Bush: provoking war with Iran
A hidden menace in Bush's words on Iran
By Trita Parsi
Asia Times
WASHINGTON - The George W Bush administration has seemingly taken advantage of the Congressional recess to escalate tensions with Iran.
This month, the State Department revealed plans to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a global terrorist organization. On Tuesday, in a speech to US war veterans in Nevada, Bush raised the temperature further by declaring his intent to "confront Tehran's murderous activities" in Iraq.
But what on the surface may appear as business as usual in the war of words between Tehran and Washington may in reality repeat an earlier pattern widely suspected to have been aimed at provoking war with Iran.
With Congress gearing up for a fight with the White House on the "surge" policy in Iraq, Bush has arguably many reasons to talk up tensions with Iran. Focusing on Iran may help deflect attention away from the "surge" strategy's failure to turn the tide in Iraq. It can also help convince Congress that Iran is responsible for US misfortunes in Iraq and that cutting the funds for the war would embolden the clergy in Tehran.
(Continued here.)
By Trita Parsi
Asia Times
WASHINGTON - The George W Bush administration has seemingly taken advantage of the Congressional recess to escalate tensions with Iran.
This month, the State Department revealed plans to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a global terrorist organization. On Tuesday, in a speech to US war veterans in Nevada, Bush raised the temperature further by declaring his intent to "confront Tehran's murderous activities" in Iraq.
But what on the surface may appear as business as usual in the war of words between Tehran and Washington may in reality repeat an earlier pattern widely suspected to have been aimed at provoking war with Iran.
With Congress gearing up for a fight with the White House on the "surge" policy in Iraq, Bush has arguably many reasons to talk up tensions with Iran. Focusing on Iran may help deflect attention away from the "surge" strategy's failure to turn the tide in Iraq. It can also help convince Congress that Iran is responsible for US misfortunes in Iraq and that cutting the funds for the war would embolden the clergy in Tehran.
(Continued here.)
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