Gary Hart On War With Iran

Bush + November 2? + Neocon fantasies = Iran.

We've seen the drumbeat before. But this time it happens in October... go figure... And, sure, the media will love it and the Republicans will say "He's tough... He's strong... They were a threat..." while trying to keep a straight face... and the Democrats will lose the House because they just never could quite keep the media or their own party focused on Iraq... and then another war with "embeds" and a post war world unimaginable. But hell, fredom is on the march, so, we got that going for us.

But, seriously. what are the consequences of another war of choice, against Iran?

Gary Hart:
The consequences? The sunny neoconservatives whose goal has been to become the neo-imperial Middle Eastern power all along will forcast few. But prudent leaders calculate all the risks, and they are historic.

These include: violent reaction throughout the Islamic world; a dramatic increase in jihadist attacks in European capitals and the U.S.; radicalization of Islamic youth behind a new generation of jihadist leaders; consolidation of support for Hamas, Hezbollah, al Qaeda, and a rapidly spreading malignant network; escalating expansion of anti-American sentiment throughout the world, including the democratic world; and the formation of WWIII battle lines between the U.S. and the Arab and Islamic worlds.

In more rational times, including at the height of the Cold War, bizarre actions such as unilateral, unprovoked, preventive war are dismissed by thoughtful, seasoned, experienced men and women as mad. But those qualities do not characterize our current leadership.

For a divinely guided president who imagines himself to be a latter day Winston Churchill (albeit lacking the ability to formulate intelligent sentences), and who professedly does not care about public opinion at home or abroad, anything is possible, and dwindling days in power may be seen as making the most apocalyptic actions necessary.