Jonathan Schwarz: "all options are not on the table"

Jonathan Schwarz points out the hypocrisy, and fallacy of the all too regular statement made by U.S. government officials that "all options are on the table." In the American empire, peace is not on the table. Genuine negotiations with the Iranian Islamic state is not on the table. Negotiations with the Taliban are not on the table. Negotiations with the Iraqi nationalist resistance is not on the table. Making Israel come to the table is not on the table. Telling the truth about the real nature of the war on terrorism to the American people is not on the table.

Jonathan Schwarz - "Jeffrey Goldberg Still America's Preeminent Propagandist (Part II)":

My favorite part of Jeffrey Goldberg's long article about Israel attacking Iran is all the discussion about tables:

Barack Obama has said any number of times that he would find a nuclear Iran "unacceptable."..."The world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," he said. "I will take no options off the table in dealing with this potential Iranian threat."...

"The expression 'All options are on the table' means that all options are on the table," Emanuel told me before the meeting, in a tone meant to suggest both resolve and irritation at those who believe the president lacks such resolve...

"We are coordinating a multifaceted strategy to increase pressure on Iran, but that doesn’t mean we’ve removed any option from the table," [Deputy National Security Adviser Ben] Rhodes said...

"The president has said he hasn’t taken any options off the table," [said Dennis Ross]...

This is why Goldberg is such an excellent propagandist. Any actual reporter would have pointed out the glaringly obvious fact about this rote repetition: all options are not on the table. For instance, Israel is not going to consider giving up its own nuclear weapons if it were part of a deal to make it certain Iran would not develop its own. Nor is the United States considering giving up its nukes. Nor do we have any interest in a region-wide peace settlement that would satisfy us regarding Iran if it required U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, the United States hasn't even signaled any openness to apologizing to Iranians for our numerous crimes against them (overthrowing their government, teaching the Shah how best to torture them, helping Saddam use WMD against them, etc.). Apparently we would prefer to attack Iran or indeed for Iran to get nuclear weapons rather than exercise any of these possible options.

It take real determination to self-lobotomize yourself so you don't notice this. Goldberg's ability to do so is why he's worth the big bucks. (And ponies!)