Editor’s Note: Daniel Ellsberg, the former Defense Department analyst who leaked the secret Pentagon Papers history of the Vietnam War, offered insights into the looming war with Iran and the loss of liberty in the United States at an American University symposium on Sept. 20.

Below is an edited transcript of Ellsberg’s remarkable speech:

'A Coup Has Occurred'

And, if you think "looming war with Iran" is overstating things:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 — The Senate approved a resolution today urging the Bush administration to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization

Senate Urges Bush to Name Iranian Guard as Terrorist Group

So, the US and its allies at war with Iran, a sensible foreign policy?

War with Iran?

Do they have oil? ;)

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It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

Our troops are overcommitted and underarmed as is in Iraq...going to Iran opens up a second theater and will not work...

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Our troops are overcommitted and underarmed as is in Iraq...going to Iran opens up a second theater and will not work...

Even if your troops were "properly" armed, Iraq is already a disaster like Vietnam has been for the States - both militarily and politically, and invading Iran would be even a greater disaster. But I think the big boss warlord GWB wouldn't mind and offer even more lives to the MIC.

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Account frozen...

the big boss warlord GWB

Hey, don't talk that way about my fearless leader... He's a man of 'faith' ya know... ;)

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It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

the big boss warlord GWB

Hey, don't talk that way about my fearless leader... He's a man of 'faith' ya know... ;)

Um, so was Torquemada.

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I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that ...

Even though there are worries about Iran I doubt that after the disaster in Iraq there will be a large coalition of the willing. Still the US might win the battle / invasion, but there is no way to keep up public order. You will also probably loose your last allies in the region - no regime will be able to afford standing at the side of the US under this conditions.

That leaves strikes on installations as only real option.
Halliburton probably won't profit from this - but maybe GWB hopes to create a war effect to influence the vote 2008.

Do they have oil? ;)

you bet they got oil

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Proved reserves 2006
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0872964.html

Proved reserves 2006
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0872964.html

Rank Country Proved reserves (billion barrels)
1. Saudi Arabia 264.3
2. Canada 178.8
3. Iran 132.5
4. Iraq 115.0
5. Kuwait 101.5
6. United Arab Emirates 97.8
7. Venezuela 79.7
8. Russia 60.0
9. Libya 39.1
10. Nigeria 35.9
11. United States 21.4
...

Wow Canada has even more oil... Maybe next time the US will invade their neighbor for some excuse of a reason? Or is Canada a to mighty opponent if it came to a war?

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Account frozen...

Hehe, it gets even worse take a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar_sands
Oil sands may represent as much as 2/3 of the world's total petroleum resource, with at least 1.7 trillion barrels (270 km³) in the Canadian Athabasca Oil Sands and perhaps 1.8 trillion barrels (280 km³) in the Venezuelan Orinoco tar sands, compared to 1.75 trillion barrels (278 km³) of conventional oil worldwide, most of it in Saudi Arabia and other Middle-Eastern countries. Between them, the Canadian and Venezuelan deposits contain about 3.6 trillion barrels (422 km³) of oil in place.

Invasion of Venezuela and Canada imminent, hrhr :)

Wow Canada has even more oil... Maybe next time the US will invade their neighbor for some excuse of a reason? Or is Canada a to mighty opponent if it came to a war?

Oh Jeebus no, America Junior or the 51st State would roll over in horror. They couldn't defend themselves if they had to, not for very long anyway.

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Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...

Bobby posted this link in the History of Oil thread that I think is very relevant here as well. Iran wants the Euro for Oil not Dollars

The article says the "Nuke" that Iran has is that it wants payment for oil with Euros not Dollars. If other countries follow suit, the U.S. dollar could collapse and that would be very bad for the U.S. and those of us who live here.

Our whole way of life could be in great danger. It is very believeable that the reason for war with Iran is that our currency could collapse if they pursue the Oil for the Euro path. Iraq also wanted Euros for Oil and look what happened to them.

If Bush does this I hope he doesn't expect the British to back him!

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It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues

'war with iran?--yes please!'

and a glass of wine to go with.............

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Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!

Wow Canada has even more oil... Maybe next time the US will invade their neighbor for some excuse of a reason? Or is Canada a to mighty opponent if it came to a war?

Oh Jeebus no, America Junior or the 51st State would roll over in horror. They couldn't defend themselves if they had to, not for very long anyway.

They've had to in the past and did reasonably well, back in 1812. If the US were to start a war now it would be an attack on a NATO member and it wouldn't be difficult for Canada to ask for support from the other members. Who knows, maybe this time the UK would be able to succeed in re-integrating it's lost colony, and burn down not just the White House, but the Capitol and Supreme Court as well!

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I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that ...

Maybe next time the US will invade their neighbor for some excuse of a reason?

Naw, neighbors are a little too close to home to be making up such dramatic stories about them...
People would see through the lies too quickly... ;)

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It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

They've had to in the past and did reasonably well, back in 1812. If the US were to start a war now it would be an attack on a NATO member and it wouldn't be difficult for Canada to ask for support from the other members. Who knows, maybe this time the UK would be able to succeed in re-integrating it's lost colony, and burn down not just the White House, but the Capitol and Supreme Court as well!

I didn't say there wouldn't be issues, but other than pure numbers, the armies in 1812 were of roughly equal ability and power. That simply is not the case anymore.

Frankly, I'm not sure how ANY of the NATO countries in Europe could ever hope to deliver to Canada (or anywhere else that involves oceans) the type of military force they would need to prevent the U.S. from sweeping through Canada in a matter of a few weeks.

They simply have no way to do it, let alone to resupply them.

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Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...