The corporate media were infested today with neocons like Danielle Pletka, Jennifer Rubin and Chris Wallace who insisted that only US intervention in Syria would make the world safe.
Pletka and Rubin descended in their arguments to the truth of their position. This position is that Iran will be emboldened by what they call US "weakness" in Syria. Yes, that's right, its's all about Israel for them. Evidently they have never seen a war in which they would not sacrifice the interests of the US and the lives of her soldiers to make Israel safe and the undisputed hegemon of the Middle East. Iran is not a serious threat to the US.
Wallace on FNS had a slightly different response to conservative disinclination in his panel for a US war in Syria. His response was to ask "Well, then, you want the tyrant Assad to continue to rule and butcher these good people," and then later, "I guess you would have wanted Saddam Hussein to still be there as well..." In the end it is the same position as that held be Pletka and Rubin.
I suggest that Fox News send him on his way. Perhaps he can work at MSNBC where his anti-gun and interventionist sentiments will be welcomed. pl
I can buy that his anti-gun views would be welcomed at MSNBC but who really is pushing for intervention there? The evening anchors (Hayes, Maddow) aren't. Maybe the pathetic Morning Joe crowd.
Neocon rage is a good sign. Hopefully it means they recognize that their influence is waning.
These types can't be cured of the notion that they can create governments that will be friendly to Israel.
Posted by: Will Reks | 02 June 2013 at 04:04 PM
So Russia veto'd the 'statement of concern' or whatever by the UNSC about the retaking of Aleppo based off the fact it wasn't a concern when Aleppo originally fell. Great drama.
Also I've seen a lot of reports about how 12 rebels were killed and one HA fighter died. Sounds like a correct ratio.
Posted by: Tyler | 02 June 2013 at 04:36 PM
The main issue that concerns Israel in the Middle East is economic in my opinion.
If Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria (and perhaps Libya etc.) become preferred destinations for Western investment then Israels influence in the region must reduce.
And what do we have? Iran, Iraq and Syria building a gas pipeline from Irans South Pars field through Iraw to Syria and potentially Lebanon and on into Europe. If that happens, what do you think Europes attitude to Israel will become?
The pipeline as far as Iraq will allegedly be in operation this summer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/earth-insight/2013/may/13/1
Posted by: walrus | 02 June 2013 at 05:00 PM
@Tyler, you are referring to an incursion into Lebanon by the Syrian Freedom Fighters who were engaged by Hezb forces and lost 17 against the 1 of the local guys defending their own territory.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10820324
Posted by: dan of steele | 02 June 2013 at 05:19 PM
I've love to have a couple of these prestigious neocons and liberal interventionists answer one simple question: when we defeat Assad, which model should we follow then: Iraq, Afghanistan, or Libya?
These dim bulbs have no clue on what to do AFTER we start a war or get mixed up in a civil war.
But we can't count anyone in our dearly beloved media to ask such a question: for the dimwits it would be akin to treason.
Posted by: JohnH | 02 June 2013 at 06:03 PM
OT: Anyone is watching what is happening to Erdogan during those past 3 days.
There he was, working on behalf of the Saudis and Qataris for the downfall of Al-Assad and his own people is asking for his resignation.
What goes around comes around!!!
Will we hear a Free Turkish Army from William Hague or Fabius?
Posted by: The beaver | 02 June 2013 at 08:34 PM
Islamic cleric decrees it OK for Syrian rebels to rape women
http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/3/islamic-cleric-decrees-it-ok-syrian-rebels-rape-wo/
Salafis set off bombs in Boston and murder British soldiers on British streets but when it comes to Syria we can't arm them and finance them quick enough.
Posted by: johnf | 03 June 2013 at 07:20 AM
There is already an unused pipeline in the area. Please check out Tapline, from Saudi Arabia to the Lebanese coast owned by Aramco. It was closed down for political reasons about 30 years ago. Someone else here may have a better grasp of its history than me.
Posted by: r whitman | 03 June 2013 at 07:54 AM
Wiki on Pletka. She was born in Australia and was an Australian citizen who came to the US and became a journalist with the Moonies as I recall.
She got her job on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee through the intervention of Joe Churba, now dead, who was a strong Zionist. I don't doubt that a few SST readers know Churba's background.
She and other Neocon types were moved into the Foreign Relations Committee staff after a purge of the old Helms staff. Thus, the conservative Helms became neoconized. Some allege she was still an Australian citizen when first serving at the committee and then her US citizenship came quickly thereafter. Similar pattern with the influential Martin Indyk, a former Australian citizen (and Brit before that?) who became a US citzen...both strong Zionists.
Posted by: Clifford Kiracofe | 03 June 2013 at 08:44 AM
In any event, the Israel-firsters' push for the US involvement in a war with Syria is treasonous.
Posted by: Anna-Marina | 03 June 2013 at 08:54 AM
Are the principal NeoCons of any particular religious persuasion?
Are Christians threatened in Syria? Easter Rite or otherwise?
How many Christians are in Syria?
Posted by: William R. Cumming | 03 June 2013 at 09:05 AM
Just goes to show you that the Syrian rebels have a grossly inflated view of their own skills.
Posted by: Tyler | 03 June 2013 at 09:19 AM
US and Euro media have consistently self-censored reporting on opposition parties in Turkey. Because media whores support war against Syria they cover up for the Islamists in Turkey. Turkey receives massive amounts of money/investments from Saudi and the Gulfies.
Now the Turks themselves allegedly discover AQ and extremist terrorists operating inside Turkey against Syria have sarin.
Can the secular opposition come back to power in Turkey now that the Islamists have taken over?
Aren't there more peasants in central Anatolia etc. who support the Islamists than there are educated middle class secularists in Istanbul who support the old Attaturk politics? What do the numbers suggest?
Posted by: Clifford Kiracofe | 03 June 2013 at 09:36 AM
These Neocons have the U.S Govt by the shorthairs, their power is unassailable, their ideology has permeated all levels of our society, either they get their walking papers or things will continue down the same bloody path.
The U.S military leaders will follow any order they are given by the politicians as ought to be the case, but an illegal order such as going to war without congressional approval ought to be rejected,send the order back to meet the letter of the law. The Orwellian dictionary allows them to be servile followers of the lobbying interests that we have been belly aching about for many years now, namely, the neocon lobbies.
Just following orders sir was not accepted at Nuremberg and ought not to be accepted as an excuse to send our brave men and women under arms to die in middle east wars for a foreign interest, if such is the case as seems to be implied in the article above.
Posted by: samuel burke | 03 June 2013 at 10:54 AM
When will we hear from BHO that Erdogan "has lost his authority to govern" and that "he must step down" immediately?
Posted by: Bill H | 03 June 2013 at 11:25 AM
apparently over a shopping mall - he's more secular than we thought!? Although he tightened alcohol laws just before this crisis, so who can tell?
Posted by: Charles I | 03 June 2013 at 01:07 PM
They're generally Jewish.
I'm sure the idea that ancient Christian communities are getting wiped out by a Jewish controlled political organ is just a happy coincidence.
Posted by: Tyler | 03 June 2013 at 03:09 PM
Israel has no influence in the region outside of security/military dimension.
Also, I think people are reading too much into these gas pipelines. Under the current circumstances, which probably would go on for decades, there would be no gas supplies to EU from Iran.
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 03 June 2013 at 03:11 PM
Look for the Qatari realestate angle in this story- no tree, mall story has changed into a mosque after the WE. Islamists can be corrupted to the hilt and he has sold his soul to the Qataris.
However this is another piece of news:
http://news.yahoo.com/insight-saudi-edges-qatar-control-syrian-rebel-support-165943953.html
Qataris got slapped down and now the Saudis (Bandar) are leading the dance for regime change. The Brits must be happy (win win for them) but the French (pro Qatar) may be getting a bloody nose.
So the MB gang (Turks and Qataris) have lost against the Salafis.
Posted by: The beaver | 03 June 2013 at 03:11 PM
Israel isn't supplying Europe with gas or oil. This pipeline would be a secondary source to compete against the Russians, wouldn't it? If Europe got over the holocaust guilt trip they would put their own interests first. If Europeans were truly concerned with humanitarian concerns they would support the Palestinians in some rational manner and be calling for an end to the blockade in Gaza and the ongoing settlement contruction.
Posted by: Fred | 03 June 2013 at 03:29 PM
when pigs sprout wings.
Posted by: jonst | 03 June 2013 at 04:01 PM
Jim Lobe has been tracking neocons for a long, long time. While Israel is generally central to neocons worldview, some neocons are not Jewish. Many of those are Christian Zionists.
http://www.lobelog.com/kristols-thanksgiving-meditation-makes-central-role-of-israel-in-neo-conservatism-clear/
Posted by: JohnH | 03 June 2013 at 04:27 PM
Erdogan has helped Obama carry out his policies in Syria.
I wonder if the Turkish Generals would have been as compliant as Erdogan to US Government wishes in regards to Syria.
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 03 June 2013 at 05:16 PM
Ramallah used to be a Christian city; now it has become a Muslim one due to 46 years of occupation by Israel.
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 03 June 2013 at 05:17 PM
The Islamist in Turkey helped carry out the US strategy of wounding Iran in Syria.
That much is clear to me.
On the other hand, the initial policy of "Zero Problems with Neighbors" was an excellent one that helped Turkey and the region.
I wonder what leverage was used against Erdogan to cause him to fight others' war in Syria.
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 03 June 2013 at 05:19 PM