Cheney: "Iran out of ideas...lets just use the Iraq template again."

This new development with respect to Iran reminds me of something I’ve seen before. I vaguely recall the Bush Administration saying something about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction…like…a million times. It went something like this,

“Our country, and the entire international community, cannot stand by as a terror-supporting state fulfills its grandest ambitions” (1)

Not exactly. That quote was Vice President Dick Cheney earlier tonight referring to Iran.

“Cheney’s words seemed to only escalate the U.S. rhetoric against Iran over the past several days, including President Bush’s warning that a nuclear Iran could lead to World War III.” (1)

What happened to the good old days when rhetoric was creative and original? At least they’re avoiding “WMD” terminology, that would just be insulting.

The complete lack of thought that went into the spokeswoman’s statement is hilarious:

“‘I’ve told people that if you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing [Iran] from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon,’ Bush said.

“Bush’s spokeswoman later said the president was not making any war plans but rather ‘a rhetorical point.’” (1)

A “rhetorical point?” What? I don’t even know what to say to that. The threat of World War III goes just a little bit past the line as far as “rhetorical points” are concerned. Regardless of whether Bush intended it or not, this is a textbook scare-line. I’m not playing to partisan passions or saying Bush is actively and consciously trying to deceive the American public. Regardless of who it is, from Obama to Vladimir Putin, warning of World War III is a scare tactic.

I don’t know if Iran has WMD’s or not because that’s not a judgment I’m qualified to make. Therefore, I don’t. The recycled rhetoric kills me almost as much as the recycled policy, but not quite.