Right on
In spite of massive defeat and all-time low popularity, not least because of foreign policy shown to be an abject failure, Bush, Cheney and other discredited right are forging ahead. The Guardian reports on plans to bomb Iranian nuclear plant as "advanced" (10.22007). In spite of this there continue to be repeated denials that this is the case.
"Robert Gates, the new US defence secretary, said yesterday: 'I don't know how many times the president, secretary [of state Condoleezza] Rice and I have had to repeat that we have no intention of attacking Iran.' "
Another interesting story about what has been happening in Iran is also revealed in the Washingtomn Post. I had trouble getting my head around this one. Evidently Theran is holding onto some high profile Al Quaeda suspects, including Bin Laden's son. Deal or no deal. Well Rumsfeld and Cheney opined that there was a danger of giving Iran too high a profile to go ahead. Right or wrong Iran had had it.
Both Bush and Blair are described as "lame ducks", but it is constantly demonstrated that they are in positions of unassailable power. The more they are isolated the more vigorously they fight their corner and use their "democratically elected" positions to ensure their pet schemes are put into place before they eventually go. New elections are like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.
In spite of massive opposition Bush and the Neocons are having their way in Iraq. When it comes to candidature for the White House even Republican candidates, associated with supporting foreign policy at first, distance themselves those policies. It is remarkable, as the Washington Post points out, there is no candidate within the White House to follow on from Bush, a situation that hasn't occurred for a very long time.
Western politicians are big on exporting ideas of democracy to others. However they don't like it if the outcome is not what they wanted (like Hamas in Palestine), and they certainly don't exemplify democracy at work. There are supposed to be checks and balances in the process. Frankly they ain't working just now.
Posted by John Tyrrell at February 10, 2007 9:52 AM
