run fer the hills

[Guest guest]

US steps up plans for possible Iran attack: report

Sat Apr 8, 2006 7:02 PM ET

 

 

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. administration is stepping up plans for

a possible air strike on Iran, despite publicly pushing for a

diplomatic solution to a dispute over its nuclear ambitions, according

to a report by influential investigative journalist Seymour Hersh.

 

Hersh's story in the April 17 issue of the New Yorker magazine quotes

former and current intelligence and defense officials as saying the

administration increasingly sees " regime change " in Tehran as the

ultimate goal.

 

" This White House believes that the only way to solve the problem is to

change the power structure in Iran, and that means war, " Hersh quotes

an unidentified senior Pentagon adviser on the war on terror as saying.

 

The report says the administration has stepped up clandestine

activities in Iran and has initiated a series of talks on its plans

with " a few key senators and members of Congress. "

 

A former senior defense official is cited as saying the military

believed a sustained bombing campaign against Iran would humiliate the

leadership and lead the Iranian public to overthrow it, adding that he

was shocked to hear the strategy.

 

The report also says the U.S. military is seriously considering the use

of a tactical nuclear weapon against Iran to ensure the destruction of

Iran's main centrifuge plant at Natanz. The Pentagon advisor is quoted

as saying some senior officers and officials were considering quitting

over the issue.

 

The United States says it is focused on forging a diplomatic solution

to the Iran impasse but refuses to rule out an attack to deal with what

it says is one of the biggest threats to Middle East stability.

 

Hersh won a Pulitzer prize in 1970 for uncovering the infamous My Lai

massacre by U.S. troops in Vietnam and his reporting on abuses by

American troops at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison helped expose one of the

worst scandals to hit the administration of President George W. Bush.

 

===========

 

Hooman Majd

Sat Apr 8, 2:28 PM ET

 

 

 

 

 

According to an article by Seymour Hersh in next week's New Yorker, the

Bush administration is considering the use of bunker-busting nuclear

weapons against Iranian facilities as part of a military campaign to

stop Iran from developing the capacity to build nuclear weapons. If

true, and there's no reason to doubt Mr. Hersh's sources, then the U.S.

is seemingly hell-bent on Super-Sizing the war in the Middle East. The

use of nuclear bombs for the first time since Hiroshima and Nagasaki

(but more importantly against a non-nuclear country in a pre-emptive or

preventative war) is unimaginable, but then again, imagining the

unimaginable seems to be the Bush administration's strong suit. True,

the nukes we're talking about aren't intended to be dropped on cities,

and perhaps they would be unlikely to result in widespread radiation

(since they presumably will explode underground, or at least one hopes)

but they're still nukes, even without Slim Pickens riding them down to

target.

 

The truth is that the administration of George Bush has never

wanted a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis, at least

not one short of complete capitulation by the Iranians, something that

no analyst believes can or will happen. The Iraq war has certainly

given pause to Mr. Bush and the neo-cons in and around his

administration who want a piece of the Mullahs, but perversely as the

situation deteriorates in Baghdad, it seems that Tehran is beginning to

look like a good diversion. The IAEA chief, Mohammad El Baradei,

despite U.S. urgings to the contrary, is visiting Iran next week to

meet with Iranian leaders, still hoping to salvage a compromise deal.

The U.S. would hardly object to Mr. El Baradei's trip unless it wants

all options to fail so that the one option left (which we constantly

remind the Iranians is still on the table, not getting stale) will be

war.

 

Imagining the unimaginable: America slept (or shopped) through the

unimaginable Bush administration lies that took us to Iraq. We slept

and shopped successively through Guantanamo, the horrors of Abu

Ghraib, rendition, illegal detentions, the Valerie Plame leak, and

most recently illegal wiretaps on U.S. citizens. We're sleeping and

shopping through administration claims that Iran is building weapons of

mass destruction, the preposterous claim that Iran is supplying their

Sunni arch-enemies al Qaeda with arms and bombs, that Iran is the

world's foremost sponsor of terrorism, and that Iran, if allowed the

technology to manufacture nuclear fuel, will not only make nuclear

weapons but use them against us or our allies (or just hand them over

to terrorists who will). No proof required, and hey, there's a sale on

at Saks!

 

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, someone unfortunately known for being so

far outside the mainstream to be a little wacky, delivered a speech on

Iran to an empty chamber (perhaps his fellow congressmen were out

shopping) on April 5th. It's worth a read. And it comes from someone

who although at times wacky, wasn't wacky enough to buy the

administration's arguments for war with Iraq.

 

Imagine the unimaginable: George Bush becoming the first president to

use nuclear weapons on another state since Harry Truman, and get this,

without even declaring war.

 

 

A pox upon the media

And everything you read

They tell you your opinions

And they're very good indeed

I wanna destroy you

[Guest guest]

, fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

>

> US steps up plans for possible Iran attack: report

> Sat Apr 8, 2006 7:02 PM ET

>

 

 

There are two articles in this post. Links to both articles will be

appreciated. This will help others interested in this topic explore

further.

 

Thanks.

 

Vijay

[Guest guest]

Link to one related article I came across:

 

http://tinyurl.com/oj4o5

 

Partial Report Below:

 

Bush 'is planning nuclear strikes on Iran's secret sites'

By Philip Sherwell in Washington

(Filed: 09/04/2006)

 

Jack Straw: Iran attack would be 'nuts'

 

The Bush administration is planning to use nuclear weapons against

Iran, to prevent it acquiring its own atomic warheads, claims an

investigative writer with high-level Pentagon and intelligence contacts.

 

President George W Bush is said to be so alarmed by the threat of

Iran's hard-line leader, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, that privately he refers

to him as " the new Hitler " , says Seymour Hersh, who broke the story of

the Abu Ghraib Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.

 

Mahmoud Ahmedinejad

Mahmoud Ahmedinejad: 'The new Hitler'

 

Some US military chiefs have unsuccessfully urged the White House to

drop the nuclear option from its war plans, Hersh writes in The New

Yorker magazine. The conviction that Mr Ahmedinejad would attack

Israel or US forces in the Middle East, if Iran obtains atomic

weapons, is what drives American planning for the destruction of

Teheran's nuclear programme.

 

Hersh claims that one of the plans, presented to the White House by

the Pentagon, entails the use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear

weapon, such as the B61-11, against underground nuclear sites. One

alleged target is Iran's main centrifuge plant, at Natanz, 200 miles

south of Teheran.

[Guest guest]

, " rvijay " <rvijay07 wrote:

 

Another related but older article:

 

 

 

THE COMING WARS

What the Pentagon can now do in secret.

by SEYMOUR M. HERSH

Issue of 2005-01-24 and 31

Posted 2005-01-17

 

George W. Bush's reëlection was not his only victory last fall. The

President and his national-security advisers have consolidated control

over the military and intelligence communities' strategic analyses and

covert operations to a degree unmatched since the rise of the

post-Second World War national-security state. Bush has an aggressive

and ambitious agenda for using that control—against the mullahs in

Iran and...

 

Source:

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?050124fa_fact

[Guest guest]

If all recollect here, there were reports like this a few times before

in the media over the last few years. After some time it died down and

everything was calm again. Seems like the same again. IF US really

attacks Iran and if these attacks continue for 15 to 20 days then we

can worry about it.

 

Until then sleep well and enjoy life.

 

Vijay

[Guest guest]

Let's hope the Iranians can do the same

 

Jo

 

-

" rvijay " <rvijay07

 

Sunday, April 09, 2006 10:06 PM

Re: run fer the hills

 

 

> If all recollect here, there were reports like this a few times before

> in the media over the last few years. After some time it died down and

> everything was calm again. Seems like the same again. IF US really

> attacks Iran and if these attacks continue for 15 to 20 days then we

> can worry about it.

>

> Until then sleep well and enjoy life.

>

> Vijay

>

>

To send an email to -

>

[Guest guest]

, " jo " <jo.heartwork wrote:

>

> Let's hope the Iranians can do the same

>

> Jo

 

 

Nothing is for ever. Specially peace, contentment and happiness. While

we can wish this for everyone, we must also enjoy what we have for now.

All good things come to an end.

 

Vijay

[Guest guest]

good things...good things.....hmmm....i recognize those words,

wish i knew em......

 

 

>rvijay <rvijay07

>Apr 9, 2006 3:34 PM

>

> Re: run fer the hills

>

> , " jo " <jo.heartwork wrote:

>>

>> Let's hope the Iranians can do the same

>>

>> Jo

>

>

>Nothing is for ever. Specially peace, contentment and happiness. While

>we can wish this for everyone, we must also enjoy what we have for now.

>All good things come to an end.

>

>Vijay

>

>

>

>

>

>To send an email to -

>

[Guest guest]

ya know....it makes me wonder

so, like, every person someone wants to vilify, at least in the political sense,

is always equated with hitler....

the US has called Saddam, Noreiga, Chavez, and half a billion others " hitler "

people call Bush hitler(tho, thats patently unfair....hitler was actually a

great orator and successfully invaded places....)(thats a joke.....)

but...it got me thinking.....

scary no?

but...it got me thinkin...

so, before the 1930's...wot the heck did folks call someone they wanted everyone

t ohate?

" you kaiser wilhelm you! "

" damn you napoleon! "

" charlamange!! "

 

hmmmmmm

 

 

>rvijay <rvijay07

>Apr 9, 2006 1:29 PM

>

> Re: run fer the hills

>

>Link to one related article I came across:

>

>http://tinyurl.com/oj4o5

>

>Partial Report Below:

>

> Bush 'is planning nuclear strikes on Iran's secret sites'

>By Philip Sherwell in Washington

>(Filed: 09/04/2006)

>

>Jack Straw: Iran attack would be 'nuts'

>

>The Bush administration is planning to use nuclear weapons against

>Iran, to prevent it acquiring its own atomic warheads, claims an

>investigative writer with high-level Pentagon and intelligence contacts.

>

>President George W Bush is said to be so alarmed by the threat of

>Iran's hard-line leader, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, that privately he refers

>to him as " the new Hitler " , says Seymour Hersh, who broke the story of

>the Abu Ghraib Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.

>

>Mahmoud Ahmedinejad

>Mahmoud Ahmedinejad: 'The new Hitler'

>

>Some US military chiefs have unsuccessfully urged the White House to

>drop the nuclear option from its war plans, Hersh writes in The New

>Yorker magazine. The conviction that Mr Ahmedinejad would attack

>Israel or US forces in the Middle East, if Iran obtains atomic

>weapons, is what drives American planning for the destruction of

>Teheran's nuclear programme.

>

>Hersh claims that one of the plans, presented to the White House by

>the Pentagon, entails the use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear

>weapon, such as the B61-11, against underground nuclear sites. One

>alleged target is Iran's main centrifuge plant, at Natanz, 200 miles

>south of Teheran.

>

>

>

>

>

>To send an email to -

>

[Guest guest]

how do you figure 15 20 days?

who cares if the US(or anyone else) attacks iran fer 12 minutes er 12 months?

attacks are attacks....

world war three heartbeats away

whee fun

 

 

>rvijay <rvijay07

>Apr 9, 2006 2:06 PM

>

> Re: run fer the hills

>

>If all recollect here, there were reports like this a few times before

>in the media over the last few years. After some time it died down and

>everything was calm again. Seems like the same again. IF US really

>attacks Iran and if these attacks continue for 15 to 20 days then we

>can worry about it.

>

>Until then sleep well and enjoy life.

>

>Vijay

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>To send an email to -

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Fraggle

 

>but...it got me thinking.....>scary no?

 

You'd better watch it, the govt will be after you if you start that sort of thing.

 

>so, before the 1930's...wot the heck did folks call someone they wanted everyone t ohate?

I believe Genghis Khan was a favourite :-)

 

BB

Peter

[Guest guest]

, fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

>

> how do you figure 15 20 days?

> who cares if the US(or anyone else) attacks iran fer 12 minutes er

12 months?

> attacks are attacks....

> world war three heartbeats away

> whee fun

>

 

 

There are always minro exchanges and friendly fire in borders,

specially with US troops besides Iraq. 15 to 20 days proves to me that

the attack is serious and for real, it is not just the press/noise.

But this is just me, others can decide on whatever basis they choose.

[Guest guest]

*yells*

"KHAN!!!!!! KHAN!!!!!"

 

 

botany bay? botany bay!? oh no!

"I'll chase him round the outer nebula and round the antares malstrom and round perditions flames before I give him up!" Peter Kebbell Apr 10, 2006 8:41 AM Re: Re: run fer the hills

Hi Fraggle

 

>but...it got me thinking.....>scary no?

 

You'd better watch it, the govt will be after you if you start that sort of thing.

 

>so, before the 1930's...wot the heck did folks call someone they wanted everyone t ohate?

I believe Genghis Khan was a favourite :-)

 

BB

Peter

To send an email to -

 

 

[Guest guest]

if the us er isreal decides to attack iran, one single bomb will ignite the word

imo

 

 

>rvijay <rvijay07

>Apr 10, 2006 8:50 AM

>

> Re: run fer the hills

>

> , fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

>>

>> how do you figure 15 20 days?

>> who cares if the US(or anyone else) attacks iran fer 12 minutes er

>12 months?

>> attacks are attacks....

>> world war three heartbeats away

>> whee fun

>>

>

>

>There are always minro exchanges and friendly fire in borders,

>specially with US troops besides Iraq. 15 to 20 days proves to me that

>the attack is serious and for real, it is not just the press/noise.

>But this is just me, others can decide on whatever basis they choose.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>To send an email to -

>

[Guest guest]

govt will be after me....like on sadie hawkins day?

if they catches me does they gets to kiss me' un? Peter Kebbell Apr 10, 2006 8:41 AM Re: Re: run fer the hills

Hi Fraggle

 

>but...it got me thinking.....>scary no?

 

You'd better watch it, the govt will be after you if you start that sort of thing.

 

>so, before the 1930's...wot the heck did folks call someone they wanted everyone t ohate?

I believe Genghis Khan was a favourite :-)

 

BB

Peter

To send an email to -

 

 

[Guest guest]

, fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

>

> if the us er isreal decides to attack iran, one single bomb will

ignite the word imo

>

 

There are such threats, but in reality everyone gets very cautious.

Remember same was said before the Iraq war, few years later for the US

it is business as usual in Iraq.

[Guest guest]

if by business as usual you mean civil war, death, famine, disease, bombings, no

power, no water, no schools, sectarian violence, suicide bombings, DU ammunition

all over, religious violence, then..yeah...business as usual....

 

 

>rvijay <rvijay07

>Apr 10, 2006 9:01 AM

>

> Re: run fer the hills

>

> , fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

>>

>> if the us er isreal decides to attack iran, one single bomb will

>ignite the word imo

>>

>

>There are such threats, but in reality everyone gets very cautious.

>Remember same was said before the Iraq war, few years later for the US

>it is business as usual in Iraq.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>To send an email to -

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Fraggle

 

So... if you like Star Trek, why the dislike for other Sci Fi?

 

BB

Peter

 

-

fraggle

Monday, April 10, 2006 4:52 PM

Re: Re: run fer the hills

 

*yells*

"KHAN!!!!!! KHAN!!!!!"

 

 

botany bay? botany bay!? oh no!

"I'll chase him round the outer nebula and round the antares malstrom and round perditions flames before I give him up!" Peter Kebbell Apr 10, 2006 8:41 AM Re: Re: run fer the hills

Hi Fraggle

 

>but...it got me thinking.....>scary no?

 

You'd better watch it, the govt will be after you if you start that sort of thing.

 

>so, before the 1930's...wot the heck did folks call someone they wanted everyone t ohate?

I believe Genghis Khan was a favourite :-)

 

BB

Peter

To send an email to -

 

 

[Guest guest]

Where is it business as usual? dictator gone, admittedly the religious fractions seem to be back to the usual business of killing each other, but the country is still structurally unsound, lack of order/ food/medicine/water/electricity/telecoms/ revenue from oil/freedom from outside influence etc, etc, The Valley Vegan............rvijay <rvijay07 wrote: , fraggle wrote:>> if the us er isreal decides to attack iran, one single bomb willignite the word imo> There are such threats, but in reality everyone gets very cautious.Remember same was said before the Iraq war, few years later for the USit is business as usual in Iraq.To send an email to

-

[Guest guest]

Oh no, my brain cannae take it Fraggle! The Valley Vegan................fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: *yells* "KHAN!!!!!! KHAN!!!!!" botany bay? botany bay!? oh no! "I'll chase him round the outer nebula and round the antares malstrom and round perditions flames before I give him up!" Peter Kebbell Apr 10, 2006 8:41 AM Re: Re: run fer the hills Hi Fraggle >but...it got me thinking.....>scary no? You'd

better watch it, the govt will be after you if you start that sort of thing. >so, before the 1930's...wot the heck did folks call someone they wanted everyone t ohate? I believe Genghis Khan was a favourite :-) BB Peter To send an email to -

[Guest guest]

just don't get caught wearing a red shirt..... peter hurd Apr 10, 2006 10:25 AM Re: Re: run fer the hills

Oh no, my brain cannae take it Fraggle!

 

The Valley Vegan................fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

 

*yells*

"KHAN!!!!!! KHAN!!!!!"

 

 

botany bay? botany bay!? oh no!

"I'll chase him round the outer nebula and round the antares malstrom and round perditions flames before I give him up!" Peter Kebbell Apr 10, 2006 8:41 AM Re: Re: run fer the hills

Hi Fraggle

 

>but...it got me thinking.....>scary no?

 

You'd better watch it, the govt will be after you if you start that sort of thing.

 

>so, before the 1930's...wot the heck did folks call someone they wanted everyone t ohate?

I believe Genghis Khan was a favourite :-)

 

BB

Peter

To send an email to -

 

 

[Guest guest]

I just love that expression "friendly fire", or how about that old chestnut " theatre of operations" The Valley Vegan......................... Dark is the light,The man you fight,With all your prayers, incantations,Running away, a trivial day,Of judgment and deliverance,To whom was sold, this bounty soul,A gentile or a priest ?Who victored over, the Seljuks,When the holy land was takenrvijay <rvijay07 wrote: , fraggle wrote:>> how do you figure 15 20 days?> who cares if the US(or anyone else) attacks iran fer 12 minutes er12 months?> attacks are attacks....> world war three heartbeats away> whee fun> There are always

minro exchanges and friendly fire in borders,specially with US troops besides Iraq. 15 to 20 days proves to me thatthe attack is serious and for real, it is not just the press/noise.But this is just me, others can decide on whatever basis they choose.To send an email to -

[Guest guest]

He wasnt much of a favourite with the Tartars was he? The Valley Vegan............... Held within the Pleasure DomeDecreed by Kubla KhanTo taste my bitter triumphAs a mad immortal manNevermore shall I returnEscape these caves of iceFor I have dined on honeydewAnd drunk the milk of Paradise Peter Kebbell <metalscarab wrote: Hi Fraggle >but...it got me thinking.....>scary no? You'd better watch it, the govt will be after you if you start that sort of thing. >so, before the 1930's...wot the heck did folks call someone they wanted everyone t ohate? I believe Genghis

Khan was a favourite :-) BB Peter Peter H

 

Win a BlackBerry device from O2 with . Enter now.

[Guest guest]

Where are you getting your information? I believe the average person in

Iraq is worse off now than they were when Saddam Hussein was in power.

 

Jo

-

" rvijay " <rvijay07

 

Monday, April 10, 2006 5:01 PM

Re: run fer the hills

 

 

> , fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

> >

> > if the us er isreal decides to attack iran, one single bomb will

> ignite the word imo

> >

>

> There are such threats, but in reality everyone gets very cautious.

> Remember same was said before the Iraq war, few years later for the US

> it is business as usual in Iraq.

[Guest guest]

Oooooh - Rush lyrics :-)

 

Jo

 

-

peter hurd

Monday, April 10, 2006 6:39 PM

Re: Re: run fer the hills

 

He wasnt much of a favourite with the Tartars was he?

 

The Valley Vegan...............

 

Held within the Pleasure DomeDecreed by Kubla KhanTo taste my bitter triumphAs a mad immortal manNevermore shall I returnEscape these caves of iceFor I have dined on honeydewAnd drunk the milk of Paradise