From the ABC

Nelson reiterates commitment to Iraq
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson says it is unhelpful to describe the situation in Iraq as descending into civil war.

Two senior US military officials, including the head of US Central Command, General John Abizaid, have expressed concern that Iraq could slide into civil war if mounting sectarian violence is not stopped.

Dr Nelson says Iraq has come a long way in the past three-and-a-half years.

He says regardless of how people describe the situation in the country, Australia remains committed to Iraq for the long haul.

"The Iraqi people have no less of a right to freedom and privileges that we enjoy in Australia than any other people in the world," Dr Nelson said.

"We are determined to see that the ideological insanity that's driving the people who are causing violence in Iraq is brought to justice."

But Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says the comments of the US officials reinforce his view that the Government has made a fundamental mistake in its policy on Iraq.

"They have decreased our security, they have not increased it; they've decreased the security of people in Iraq, not improved it," he said.

"This is something that the Howard Government should have taken us out of a long time ago."

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Gus: It appears the Minister for-holes-in-the-head has learned the spiel verbatim... No matter the situation is or not, we shall make "them" swallow the Western world values... Mr Blair was at it a couple of days ago... Like a wonder pill... More snake oil...

Yes Iraq has come a long way... about 150,000 people are dead from our little foray there and probably another 30,000 this year alone... And Saddam the Tyrant is behind bars awaiting to be shot or hanged! Between you, me and a lamp-post he was more successful at keeping that country in a reasonable state of forward social activity, despite his technique and the dreadful sanction that added to the general traditional Mideast corruption, including the corruption of our own AWB — a company which is still operating without having collected one single penalty from our government for having been the foremost flaunter, nor many reprimands from Mr General Media... The government is making sure the Cole inquiry is dragging on and on, until 2046 when forgiveness is the flavour of the day...

Now, in Iraq, every one is petrified... including many of the US soldiers...

Yes, Mr Nelson, things are improving so much... why don't you lived there — not in the green zone, mind you, and do your shopping at the local market nearest to a mosque...

‘The National Security Agency is providing signal intelligence to Israel to monitor whether Syria and Iran are supplying new armaments to Hezbollah as it fires hundreds of missiles into northern Israel, according to a national security official with direct knowledge of the operation. President Bush has approved the secret program.

Inside the administration, neo-conservatives on Vice President Dick Cheney's national security staff and Elliott Abrams, the neo-conservative senior director for the Near East on the National Security Council, are prime movers behind sharing NSA intelligence with Israel, and they have discussed Syrian and Iranian supply activities as a potential pretext for Israeli bombing of both countries, the source privy to conversations about the program says. (Intelligence, including that gathered by the NSA, has been provided to Israel in the past for various purposes.) The neo-conservatives are described as enthusiastic about the possibility of using NSA intelligence as a lever to widen the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and Israel and Hamas into a four-front war.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is said to have been "briefed" and to be "on board," but she is not a central actor in pushing the covert neo-conservative scenario. Her "briefing" appears to be an aspect of an internal struggle to intimidate and marginalize her. Recently she has come under fire from prominent neo-conservatives who oppose her support for diplomatic negotiations with Iran to prevent its development of nuclear weaponry.’

The Neo-cons' Next War

‘In late November 2002, appearing on the "Washington Journal" program, retired US Army general William Odom told C-SPAN viewers: "Terrorism is not an enemy. It cannot be defeated. It's a tactic. It's about as sensible to say we declare war on night attacks and expect we're going to win that war."

Continuing his heretical comment, Odom said: "We're not going to win the war on terrorism. And it does whip up fear. Acts of terror have never brought down liberal democracies. Acts of parliament have closed a few."

The Bush administration, of course, has bypassed - and frequently vilified - any such insights. Meanwhile, few Democrats on the national stage have gone near challenging the themes of the "war on terror(ism)." And while some journalists have grown to express scepticism about the non-stop "anti-terror" rhetoric from the White House and its supporters, the overall stance of news media has involved routinely embracing the assumption that the USA is at war with terrorism. Along the way, that means ignoring how American firepower has been terrorizing civilians - directly in Iraq and Afghanistan, indirectly in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.’

The Mythical End To The Politics of Fear

From [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1333861,00.html|Time Magazine]

Is Iran Really Controlling Militias in Iraq?
Iraqi politicians say the U.S. claims of a clear link between Shi'ite militias and Tehran is pure scapegoating. And Tehran-bashing could further complicate U.S. efforts to end the civil war
By APARISIM GHOSH/BAGHDAD

Posted Friday, Aug. 25, 2006 Iraq's most powerful politician has dismissed claims by U.S. officials and generals that Iran is interfering in Baghdad's affairs. Abdul-Azziz al-Hakim has told TIME that despite repeated requests from him and other Iraqi politicians, American officials have failed to show any reliable evidence of Tehran's interference. "[The U.S.] has been making such claims for a long time," he said, "and for three years we've told them, 'Show us proof.' But they never have."

read more at Time Magazine