Iran

As a simple observer, I've seen the drum beat against Iran since a couple of months after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It was then that I read articles in the Israeli press as to how the U.S. had to be pressed into attacking Iran next. It was all within the Neocons' and Israel's plan for Ersatz Israel.

But I did read an analysis (can't remember where or by whom, although it may have been Pepe Escobar's) that perhaps U.S., Israel and Iran may actually be working together to keep their populations railed up with all the talk of war. After all, frightened people tend to "rally around the flag" i.e. the status quo is preserved.

After 7 years of hearing the war tum tums, I'm thinking that that analyst was correct.

On this theme of Iran, one thing I ponder sometimes: why the push this summer to scare people into thinking that an attack on Iran was imminent? There was a lot of talk from former military folks who claimed to have good sources in the intelligence community that Israel would attack within "30 to 60 days".  That meant July or August.  Having the hypothesis of my forgotten commentator in mind, I leaned against my rock and waited peacefully.  I don't know why TPTB pushed the fear button but I guess a lot of the survivalist and gun shops and gold sellers made a mint this summer.