can write my member of parlament and voice my opposition.

I was never politically active until 1 year ago when I joined the Canadian Action Party & amnesty International.

I emailed my first letter to governemnt officials last week.

I was 'mad as hell' that our Justice minister was pushing through a bill that in fact opens the door for the codex alimentarus rules and regulations on health supplements to apply in Canada. As a nurse highly attuned to alternative therapies, as a Canadian seeing my right to make health choices being basically eliminated, as a human being aware of the NWO agenda & knowing this bill was part of the plan to reduce the world population, I knew I could not ignore this one.

So I wrote to my MP and I asked all my colleagues and family and friends to do the same. Not one did - not one chose to even read the documents-they told me either "They" (the government) wouldn't do that to us" or "What effect could 1 email have?" or "You could get into trouble for doing this" Basically the sheeple stayed in denial and inaction and in fear.

I agree, it does seem like another war is on the way and I am grateful for your sharing of the article.

I will continue to hold my intention of world  peace and harmony. And I will add to this the safe return of your daughter.

Know that you are not singing solo- we make a good duet even if we are singing across countries.

Much respect...........Cathy

Bodhi's picture

Beloved Sister fairyfarmgirl,
Your prayers of peace and support are precious to me.  Thank you for your kind blessing.
In gratitude and love,
Bodhi

Bodhi's picture

Beloved Sister Nafetah,
Many, many thanks to you dear sister for your loving thoughts and prayers of support.
In gratitude and love,
Bodhi

Bodhi's picture

Beloved Sister Cathy,
I am blessed indeed to have singing partner as able as you.
Many thanks for your love and support!
In gratitude and love,
Bodhi

Bodhi's picture

Thanks for stopping by Chris!
Sending warm blessings of peace, love, and light...
In love,
Bodhi

ChrisBowers's picture

Have been crying loudly since 2005 and then watching the blank unbelieving stares as they look forward to another wonderful night of "someone must lose for someone to win" on the "stay inside the box" boobtube.
I still have to wonder too what happened to that missing live nuke when six of them were flown illegally across the continental US from one base to another! Six were transported and five are accounted for! Something stinks to high heaven about that little "mishap" (mishap my a......). That isn't even the thing that scares me the most! It takes a very close second to the extremely bizarre and prozaic apathy and pro active ignorance and naive' arrogance of a nation that heard the very same things I did on widely available reports of this whole episode, but think that everything will always turn out to be just fine if they just keep their heads in the sand long enough. Has anyone ever seen the redistributed map of Iran drawn up by Bernard Lewis, a man after Leo Strauss' own heart (as per the NeoCon agenda of illusions by design)???
I will try to find it and link it here in this forum. It goes a long way of visually displaying what the true agenda for the whole middle east has been for quite a while now. I also watch oil approaching $125 a barrel and take that as a bit of "the writing on the wall" concerning our (republicans and democrats in lockstep) intentions for Iran.....

Bodhi, has Jamiell said anything about the kinetic energy penetrators being used that have and are poisoning the land and people (and soldiers stationed there) of Iraq and the Caspian Basin and Balkans with spent DU rounds? The reason I ask is because soldiers are still coming home sick from DU poisoning and the military/congress continues to ignore the symptoms and sweep these people into their early graves.

http://www.daanspeak.com/IranAttack03Eng.html

Love, Chris

maryc's picture

Dear bodhi,I wish for your beautiful daughter,and ALL PEACE. My father was a medic in Korea.....he never spoke about it,but war is so damaging for us ALL. God bless us every ONE! Love,Mary

Bodhi's picture

Thank you Mary, for your warm wishes of PEACE.
I treasure your support.
In gratitude and love,
Bodhi

fredburks's picture

Hey Bodhi, I didn't even know you were a father! Wow!!! How intense to have your daughter on two tours in Iraq! I can only imagine the feelings of anguish and more that must come up for you. I pray that as an ever-increasing number of people wake up to the realities of war and the forces behind it, not only will war with Iran be avoided, but the desire for any war will be replaced increasingly by the desire for seeing all people as family. Thanks for sharing so personally.

With much love and warm wishes,
Fred

Bodhi's picture

Thank you Fred, for your kind words, prayers, and support.
In gratitude and love,
Bodhi

JaiMe's picture

All our love and prayers are with you and your family in this time. That one small voice, when joined with many others, becomes a chorus that the divine cannot ignore Wink

Cirq's picture

I add my voice for peace to the growing chorus here.

I note with some relief, gratitude and even celebration that we made it thru the Summer without attacking Iran.

Not that we have to start a new thread "Autumn War with Iran" or anything like that, but staying vigilant and mindful is important.

The latest news on CommonDreams.org yesterday was encouraging:

Israel Asked US for Green Light to Bomb Nuclear Sites in Iran

US president told Israeli prime minister he would not back attack on Iran, senior European diplomatic sources tell Guardian

by Jonathan Steele

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/09/27-4

Iran Resolution Shelved in Rare Defeat for "Israel Lobby"

by Jim Lobe

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/09/26-3

We may think that just speaking and thinking about preserving peace is a small thing, but when you consider that the election-spinners must be very carefully weighing public opinion as to whether an attack on Iran would be good or bad for McCain's presidential bid, then you can see how critical public opinion is and every thought and meme we can inspire in the public mind to reject the notion that war would be a reason to rally around McCain in fear and patriotism, will pay big dividends of peace when the McCain pollsters and focus groups report back, "Nope, that dog won't hunt"

The more people who are prepared to see any attack on Iran as an attempt to "Wag the Dog", the more they'll realize war won't get them what they want and the more likely peace will be.

I won't completely relax until Obama's in the white house though.

I'm amazed and encouraged that we've delayed war with Iran this long.  Still-- four months to go-- keep the resolve for peace strong.

JaiMe's picture

Too cool!!! Not yet complete world peace but one small step for a man... Wink

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