Journalist: U.S. planning for possible attack on Iran (No surprise here)

[Strife]

White House says report is 'riddled with inaccuracies'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration has been carrying out secret reconnaissance missions to learn about nuclear, chemical and missile sites in Iran in preparation for possible airstrikes there, journalist Seymour Hersh said Sunday.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/16/hersh.iran/index.html

:gtfo:

[substand]

Now all you people who asked "why not Iran?" in response to Iraq will soon have nothing left to complain about!

[lotrfan55345]

I predicted this is the country we were going to inva...liberate after Iraq!

Woo hoo I was right!

[Strife]

I second that. :nono:

[marglarg]

... but the Pentagon denies it so it can't be true surely !!! :grin

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11969986%255E401,00.html

[dutchie]

no, they haven't actually done that in so many words...

A government spokesman said on the BBC worldservice: "an invasion would only become an option when all better options where tried out and the remaining options would be too terrible to consider (!!)...

[marglarg]

Exactly, in the same breath Bush is stating that a military attack is not ruled out by any means ... only as a last resort. I mean, surely, they must have some plan in the works in case it does come down to this (an attack) and knowing the US military machine, reconnoissance must surely be a part of the preparation.

BTW, I'm not condoning military action against Iran, I feel if they do have a nuclear weapons agenda in the works, they should be stopped by all means necessary.

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11985920%255E401,00.html

[stewey]

Exactly, in the same breath Bush is stating that a military attack is not ruled out by any means ... only as a last resort. I mean, surely, they must have some plan in the works in case it does come down to this (an attack) and knowing the US military machine, reconnoissance must surely be a part of the preparation.

BTW, I'm not condoning military action against Iran, I feel if they do have a nuclear weapons agenda in the works, they should be stopped by all means necessary.

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11985920%255E401,00.html

I agree. I would like to see Isreal take them on though, not USA.

[MetalMilitia]

Thats kinda a dumb statement, Israel "taking them down".

They get all their weapons, subs, jets, and funding from the US... Not to mention, they are the ACTUAL nuclear power in that region... though they won't admit it... they've had spies in our government.... oh well....

Bush Won't Rule Out Iran Attack - http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20050118/pl_nm/iran_usa_dc

Neocons Take Aim at Iran - http://news.ft.com/cms/s/90ab5f5a-68e4-11d9-9183-00000e2511c8.html

Can't we unfuck one mess before starting another? Nobody has even proven that Iran is doing anything other than setting up a measely power plant. Maybe they're sick of eating sand, and want a stable means of energy produciton?

Are they a nuclear "threat" to the US?

Are you kidding me? We could turn that place into a glass parking lot in a matter of minutes... what could they POSSIBLY have to gain by "nuking" someone - when they have EVERYTHING to gain by utilizing nuclear energy.

[dutchie]

That's sound and solid thinking, Matt.

Iran gains NOTHING from developing nukes. If any country in the vicinity of Israel would consider developing nukes, it would be in defense of the obviously existent nuclear arms arsenal that is in Israel.

Iran just doesn't have the regime the US would like to see there. Again it's about protecting US economic interests (and we all know the three letter word you can fill in there...) and NOT about "evil" or "axis" or crap like that. The US just wished it could reinstall another shah (conveniently forgetting he was a murdering totalitary bastard as well...).

[MetalMilitia]

Well, people call me an "anti-semite" because I directly criticize Israels POLICIES and POLITICS (Nothing to do with religion) so bluntly. I just have to point it out repetedly, that Israel is the only nation in the ME that has nukes, and that is even now "wanting to kill it's enemies on foreign soil" ( http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news3/upi1.htm ) Oh yeah, its a farse I'm sure...

With the most sound logic gone from Iraq, its "threat" to its neighbors and US - interest, wtf are we still doing there... And less than 10 days after the truth (no wmd's) comes out about Iraq, we're PROVEN to be conducting operations in Iran? I know the CIA and military "intelligence" is everywhere, but this time - let's make sure they HAVE the nukes (not a weather balloon) and perhaps try talking to them or allowing in IAEA inspectors for longer than a few months.

They have NOTHING to gain in that region, knowing that they would be PULVERIZED if they created weapons. Fuck, even countries WITHOUT weapons got creamated... ya think that might deter them?

No more lies, no more BS... don't let the mass media tell you there will be a "mushroom cloud" over the US, only to find out that the actual story is the biggest lie of the 21st century (thus far)

-MM- :crs:

[Rynotek]

This is the sort of spirit!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4184175.stm

I wanna see this deterrent, preferably a real live working example,some thing that would end up putting Bush in Sing Sing

Smoke Bush, Not Afgan

[substand]

I mean, surely, they must have some plan in the works in case it does come down to this (an attack) and knowing the US military machine, reconnoissance must surely be a part of the preparation.

We have plans for invading Britain too. Contingency.


we're PROVEN to be conducting operations in Iran?

proven because a journalist with unnamed sources says so? or did i miss a link somewhere?


I know the CIA and military "intelligence" is everywhere, but this time - let's make sure they HAVE the nukes

You're pissed about doing operations there and you want to make sure they have them? which is it? If this is going on, and I would think it is highly likely it is, don't you think it might in some way be happening because Bush wants sound intel so he can avoid embarrassment?

[substand]

what could they POSSIBLY have to gain by "nuking" someone - when they have EVERYTHING to gain by utilizing nuclear energy.

then let them put everyone's fears to rest. what about the other means of producing energy that they can utilize? they have everything to gain from covertly making nukes and covertly giving it to terrorists and covertly hurting their enemies, but little to nothing to gain from nuke energy:



Iran is OPEC's second largest oil producer and holds 10% of the world's proven oil reserves. It also has the world's second largest natural gas reserves (after Russia). from http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/iran.html

Their own goal is said to be Nuclear power for 10% of their needs by 2020 to free up more oil and natural gas for trade.

[repentantsinner]

Repentant sinner "predicts" that Isreal will be involved in an attack on Iran and get dragged into a conflict with Syria. There are already rumers of Syria, then there will be a huge mess in the middle east. We will also pull out of Iraq sooner than expected.

[substand]

Repentant sinner "predicts" that Isreal will be involved in an attack on Iran and get dragged into a conflict with Syria. There are already rumers of Syria, then there will be a huge mess in the middle east. We will also pull out of Iraq sooner than expected.

Are you consulting Sylvia Browne (http://www.sylvia.org) or a crystal ball, or do you have any evidence to support your predictions?

[stewey]

If true, this is sick. I do not trust Iran, so I could see this being true.

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42458

Iran leaders call for anti-U.S. 'martyrs'
Urging students to sacrifice themselves as suicide attackers



In recent speeches, Iranian political leader Ali Khamenei and Revolutionary Guards Gen. Shabani praised the culture of martyrdom and jihad and urged students to become martyrs themselves in order to resist enemies, particularly the United States.

The statements were translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute, or MEMRI.

Speaking to the 8th Congress on Martyred Students, Khamenei said Iran's enemies have tried to humiliate and diminish the value of martyrdom and the culture of jihad in the eyes of the youth, particularly students."


He explained that martyrdom, or "shahada," mean "the giving of one's greatest material asset for an ideal, the revival and fertilization of which are for the good of humanity."

"This is one of the most beautiful human values, and when this ideal is pleasing to Allah as well – and is the aspiration of all Allah's messengers – this value is the supreme human virtue, and cannot be measured by any material criterion," he said.

Khamenei urged students to continue to promote the culture of jihad and martyrdom among themselves as "a source of national strength and a characteristic of pure worship.

"When we encounter the name of a student who committed martyrdom we are confident that the acceptance of martyrdom and of the jihad that led to this martyrdom stemmed from [the martyr's] self-awareness and clear desire, and this intensifies the value of the act," Khamanei said. "Sanctify and praise your exalted martyrs and place your trust in the help and support of Allah."

Meanwhile, Shabani, who is in charge of Iran's Security Forces Staff and Command College, spoke at a memorial service for "the martyrs from the University of Qom."

He said Iran is "the third [largest] power in the region in the field of ballistic missile production, following China and Russia."

Shabani said Iran "must educate and train forces ready to commit martyrdom attacks in order to counter the enemy."

"In the event of a war with the U.S. we must fight them asymmetrically," he said. "As of now, we have manufactured weapons systems and we have attained nuclear capabilities. What has caused the U.S. great concern is the fact that the Iranian young [generation] attained this technology by themselves."

Shabani stressed the need to be prepared always for the enemy's moves.

"Through its plans, the U.S. is trying to generate a change in the behavior of Iran's high-ranking officials, and it is aware that it will not succeed [in doing so] through a military offensive," he said. "If the enemy wants to put Iran in danger, we will leave [the enemy] with no security whatsoever."

Shabani said the U.S. has mobilized all its equipment and forces in the region in order to pressure Iran.

[MetalMilitia]

Same BS propaganda... WOO WAR!!! KILL EM ALL!!!

[dutchie]

[dripping sarcasm]
Hey - now I get it!! The war on Iraq was started on the basis of a simple typo!! Some CIA shmuck accidentally typed a "q" in stead of an "n" in an intel report..

Never mind that... heck - let's nuke 'em BOTH!! :headbang::boom::blazing:
[/dripping sarcasm]

[repentantsinner]

Are you consulting Sylvia Browne (http://www.sylvia.org) or a crystal ball, or do you have any evidence to support your predictions?
Substand, if im not mistaken the majority of the us millitary is tied down in Iraq. Plus Israel is more directly threatened than the US,Iran has threatened to "wipe isreal off the face of the earth". The US could maybe only strike using carrier borne aircraft. As for Syria, there are rumours of US incusions into Syria to stop Iraqi insurgents, Syria is still officially at war with Isreal, and many terrosrists have there bases in Syria. And to tell the truth im banking on biblical prophecy to come true.

[substand]

KILL EM ALL!!!

plagarist.


Substand, if im not mistaken the majority of the us millitary is tied down in Iraq. Plus Israel is more directly threatened than the US,Iran has threatened to "wipe isreal off the face of the earth". The US could maybe only strike using carrier borne aircraft. As for Syria, there are rumours of US incusions into Syria to stop Iraqi insurgents, Syria is still officially at war with Isreal, and many terrosrists have there bases in Syria.

Ok, thats pretty good circumstantial reasoning.


And to tell the truth im banking on biblical prophecy to come true.

I laughed so hard after I read the longer explanation and then you added that bit in. I know its not funny, but it really was.

[substand]

Substand, if im not mistaken the majority of the us millitary is tied down in Iraq.

You may be mistaken. I'm not a big military geek or anything, but this seems to point in the direction of you being mistaken:


Of the 37 combat brigades and Armored Cavalry Regiments in the US Army's active component, some 12 are currently deployed (including one from the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea). Another 10 have recently returned from deployment, including both of the two Armored Cavalry Regiments (it should be noted that press and Army officials tend to lump the ACR's in with the Brigades when counting total combat brigades). A total of 9 Brgiades are slated for deployment over the course of 2005.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/global-deployments.htm

10 brigades are in iraq, out of 37 total.

Can anyone verify that?

[substand]

I'm sure this just got a quick once-over, but it's worth a closer look:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/07/wiran07.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/02/07/ixworld.html


Hassan Rohani, the secretary general of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said yesterday that there was nothing the West could do to make it scrap its nuclear programme.

He told the Reuters news agency that Iran would retaliate in the event of an attack by America or Israel. "And we will definitely accelerate our activities to complete our [nuclear] fuel cycle."

Anyone find that at all alarming? If they are developing nucular technology for peaceful purposes, what is accelerating it if attacked supposed to do?