You see, former UNSCOM inspector Scott Ritter went to Iran recently. Here he shares his thoughts with Amy Goodman, in an interview which you probably will never see referenced by any major US newspaper or radio/TV network:

AMY GOODMAN: Can you talk about the difference in approach the U.S. takes to North Korea, which has, according to their own reports, set off a nuclear bomb, and Iran?

SCOTT RITTER: Well, the only thing that the Bush administration’s approach towards North Korea and the Bush administration’s approach towards Iran have in common is that the endgame is regime change. Other than that, what you see — I guess the other thing they have in common is the total incoherence of their approach. Look, North Korea and Iran, you can’t compare; it’s apples and oranges.

North Korea is a declared nuclear power. They even declared their intent to have nuclear weapons. They haven’t hidden this from anybody. They withdrew from the Non-Proliferation Treaty in total conformity with the rule of law. They put the world on notice. They said, we will not participate. They gave them the appropriate timeline. They invited the inspectors out. And then, surprise, surprise, despite the fact that the Bush administration said, “Well, they’re just bluffing,” well, they’re not bluffing. They just popped one off. And guess what. If we continue to push North Korea irresponsibly — because again, what are we talking about here?

What do we want to achieve in North Korea? Do we really care about the North Korean people, want human rights to — no, regime change. This is all about regime change. This is about the United States being able to dictate the terms of coexistence with everybody else in the world. Do people understand that our policy towards China is regime change? Do they understand what the ramifications of that is? That’s what’s going on with North Korea. And we shouldn’t be surprised that they did exactly what they said they were going to do.

Now, we take Iran. Iran is a nation that says, “We don’t have a nuclear weapons program. We have no intention.” In fact, when North Korea exploded their device, the Iranians condemned it. They said nuclear weapons cannot be part of a global equation. And yet, we continue to try and lump them together as if North Korea and Iran are part and parcel of the same policy. Well, maybe they are part and parcel of the same incoherent approach that the Bush administration has taken to dealing with nuclear proliferation.

So does Joe Lieberman really approve of the Bush Junta’s and John Bolton’s incoherent non-policy towards North Korea and Iran?

Jeebus H. Christ, what will it take before the Democrat Beltway Bozos will quit turning the other cheek?[ed. by CHS: picturesomething really, reallyhorrible here that Joe might do in a hyperbole, over-the-top sort of context.]Or would that not be enough? Big Dog, Howard, Murtha, Russ, somebody, where the hell are you? Go in there and give Ned the help he deserves!!!

What, endorsing Bolton doesn’t count as over the top?

Lieberman said when he was first elected he would serve 3 terms max.

Joe. Live up to your promises ok? Quit your whining. I hope you fall flat on your face – nobody likes a liar.

He just wouldn’t be “our” HoJo if he lived up to his promises. It would totally deconstruct our world view!

Joe. Live up to your promises ok? Quit your whining. I hope you fall flat on your face – nobody likes a liar.

Live on C-Span right now:

The ACLU conference session/discussion on “Law, American Values and the National Interest”

Featuring John Dean, that hero (former Chief Counsel of the Navy) Alberto Mora (he fought desperately against torture policy), Steve Shapiro (top ACLU legal honcho), Katrina van den Heuvel, NPR’s Jackie Northam, and some other guy I don’t recognize.

Discussion on the overstepping of executive power, torture, erosion of the Constitution. [Dean right now discussing the authoritarian personalilty in these contexts.]

A 1-1/2 hour program — we’re about half way through now. It’s most excellent!!! I imagine they’ll replay it (I hope!) at some point, or maybe feature it on their website, in case you can’t watch now.