Guest guest Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 , 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 , " 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 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 - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 , " 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 , 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 *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 - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 , 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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