Farewell. The Flying Pig Has Left The Building.

Steve Hynd, August 16, 2012

After four years on the Typepad site, eight years total blogging, Newshoggers is closing it's doors today. We've been coasting the last year or so, with many of us moving on to bigger projects (Hey, Eric!) or simply running out of blogging enthusiasm, and it's time to give the old flying pig a rest.

We've done okay over those eight years, although never being quite PC enough to gain wider acceptance from the partisan "party right or wrong" crowds. We like to think we moved political conversations a little, on the ever-present wish to rush to war with Iran, on the need for a real Left that isn't licking corporatist Dem boots every cycle, on America's foreign misadventures in Afghanistan and Iraq. We like to think we made a small difference while writing under that flying pig banner. We did pretty good for a bunch with no ties to big-party apparatuses or think tanks.

Those eight years of blogging will still exist. Because we're ending this typepad account, we've been archiving the typepad blog here. And the original blogger archive is still here. There will still be new content from the old 'hoggers crew too. Ron writes for The Moderate Voice, I post at The Agonist and Eric Martin's lucid foreign policy thoughts can be read at Democracy Arsenal.

I'd like to thank all our regular commenters, readers and the other bloggers who regularly linked to our posts over the years to agree or disagree. You all made writing for 'hoggers an amazingly fun and stimulating experience.

Thank you very much.

Note: This is an archive copy of Newshoggers. Most of the pictures are gone but the words are all here. There may be some occasional new content, John may do some posts and Ron will cross post some of his contributions to The Moderate Voice so check back.


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Friday, June 6, 2008

Israeli Minister - Attack On Iran "Unavoidable"

By Cernig



The Israeli Transport Minister - a member of Olmert's Kadima Party who was edged out for Defense Minister to make the coalition with Labour work - has said that Israel will certainly attack Iran if it "continues with its program for developing nuclear weapons". Both the IAEA and US intelligence agree that there is no evidence of Iran having a nuclear weapons program at the present time.

"If Iran continues with its program for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The sanctions are ineffective," Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz told the mass-circulation Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.



"Attacking Iran, in order to stop its nuclear plans, will be unavoidable," said the former army chief who has also been defense minister.



...Mofaz's remarks came as he and several other senior members of Olmert's Kadima Party prepare for a possible run for top office should a corruption scandal force the Israeli prime minister to step down.



Iranian-born Mofaz has been a main party rival of the Israeli prime minister, particularly following the 2006 elections when Olmert was forced to hand the defense portfolio to Labour, his main coalition partner, at Mofaz's expense.



Mofaz, who is also designated as a deputy prime minister, has remained privy to Israel's defense planning. He is a member of Olmert's security cabinet and leads regular strategic coordination talks with the U.S. State Department.

This is the strongest ever statement of beligerent intent from the Israeli government, and comes from a deputy PM who may well soon be prime minister. The US hard right base that McCain is playing to on foreign policy, of course, love it.



It's worth remembering that any Israeli attack on Iran would almost certainly have to cross Iraqi airspace - which would require at least high-level US approval as well as probably involving US targeting and logistical support. The blowback in Iraq and the wider region would be immense.



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  1. andersonJune 6, 2008 at 7:42 AM

    Belligerent, yes. It also happens to be in direct violation of the UN Charter, Article II,
    All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,
    and the Nuremberg Principles VI(a), Crimes Against Peace:
    (a) Crimes against peace:
    (i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;
    (ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).
    These violations are notable because,
    Complicity in the commission of a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity as set forth in Principle VI is a crime under international law.
    In a nominally functional international framework, Israel and her officials should be facing trial in the Hague right now.

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