Financial War
on the other hand, most certainly is plausible, and I'm surprised its taken them this long.
Very likely, neocon pants are shivering, but they can (and probably wish to) talk themselves into utter craziness. If the markets and economy collapse, they have one way out of shame...
A total meltdown, or an undeniable indication of a coming one, and the balloon goes up.
Are we pretty close to that point now?
In answer to the question posed--it seems to me that nuke use will be a diplomatic catastrophe for the US (perhaps fairly near the Nocon's apocalyptic desire) and the death of Atlanticism, since it is hard to imagine any EC nation supporting such an act. Not so much for mopral; reasons, though I not so cynical as to discount that, but because it's totally idiotic.
I say again, the Empire can (and will) villainize anyone,with their tame media, when they need a scapegoat. Like Now.
As an essential policy component, one must be sure to NOT be that villain. Let the Chinese eat that one, they are saying, I think. That seems pretty much obvious to me, and I'd bet that such considerations are discussed in the seats of policy Europewide. A European Marshall plan? TALK of such a thing? Would be a good vaccination for the disease of villany that the US will surely sow.
Nonetheless, I still don't see it, unless the Bush admin has just chosen to go it naked-- without even a real fig leaf. The abruptly released NIE just blew away all the old foliage. Note that they will classify the next one, and not even provide a "sanitized" public version. "There is mysterious music in democracy, when people decide to believe in themselves." ---Bill Greider, The Nation.
But my inner Diogenes keeps reminding me that there is no such thing as "we".
As it seems that the Potemkin economy cannot be sustained until the election no matter how much liquidity the Fed pumps in, the recession will be in full swing by November and the Republicans are going be wiped out. It's going to be a wholesale massacre on the scale of 1932.
That is, unless something very spectacular falls the Republican way. And a shooting war a little bit before the elections is the only thing I can think of. The old patriotic con would work, again. Especially with a pro-war vet tough-guy candidate like McCain.
So, I'm a bit jittery. I can't convince myself that they are that depraved but with those gentlemen, there is no such thing as "too cynical". Facts, selfish little bastards. They don't even care about your feelings.
On the other hand, their timing would need to be perfect, because a military campaign that set off an immediate disaster for US forces in Iraq would lose them everything. How sure are they that they won't lose a carrier or a lot of troops in Iraq?
/snarkaroo The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. Chinese Proverb.
Obama has recently made us look into a window that has not been much viewed of late- one in which empathy- the ability to take the other- to walk that mile in those other shoes- is central, and reveals truths that should have been apparent all along, - the nasty consequences of policies based on a cynical, zero-sum view are suddenly obvious,--again.
Should any European government support nuclear first-use in Iran, or even tolerate it, it would likely fall, I think. And Europe is sufficiently decoupled to survive the US meltdown intact, I think, thanks to the EU.
That said,--- any theater piece trumped up by the Bushwits of a lesser dramatic nature just might be inadequate to the task of diverting the American people from an empty bank account- or a failed bank.
"There is mysterious music in democracy, when people decide to believe in themselves." ---Bill Greider, The Nation.
