Forget "True partners and equal relationships." We run this show

It's really an easy decision for an honest leader...

Bring all of the troops home now.










Gates is playing bad cop to Obama's good peace cop. There is no dissension. It's just part of the game to continue the over eight year old foreign policy of permanent war.

On getting more troops to Afghanistan....

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is distancing himself from Emanuel's new requirement that Afghanistan must first be seen as a "true partner." {more}

Speaking to our 'allies' in Japan....

Playing hardball with its closest ally in Asia, the Obama administration warned Japan on Wednesday of serious consequences if it backs out of a commitment to allow the relocation of a U.S. airbase on Okinawa.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said that if Japan stops the base relocation, the United States would halt the withdrawal of 8,000 Marines from Okinawa and would not, as planned, return several parcels of land.

Gates's words, during a two-day visit here, were a blunt challenge to efforts by Japan's month-old government to carve out a more "equal" relationship with Washington.{more}

Gates talks tough doesn't he? A good counterpoint to Obama. Maybe that's why Gates was kept on because we all know there's no plan for peace in the middle east until the U.S. and Israel control everything they want. There's no plan to leave the 700 or more military bases scattered in over 150 countries. Japan may try to play as an equal but it's not to happen unless we decide it.They should know that by now.

While the deceptive games of power are played, both civilians and troops are getting blown up, as the latest U.S. body did yesterday.

The U.S. will veto any UN action on the Goldstone report. (see Irish4Palestine)...

What else would you expect? Not only is U.S. policy being controlled by segments in Israel but condemning war crimes could lead to investigations of the multitude the U.S. has committed going back to the Bush administration for the lies of taking us to Afghanistan and Iraq. CYA.

Will Gates get more troops in Afghanistan and will Obama try to look like the agonized decider that has no choice? Many Americans don't want an escalation in Afghanistan. Not that it matters much, at least at this point in time because we the people don't count.

Permanent war requires many decisions and deceptions and puppets only move as their strings are pulled.