DR. J'S SHORT SHOT
by Steven Jonas, MD, MPH

So, just like me, you thought that Cheney was finished, huh? You thought that the upcoming report of the "Baker Commission" would set the course for a reasonable withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, primarily because the two original Georgite objectives of the invasion, oil and bases, had been achieved. You thought, like me, that the unceremonious ouster of Rumsfeld and the insertion of the old Bush-I/Baker hand, Bob Gates, signified that the battles had been fought and the Baker wing of the Republican power elite had won. You thought, like me, thought that the Baker folks were probably inwardly happy with the election of a Democratic Congress because dealing with rational people would make it easier for them to achieve their desired aim. Finally, like me, you thought that the next major head to roll might very well be Cheney's. Well, we all have to think again.

Vice-President "Permanent War" Cheney ain't giving up without a fight. That was made clear by two events that occurred yesterday (Nov. 15, 2006). One was the testimony of the (obvious Cheney puppet) Gen. John Abizaid before a Senate panel that any talk of time-tables or "phased withdrawal" would be very ill-advised, that the "job wasn't finished," that the Iraqi forces needed lots more, better, and different training and leadership (as if it had not been his task to do that all these many months --- what was this guy doing?) Sounded very much like "Stay the Course" without using those now prohibited words. Second was the announcement that the White House was setting up its own "study group" for Iraq policy and that the report of the Baker Commission was something they would certainly consider. Sounds like that report has suddenly gone from determining the future to teetering on the edge of the dustbin for policies that the Georgites just don't like (any that are not their's).

This stuff has Cheney's fingerprints all over it. And why would the No. 1 Georgite go in this direction? A) He really doesn't feature losing his job and being unceremoniously tossed into the dustbin of failed Iraq policies himself. B) He still believes in the Neo-con/Project for a New American Century program for US world domination that has been at the heart of U.S. Middle East policy since Bush took over the Presidency. C) He still really wants to bomb the hell out of Iran "to show the world who is boss," something that will definitely not happen if the Baker Commission polices, which include, oh my gosh, actually talking with Iran and Syria, are adopted. And D) most importantly, if an Iraq withdrawal is achieved, if Iran is not bombed to smithereens, if the "War on Terrorism" actually becomes a war on terrorism, not a cover for American imperialism, there go Cheney's chances of establishing his dreamed of "Unitary Executive" otherwise known as "Fascist Dictatorship," for which the legislative basis has already been established, right here in River City.

And so the Baker-Cheney battle is underway. It will be a fascinating to watch. The future of Iraq, Iran, Israel, and the rest of the Middle East and of Constitutional Democracy right here at home, are in the balance. Oh yes, what are the "Chith?" The Cheneyite Sith of "Star Wars" fame, of course.

DR. J'S SHORT SHOT

Steven Jonas, MD, MPH is a Professor of Preventive Medicine at Stony Brook University (NY) a weekly Contributing Author for The Political Junkies (www.thepoliticaljunkies.net [1]) and a Columnist for BuzzFlash.

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