It was pretty clear in May 2004 when the Chalabi/Iran connection came into clearer view: the neocons had been played by the Iranians. Chalabi, a Shi’ite with ties to extremists in Tehran, seduced the neocons with visions of happy, liberated Iraqis flooding the streets waving American flags. And Perle, Kristol, and their boy in the Pentagon, Wolfowitz, with visions of hegemonic glory throbbing in their overactive imaginations, fell into the trap. Chalabi, like the good con man he is, told them what they wanted to hear, told them about all those WMD hidden throughout the country, and they took the bait. They didn’t bother to do their due dililgence. Why should they? They were the most powerful military force in the history of the world. Ain’t nobody gonna mess with them. And so Iran/Chalabi played them for the arrogant fools that they were.
Now with the latest fiasco in Lebanon, the perception that Iran is really controlling the agenda is finally filtering into the mainstream press, for instance in today’s Christian Science Monitor:
WASHINGTON – Even before this summer’s war between Israel and Hizbullah, American influence in the Middle East was seen to be waning, with the US bogged down in Iraq and the Bush administration’s signature vision for the region – democratization – increasingly controversial.
But as the US joins international powers in attempts to bolster a shaky cease-fire in southern Lebanon, American leverage is seen by many to be even weaker. That could have deep consequences in a tinderbox region that has long looked to US leadership to pull it back from the brink, analysts say.
One of those consequences, they add, is that with America no longer setting the agenda as it once did, the way is clearer for other influences – for example, Iran and radical Islam – to move in. Read more.
Iran got us to get rid of its mortal enemy, Saddam. It got the U.S. to hold elections, which means a Shi’ite majority will dominate Iraqi politics, and will naturally ally with Shi’ite Iran. And now that America has completely discredited itself in the eyes of the world and especially moderate Muslims, we have created a power vacuum which will now be filled by fanatics like Ahmadinejad.
Brilliant work, guys. Way to promote the forces of sanity and moderation in the region. You’ve played right into the hands of the extremists, and set back the schedule for real progress in the region by decades. The Iranians must look at U.S. leadership as big, dumb oafs with a lot of muscle but not very much brain power. They see the U.S leadership as if it were a big, angry lummox. They know how predictable he is. They know that all you have to do is ring the bell and like Pavlov’s dogs he’ll come running for the food. Or just say something insulting about his mother, and he’ll lunge at you swinging his fists, and then you jump out of the way to let him plunge into the pit you dug behind you. That’s where the U.S. is now–deep in that pit, and the Iranians must be having a good laugh.
Iran is playing a high stakes game, but it has shown that it can run
rings around the delusionary blunderers in the White House and civilian
leadership in the Pentagon. I don’t think the Iranians are too worried about payback. The more aggressive the U.S. policy toward Iran, like a jiujitsu master, Iran will find a way to turn U.S. aggression against itself. The neocon mafia along with Rumsfeld and Cheney have been out-maneuvered and outclassed; they are a disgrace and an embarrassment for anyone who still has a shred of genuine American idealism (as contrasted with the mindless jingoism that passes for it). They’re responsible for Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, tens of thousands of civilian deaths in Iraq, the loss of American prestige and influence, the squandering of the world’s goodwill after 9/11, and of the crudest fearmongering and thuggery in domestic politics.
And yet there they are, still respected by the media as if simply having power were reason enough to be respected. There they are still directing policy. And so many Americans shrug their shoulders and say, "It’s just politics as usual." It amazes me how many intelligent, thoughtful Americans have failed to grasp the enormity of what this administation has accomplished. How have we let this happen? They are thugs who represent everything that is worst in the American character. What does it say about us that we gave them this opportunity? That we believed them and trusted them? It’s bad, folks. And we’re just beginning to scratch the surface of just how bloody awful it really is.
Update: This Guardian article supports the Iran wins/America loses thesis.
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