OK, so I no longer think an Israeli or American strike on Iran will be the Republicans’ October Surprise. It’s too extreme, even for the Cheney/Bush NeoCon Xpress, Israel will hold their cards until AFTER the election and it’s not as cynically brilliant as this one…

“War On Terror” Goes To Pakistan
This scenario not only seems likely, but it’s already begun — with little fanfare (for now). First, the Bush administration makes a “standing agreement” with the now-deposed Musharraf to allow military strikes on Pakistan “if the U.S. locates bin Laden in Pakistan’s rugged tribal areas.” Several Predator drones have been fired into Pakistan over the last several months, a development that hasn’t received nearly as much sustained media attention as it deserves. [See the news accounts noted below.] Oddly enough, the Bush administration has been largely silent about these strikes, not crowing about them, probably because they have not successfully killed Osama bin Laden or other high profile Al-Qaeda leaders (with the exception of Abu Khabab al-Masri). I predict an escalation of these attacks leading up to Election Day with much more rhetorical emphasis on the “War on Terror,” increasingly stronger statements from McCain in “following bin Laden to the gates of hell,” strained relations with the duly-elected Pakistani government and a united chorus of drum-beating justifications from Bush/Cheney, McCain/Palin, Fox News and Right Wing Radio Ranters for strikes into Pakistan — a sovereign nation and hesitant ally. They may even claim, just days before the election, to have killed bin Laden himself — too close to the election to be confirmed. This scenario plays all-too-easily into the wishes and dreams of both Bush and McCain. Bush gets a chance to justify his 2 pathetic terms in office and MAYBE not go down as the worst president in American history and McCain is positioned to be play his professional POW card (yet again) as Protector of the Realm. In the end, it won’t matter if bin Laden or anyone remotely important is killed. The ratcheting up of war on terror rhetoric will inflame the USA USA USA chanting white folks. The resultant degraded relations with the duly-elected government of Pakistan will turn them from ally to enemy in the minds of the same ignoramuses. The certain denouncement of these actions from Russia (conveniently reclaiming its Bad Guy role in the Republican US vs. Everybody Else mindset), coming on the heels of their Georgian invasion, will strengthen the “Do It Our Way” American Exceptionalism that rings so loudly of the ears of the Cracker/Bubba & Their Second Fiddles slice of America. (We all know Republicans protect America best, don’t we?) And, most cynically of all, strikes on Pakistan will confirm a position that Barack Obama first set forth over a year ago. Obama will have a hard time speaking against this — though he should — and, if the final strike before election day is rumored — but not confirmed, of course — to have killed bin Laden himself, well…. The flag-waving, absolutist, unthinking white Americans who always opt for the Non-Negotiating Protective Daddy Republican when war is in the air will deliver the White House to McCain, Professional POW, and sassy Second Fiddle, Sarah Palin.

God help us. Oh no, I forgot: God is on our side. God is in charge. We do God’s will. Shudder.

If this happens, remember that Republicans will have proven themselves to be more successful at the cynical manipulative of mass minds — with the tremendous backing of Fox News and the small army on the AM airwaves (Limbaugh, Hannity and their ilk) — than Joseph Goebbels himself. From Lee Atwater through Karl Rove to Steve Schmidt, McCain’s newest strategist, Republicans take and hold power by any means necessary.

I sure hope I’m wrong.

If I’m not, it’s time to call America what it’s become: a fascist plutocracy with democratically elected leaders. And the scales to their victory will have — yet again — been tipped by a fetid mush of ill-informed, selfish, single-issue and/or religious white people.

America will get the president it deserves. Again.