Three-day-blitz plan for Iran # 23

Altijd lekker om een plaatje te hebben.

Mijn vraag is... wat gaat de EU doen .. als USA Iran zou binnenvallen?

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Op zondag 9 september 2007 21:48 schreef Burakius het volgende:
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Altijd lekker om een plaatje te hebben.

Mijn vraag is... wat gaat de EU doen .. als USA Iran zou binnenvallen?

zal wel verdeeld zijn maar ik gok dat ze er lichtjes achter zullen staan

Maar natuurlijk niet met manschappen. En wat gaat Rusland doen? Ik denk niets..

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Op zondag 9 september 2007 22:39 schreef Burakius het volgende:
Maar natuurlijk niet met manschappen. En wat gaat Rusland doen? Ik denk niets..

Rusland gaat heeeel erg profiteren van de gestegen olieprijzen. Dus je zult hoogstwaarschijnlijk alleen een diplomatiek protest horen van rusland...

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Op zondag 9 september 2007 21:48 schreef Burakius het volgende:
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Altijd lekker om een plaatje te hebben.

Dit is ook een mooi plaatje.



De Shanghai Cooperation Organization

De groene landen zijn kandidaat-lidstaten. De groene meest links is Iran.

Een aanval op Iran zou door Rusland en China toch iets anders ervaren worden dan met Irak het geval was. Irak was nergens aan gelieerd en Saddam was daarbij zelfs een voormalig bondgenoot van de VS.

Waarom zijn afghanistan en turkmenistan geen kandidaat leden.

Afghanistan is geloof ik kandidaat kandidaat lid

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Pentagon wil militaire basis bij grens Irak-Iran
Het Pentagon is van plan een militaire basis op te zetten in het grensgebied tussen Iran en Irak. Het Amerikaanse ministerie van Defensie wil hiermee een einde maken aan de levering van Iraanse wapens aan sjiitische strijders in Irak. Dit meldde de Amerikaanse krant The Wall Street Journal maandag op haar website.

De basis zou in november in gebruik worden genomen voor zeker twee jaar. Volgens de krant gaat het Pentagon ook bewapende controleposten installeren op de grote snelwegen die van het Iraanse grensgebied naar Bagdad leiden. Op de enige formele douanepost tussen de twee landen zouden röntgenapparaten en andere detectieapparatuur worden geïnstalleerd.

Rapport

Het nieuws komt op de dag dat de Amerikaanse generaal David Petraeus en ambassadeur Ryan Crocker in het Congres een rapport over de vooruitgang van het veiligheidsoffensief in Irak presenteren.

Het grensgebeid tussen iran en irak, heb ik wat gemist is er een neutrale zone tussen die 2 landen?
Heeft de VS iran al aangevallen dat ze zomaar in iran iets installeren.

Nou ik ben benieuwd of dit nog veel gaat doen voor de veiligheid van irak, of juist gedaan wordt om meer "hard"bewijs tegen iran te verzamelen.

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Op maandag 10 september 2007 08:21 schreef NorthernStar het volgende:

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Dit is ook een mooi plaatje.

[afbeelding]

De Shanghai Cooperation Organization

De groene landen zijn kandidaat-lidstaten. De groene meest links is Iran.

Een aanval op Iran zou door Rusland en China toch iets anders ervaren worden dan met Irak het geval was. Irak was nergens aan gelieerd en Saddam was daarbij zelfs een voormalig bondgenoot van de VS.

idd een aliantie van landen die elkaar niet moeten
maar puur uit noodzaak maar samenwerken

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Two US carrier-strike groups are bound for Persian Gulf region, bringing number back to three

September 10, 2007, 10:52 AM (GMT+02:00)

USS Truman Strike Group heading for Gulf



DEBKAfile’s military sources report that from the third week of July, the only American strike force- carrier in the Persian Gulf-Arabian Sea region was the USS Enterprise. By the end of September, it will be joined by the USS Nimitz and the USS Truman Strike Groups. Our sources note that with their arrival, three American naval, air and marine forces will again confront Iranian shores at a time of crisis in the military and civilian leadership of Iran - signaled by the abrupt change of Revolutionary Guards Corps commanders, rising Israel-Syrian tensions and a troubled situation in Lebanon.

The Nimitz left the region to take part in large-scale Malabar 2007 II exercise with five Asian nations, termed by Indian military observers “the first step towards establishing Asian NATO. Since the maneuver ended Friday, Sept. 7, the Nimitz has been on its way back to the Persian Gulf. The Truman group, made up of 12 warships and submarines, including a nuclear sub, with 7,600 sailors, air crew and marines aboard, has just completed a long series of training exercises and is preparing to set out for its new posting. It carries eight squadrons of fighters, bombers and spy planes.

The Truman force’s battle cry is: “Give ‘em hell”.

The combined naval strike groups include the Monterey-CG 61 guided missile cruiser, the USS Barry DDG 52 and USS Mason-DDG 87 guided missile destroyers, the USS Albuquerque-SSN 706 fast nuclear strike submarine and the combat logistical USNS Arctic T-AOE 8.

In the last week of August, the USS Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group took up position opposite the Lebanese coast amid trepidation over the September presidential election. Our military sources reported that aboard the group’s vessels are members of the 22nds Marine special operations-capable Expeditionary Unit, who are ready to execute landings on Lebanese beaches.

Ah, dus niet deze week, maar aan het einde van de maand?

Weer een nieuwe cliffhanger om naar uit te kijken

Debka...

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Op maandag 10 september 2007 18:26 schreef Monidique het volgende:
Debka...

Debka is zwaar oke mbt militaire toestanden. Was ook zo'n beetje de enige site die het vaak bij het goede eind had bij dat hele Hezbolla/IDF toestandje.

Mwah...

Gelukkig heeft Bush met de oorlogen in Afghanistan en Irak al laten zien dat hij beschikt over een uitermate goed inzicht op millitair gebied

3x is scheepsrecht .

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Op maandag 10 september 2007 18:49 schreef PietjePuk007 het volgende:
3x is scheepsrecht .

Optimist tot in de kist!

Denk dat het misschien wel helemaal uit de klauw kan gaan lopen nu het schijnt dat
Iran al 3 of 4 atoombommen heeft aangeschaft van Kazachstan al in de jaren negentig, vlak na de iran- iraq oorlog.

http://petermo.info/wordpress/?p=309

http://annika.mu.nu/archives/193835.html


Deze bommen worden ook gebruikt om makkelijker nieuwe te vervaardigen en wie weet hebben ze er nog meer aangeschaft op de zwarte markt.
Zou mahmoud daarom misschien zo onverschrikbaar overkomen...who knows!

En gaat ie ze gebruiken zodra amerika aanvalt, tegen Israel? heeft er misschien eentje verstopt in washington? zou toch zo maar kunnen...

Mahmoud tegen Bush:" i call your bet and raise you.....''.

[ Bericht 5% gewijzigd door motionknight op 11-09-2007 02:12:47 ]

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Iran Linked to Iraq Rocket Attack
U.S. military officials in Iraq tell ABC News that a rocket used in an attack on coalition headquarters at Camp Victory Tuesday was made in Iran. Officials say the rocket, which narrowly missed its target, was fired from an area of Baghdad controlled by Shia militia leader Moqtada al Sadr.

(...)

Officials say Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, the spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq, will display fragments of the 240mm rocket -- complete with Iranian markings -- at a press conference in Baghdad Thursday.

"We want to show the link between the Iranian weapons and the damage they are doing," said a senior U.S. military official in Baghdad.

The official said the rocket was fired from Baghdad's West Rashid neighborhood. The area is controlled by Sadr, who is known to have ties to Iran.

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U.S. Officials Begin Crafting Iran Bombing Plan
A recent decision by German officials to withhold support for any new sanctions against Iran has pushed a broad spectrum of officials in Washington to develop potential scenarios for a military attack on the Islamic regime, FOX News confirmed Tuesday.

(...)

Consequently, according to a well-placed Bush administration source, "everyone in town" is now participating in a broad discussion about the costs and benefits of military action against Iran, with the likely timeframe for any such course of action being over the next eight to 10 months, after the presidential primaries have probably been decided, but well before the November 2008 elections.

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Iran involvement in attacks 'clear'
THE top US commander in Iraq said overnight there was hard evidence of Iranian involvement in attacks on US soldiers but demurred on whether US forces should respond with operations inside Iran.

General David Petraeus said the evidence included captured hard drives that contained digitised items taken from the wallet of a US soldier killed in an assault in January in Karbala along with four other US soldiers.

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Rice says U.S. needs to keep Iraq safe from Iran
Rice said the United States needed Iraq and other allies in the region "to resist both terrorism and Iranian aggression."

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The 'proxy war': UK troops are sent to Iranian border
British forces have been sent from Basra to the volatile border with Iran amid warnings from the senior US commander in Iraq that Tehran is fomenting a "proxy war".

In signs of a fast-developing confrontation, the Iranians have threatened military action in response to attacks launched from Iraqi territory while the Pentagon has announced the building of a US base and fortified checkpoints at the frontier.

The UK operation, in which up to 350 troops are involved, has come at the request of the Americans, who say that elements close to the Iranian regime have stepped up supplies of weapons to Shia militias in recent weeks in preparation for attacks inside Iraq.

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Op donderdag 13 september 2007 19:45 schreef Monidique het volgende:

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maar wanneer gebeurt het nou eens

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Op donderdag 13 september 2007 20:04 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

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maar wanneer gebeurt het nou eens

Juli 2004.

Nah, ik geloof dat die '3 day blitz' d'r een beetje naast zat

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Op maandag 10 september 2007 18:43 schreef __Saviour__ het volgende:
Gelukkig heeft Bush met de oorlogen in Afghanistan en Irak al laten zien dat hij beschikt over een uitermate goed inzicht op millitair gebied

NOT!

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US: Syria on nuke watch list, cites possible contact with nuke suppliers (AP)

U.S. official confirms presence of North Korean nuclear experts in Syria (AP)

Foutje, bedankt.

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Journalist Washington Post schrijft vernietigend boek
‘Rice deed in het Witte Huis haar werk niet’
Condoleezza Rice functioneerde niet als veiligheidsadviseur en als minister kan ze de schade niet meer herstellen, zegt haar favoriete verslaggever. „Het is alleen maar geploeter.”

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In zijn boek plaatst Kessler, die al jarenlang op alle buitenlandse missies van Rice meereist, het Iraakse fiasco in de context van het buitenlandse beleid onder Bush. Het resultaat is uiterst pijnlijk voor de minister. Kessler, kind van Nederlandse ouders, staat bekend als de favoriete verslaggever van Rice. Ze stond hem een interview van vijf uur toe. Maar hij betitelt haar zonder omwegen als „een van de slechtste nationale veiligheidsadviseurs [de functie die ze in Bush’ eerste termijn vervulde, red.] in de geschiedenis van de VS”. En wanneer ze in 2005 promoveert tot minister is de aangerichte schade te groot om deze nog te herstellen, aldus het boek.

Kessler: „Ik prijs haar ook hoor, als dat mogelijk is. Maar ik geef toe dat ik negatiever word als het tegen het einde loopt. In het begin woei er een nieuwe wind. Ze wist de relatie met Europa te verbeteren. Ze sloot een nucleaire deal met India die te verdedigen was. Maar daarna is het alleen maar geploeter geweest – over Irak, Iran, Israël.”

Welke maatstaf gebruikt u om haar neer te sabelen als nationale veiligheidsadviseur?

„De wet regelt dat de nationale veiligheidsadviseur de informatie van en naar de president stuurt en coördineert. Dat deed ze gewoon niet. Ik heb uitgezocht hoe het besluit voor de Irak-invasie tot stand kwam. Het bleek dat ze nooit een vergadering heeft belegd waarin is besloten tot de invasie. Ze hebben de voor- en nadelen nooit gezamenlijk besproken. Het was haar taak dat te organiseren.”

Ook op een ander gebied was het gevolg van haar disfunctioneren groot. In 2003 liet Iran bij een medewerker van Rice een voorstel bezorgen voor een allesomvattende diplomatieke overeenkomst met de VS. Nu zou Washington er vermoedelijk gretig op ingaan. Maar onder Rice bleef het voorstel onbeantwoord in een la liggen, schrijft Kessler.

Rice zegt dat ze zich dit niet kan herinneren. Is dat geloofwaardig?

„Ja en nee. Op een bepaald niveau is het niet geloofwaardig. Maar op een ander niveau – als je er vanuit gaat dat ze als nationaal veiligheidsadviseur een slechte manager was – kan het typerend zijn dat haar staf een potentiële grote stap van Iran negeerde, zodat het niet eens bij de nationale veiligheidsadviseur kwam.

„Ik denk wel dat bepaalde elementen in Iran op dat moment interesse hadden in afspraken. In die documenten staat dat de geestelijke leider het voorstel had goedgekeurd. En vergeet de context niet. Iran had acht jaar geprobeerd Irak te verslaan, daar was een miljoen doden bij gevallen. En nu zagen ze dat de VS Saddam in drie weken neerhaalde. Dus ik vind het logisch dat zij dachten: we zullen iets met die mensen moeten bereiken.”

Je kunt je afvragen waarom Iran het voorstel niet op een hoger niveau inbracht?

„Zo komen grote doorbraken in de diplomatie nu eenmaal tot stand. Voordat Nixon naar China ging waren er ook allerlei contacten in achterkamers, vreemde uitwisselingen vaak.”

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Frankrijk voert druk op Iran op

De Franse minister Kouchner zegt dat de wereld zich moet voorbereiden op een oorlog tegen Iran als dat land doorgaat met zijn nucleaire programma."We moeten ons voorbereiden op het ergste en dat is oorlog", zei hij op de Franse tv.

De minister van Buitenlandse Zaken wil dat Europa Iran eerst extra sancties oplegt, bovenop die van de VN. Kouchner ziet in Iran een gevaar voor de vrede als het over kernwapens beschikt.

Iran heeft steeds benadrukt dat het uranium verrijkt voor vreedzame doelen. Veel Westerse landen, waaronder de VS, geloven dat niet. Ook Washington sluit gewapend ingrijpen niet uit.

Bron

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Bush setting America up for war with Iran

By Philip Sherwell in New York and Tim Shipman in Washington
Last Updated: 2:29am BST 17/09/2007

Senior American intelligence and defence officials believe that President George W Bush and his inner circle are taking steps to place America on the path to war with Iran, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt.



Pentagon planners have developed a list of up to 2,000 bombing targets in Iran, amid growing fears among serving officers that diplomatic efforts to slow Iran's nuclear weapons programme are doomed to fail.

Pentagon and CIA officers say they believe that the White House has begun a carefully calibrated programme of escalation that could lead to a military showdown with Iran.

Now it has emerged that Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state, who has been pushing for a diplomatic solution, is prepared to settle her differences with Vice-President Dick Cheney and sanction military action.

In a chilling scenario of how war might come, a senior intelligence officer warned that public denunciation of Iranian meddling in Iraq - arming and training militants - would lead to cross border raids on Iranian training camps and bomb factories.

A prime target would be the Fajr base run by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Quds Force in southern Iran, where Western intelligence agencies say armour-piercing projectiles used against British and US troops are manufactured.

Under the theory - which is gaining credence in Washington security circles - US action would provoke a major Iranian response, perhaps in the form of moves to cut off Gulf oil supplies, providing a trigger for air strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities and even its armed forces.

Senior officials believe Mr Bush's inner circle has decided he does not want to leave office without first ensuring that Iran is not capable of developing a nuclear weapon.

The intelligence source said: "No one outside that tight circle knows what is going to happen." But he said that within the CIA "many if not most officials believe that diplomacy is failing" and that "top Pentagon brass believes the same".

He said: "A strike will probably follow a gradual escalation. Over the next few weeks and months the US will build tensions and evidence around Iranian activities in Iraq."

Previously, accusations that Mr Bush was set on war with Iran have come almost entirely from his critics.

Many senior operatives within the CIA are highly critical of Mr Bush's handling of the Iraq war, though they themselves are considered ineffective and unreliable by hardliners close to Mr Cheney.

The vice president is said to advocate the use of bunker-busting tactical nuclear weapons against Iran's nuclear sites. His allies dispute this, but Mr Cheney is understood to be lobbying for air strikes if sites can be identified where Revolutionary Guard units are training Shia militias.

Recent developments over Iraq appear to fit with the pattern of escalation predicted by Pentagon officials.

Gen David Petraeus, Mr Bush's senior Iraq commander, denounced the Iranian "proxy war" in Iraq last week as he built support in Washington for the US military surge in Baghdad.

The US also announced the creation of a new base near the Iraqi border town of Badra, the first of what could be several locations to tackle the smuggling of weapons from Iran.

A State Department source familiar with White House discussions said that Miss Rice, under pressure from senior counter-proliferation officials to acknowledge that military action may be necessary, is now working with Mr Cheney to find a way to reconcile their positions and present a united front to the President.

The source said: "When you go down there and see the body language, you can see that Cheney is still The Man. Condi pushed for diplomacy but she is no dove. If it becomes necessary she will be on board.



"Both of them are very close to the president, and where they differ they are working together to find a way to present a position they can both live with."

The official contrasted the efforts of the secretary of state to work with the vice-president with the "open warfare between Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld before the Iraq war".

Miss Rice's bottom line is that if the administration is to go to war again it must build the case over a period of months and win sufficient support on Capitol Hill.

The Sunday Telegraph has been told that Mr Bush has privately promised her that he would consult "meaningfully" with Congressional leaders of both parties before any military action against Iran on the understanding that Miss Rice would resign if this did not happen.

The intelligence officer said that the US military has "two major contingency plans" for air strikes on Iran.

"One is to bomb only the nuclear facilities. The second option is for a much bigger strike that would - over two or three days - hit all of the significant military sites as well. This plan involves more than 2,000 targets."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/16/wiran116.xml&CMP=ILC-mostviewedbox

Wat zou frankrijk toegezegd gekregen hebben van de VS dat men opeens nu nog harder wilt gaan optreden tegen iran dan de VS.

Zijn we er al bijna klaar voor?
Zijn we al bijna allemaal bang voor Iran?

Want dan kunnen ze tenminste los! Of moeten er nog even wat enge verhalen de wereld ingeslingerd worden.

Vandaag staat de teller in ieder geval op 2

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Op maandag 17 september 2007 12:36 schreef Basp1 het volgende:
Wat zou frankrijk toegezegd gekregen hebben van de VS dat men opeens nu nog harder wilt gaan optreden tegen iran dan de VS.

niets waarschijnlijk, als je goedkijkt is de EU het ook beu aan het worden en wil zo iran waarschuwen meer diplomatiek te worden

Ik kan het ook zo interpreteren dat Kouchner waarschuwt dat een oorlog mogelijk is en dat men zich daar op moet voorbereiden, niet per se dat Frankrijk dreigt iets te gaan doen, of iets dergelijks. Hoe dan ook zeer onverstandige woorden van Frankrijk.

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Op maandag 17 september 2007 14:37 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

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niets waarschijnlijk, als je goedkijkt is de EU het ook beu aan het worden en wil zo iran waarschuwen meer diplomatiek te worden

Ik zie het dreigen met meer handelssancties buiten de VN om niet als een diplomatiek verstandige zet vanuit frankrijk.

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Op maandag 17 september 2007 14:21 schreef Omaha het volgende:
Zijn we er al bijna klaar voor?
Zijn we al bijna allemaal bang voor Iran?

Want dan kunnen ze tenminste los! Of moeten er nog even wat enge verhalen de wereld ingeslingerd worden.

Vandaag staat de teller in ieder geval op 2

Defcon 2?

24 september was het toch?

Naarmate iedereen steeds harder begint te roepen, heb ik er steeds minder vertrouwen in dat het werkelijk gaat gebeuren...

Inderdaad. En dan wordt je op een gegeven moment wakker en gaat teletekst alleen nog maar daarover. Maar da's nooit op de 'voorspelde' datum.

Artikel in de Volkskrant van zaterdag 8 september j.l.: volgens de nieuwe IAEA-rapportage hebben ze pas 18 cascades van 164 centrifuges staan in Natanz. De fabriek in Natanz is gebouwd voor 54 duizend centrifuges.
Volgens het artikel kan heel Natanz zelfs als het klaar is nog niet de 1.000 MW kerncentrale in Boesher een jaar voeden. Maar anderzijds kunnen de 3000 huidige centrifuges in twee jaar tijd wel genoeg U opleveren voor een atoombom.
Volgens James Acton van King's College: "Wie nu al pleit voor hard, militair ingrijpen heeft geen feiten."
Aan die voorwaarde zal Bush wel voldoen, denk ik.

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De Franse minister Kouchner zegt dat de wereld zich moet voorbereiden op een oorlog tegen Iran als dat land doorgaat met zijn nucleaire programma."We moeten ons voorbereiden op het ergste en dat is oorlog", zei hij op de Franse tv.

Pardonnez moi? WE moeten ons voorbereiden op het ergste?
Een schandalige voorstelling van zaken.
Het enige land dat iets te vrezen heeft is Iran. Daar zorgen de massale laffe luchtaanvallen al dan niet met kernwapens wel voor.
Hooguit en hopelijk waaien er wat kankerverwekkende stofwolkjes richting Israel en nu ook Frankrijk wat mij betreft.

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Op maandag 17 september 2007 15:36 schreef Evil_Jur het volgende:
Naarmate iedereen steeds harder begint te roepen, heb ik er steeds minder vertrouwen in dat het werkelijk gaat gebeuren...

Het is wel Bush he. De president die al 2 oorlogen op z'n naam heeft staan, waarvan 1 volkomen illegaal is

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Op dinsdag 18 september 2007 01:50 schreef __Saviour__ het volgende:

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Het is wel Bush he. De president die al 2 oorlogen op z'n naam heeft staan, waarvan 1 volkomen illegaal is

Dat is waar! Maar hij wordt ook steeds minder gesteund, zelfs door zijn voormalige companen.

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Op maandag 17 september 2007 09:27 schreef zakjapannertje het volgende:

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/16/wiran116.xml&CMP=ILC-mostviewedbox

En straks nog meer strike carrier groups, da's heel wat potentieel geweld dan.

Ik zal de hemel op m'n blote knietjes danken als we van die badmuts af zijn, maar goed, we moeten nog ruim een jaar.

Die oorlog komt er wel
We worden er allemaal al op voorbereid

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Op dinsdag 18 september 2007 02:38 schreef popolon het volgende:

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En straks nog meer strike carrier groups, da's heel wat potentieel geweld dan.

Ik zal de hemel op m'n blote knietjes danken als we van die badmuts af zijn, maar goed, we moeten nog ruim een jaar.

Tja... en als de Democraten Obama of Clinton naar voren schuiven, ben ik bang dat we toch weer een republikein krijgen... en die gaat vrolijk verder toch?

Denk je echt dat het veel uitmaakt wie de president van de VS is?

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Op maandag 17 september 2007 23:31 schreef Kees22 het volgende:
Artikel in de Volkskrant van zaterdag 8 september j.l.: volgens de nieuwe IAEA-rapportage hebben ze pas 18 cascades van 164 centrifuges staan in Natanz. De fabriek in Natanz is gebouwd voor 54 duizend centrifuges.
Volgens het artikel kan heel Natanz zelfs als het klaar is nog niet de 1.000 MW kerncentrale in Boesher een jaar voeden. Maar anderzijds kunnen de 3000 huidige centrifuges in twee jaar tijd wel genoeg U opleveren voor een atoombom.
Volgens James Acton van King's College: "Wie nu al pleit voor hard, militair ingrijpen heeft geen feiten."
Aan die voorwaarde zal Bush wel voldoen, denk ik.

ik vindt bovenstaand stuk juist pleiten voor ingrijpen

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Op dinsdag 18 september 2007 08:31 schreef Perrin het volgende:
Denk je echt dat het veel uitmaakt wie de president van de VS is?

ja denk wel dat het uitmaakt of het democraten zijn of republikeinen, inzake Iran

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Op dinsdag 18 september 2007 08:07 schreef Frutsel het volgende:

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Tja... en als de Democraten Obama of Clinton naar voren schuiven, ben ik bang dat we toch weer een republikein krijgen... en die gaat vrolijk verder toch?

Nee, geloof ik niks van.

Je denkt toch niet dat alle Reps, achter Bush staan? Ja ok McCain brabbelt wat over support maar ik denk dat als ze kans willen maken het roer toch wel om moet.

En Bush is geen republikein eigenlijk, meer een neocon.

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Op dinsdag 18 september 2007 12:25 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

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ik vindt bovenstaand stuk juist pleiten voor ingrijpen

'Ingrijpen' is in dit geval een eufemisme voor 'duizenden burgers doden, een totaal fiasco in Irak en op de zeer korte termijn een Iran met kernwapenambities belust op wraak.' Er is maar weinig wat daar voor pleit, me dunkt.

Met de zeer reëele mogelijkheid dat we oorlog hebben met alles wat tussen de Middelandse Zee en de Hindu Koesj ligt, alles tussen de Kaspische Zee en de Indische Oceaan. Of:

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Every effort should be made to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but failing that, the world could live with a nuclear-armed regime in Tehran, a recently retired commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East said Monday.

John Abizaid, the retired Army general who headed Central Command for nearly four years, said he was confident that if Iran gained nuclear arms, the United States could deter it from using them.

"Iran is not a suicide nation," he said. "I mean, they may have some people in charge that don't appear to be rational, but I doubt that the Iranians intend to attack us with a nuclear weapon."

The Iranians are aware, he said, that the United States has a far superior military capability.

http://www.newsvine.com/_(...)d-abide-nuclear-iran

Bush Administration War Plans directed against Iran


by Michel Chossudovsky

Global Research, September 16, 2007
Quoting official sources, the Western media is now confirming, rather belatedly, that the Bush Administration's war plans directed against Iran are "for real" and should be taken seriously.

"Punitive bombings" directed against Tehran could be launched within the next few months.

The diplomatic mode has been switched off: The Pentagon is said to be "taking steps to ensure military confrontation with Iran" because diplomatic initiatives have allegedly failed to reach a solution.

These diabolical statements come within barely a couple of weeks following the release of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report. The later confirms unequivocally that Iran's nuclear program is of a civilian nature and that Iran has neither the intention nor the capabilities to develop nuclear weapons:

Article IV (1): These modalities cover all remaining issues and the Agency [meaning IAEA] confirmed that there are no other remaining issues and ambiguities regarding Iran's past nuclear program and activities.

Article IV (3): The Agency's delegation is of the view that the agreement on the above issues shall further promote the efficiency of the implementation of safeguards in Iran and its ability to conclude the exclusive peaceful nature of the Iran's nuclear activities.

Article IV (4): The Agency has been able to verify the non-diversion of the declared nuclear materials at the enrichment facilities in Iran and has therefore concluded that it remains in peaceful use. (IAEA Report, italics added)

At the same token, the IAEA report is a slap in the face for Washington. It confirms the lack of legitimacy and criminal nature of US foreign policy as well as Washington's resolve to violate international law:

"The Bush administration’s abrupt dismissal of last Thursday’s IAEA report is one more sign that Washington has no interest in a diplomatic resolution to its confrontation with Tehran. Following Bush’s bellicose denunciations of Iran last week, the US has reiterated its intention to push for tougher UN sanctions against Tehran this month." (Peter Symond, Global Research, September 2007)

No Public Outcry

Despite the overtly aggressive nature of US statements, these war plans directed against Iran, which in a real sense threaten the future of humanity, are not the object of public concern or debate. A US sponsored pre-emptive war, using thermonuclear weapons, which according to "authoritative" scientific opinion (on contract to the Pentagon), are "harmless to the surrounding civilian population" is simply not front page news in relation to any other trivial topic.

The dangers of a broader Middle East war are downplayed or ignored by the main anti-war coalitions. The proposed use of nuclear weapons in a conventional war theater is not a matter for debate.

Moreover, the planned attacks on Iran and their various devastating consequences are not being addressed by "progressive" civil society organizations including the "Left", which tacitly considers The Islamic Republic as a real threat to human rights. According to Jean Bricmont:

"All the ideological signposts for attacking Iran are in place. The country has been thoroughly demonized because it is not nice to women, to gays, or to Jews. That in itself is enough to neutralize a large part of the American "left". The issue of course is not whether Iran is nice or not ­according to our views -- but whether there is any legal reason to attack it, and there is none; but the dominant ideology of human rights has legitimized, especially on the left, the right of intervention on humanitarian grounds anywhere, at any time, and that ideology has succeeded in totally sidetracking the minor issue of international law." (Jean Bricmont, Global Research, September 2007)

Background of War Planning

For the last three years, in several carefully documented articles, Global Research has been reporting in detail on US sponsored war plans directed against Iran. These war plans include the preemptive use of thermonuclear weapons against Iran in retaliation for Tehran's alleged non-compliance with the demands of the "international community".

War plans in relation to Iran have been an advanced stage of readiness since mid 2005. Israel, Britain and NATO are part of the US led coalition and are slated to play an active role in the military operation.

The first phase of these war plans was formulated initially in mid-2003, under a Pentagon scenario entitled TIRANNT (Theater Iran Near Term). The military build-up has occurred over a period of more than three years.

In Summer 2006 as well as earlier this year, extensive war games were conducted in the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Israeli bombing of Lebanon in July 2006 was an integral part of the broader military agenda. In recent developments, Israel has conducted bombing raids inside Syrian territory visibly in an act of provocation.

Recent official statements by Washington confirm the broad nature of these war plans:

"Senior American intelligence and defense officials believe that President George W Bush and his inner circle are taking steps to place America on the path to war with Iran, ...

Pentagon planners have developed a list of up to 2,000 bombing targets in Iran, ...

Pentagon and CIA officers say they believe that the White House has begun a carefully calibrated programme of escalation that could lead to a military showdown with Iran.

In a chilling scenario of how war might come, a senior intelligence officer warned that public denunciation of Iranian meddling in Iraq - arming and training militants - would lead to cross border raids on Iranian training camps and bomb factories.

A prime target would be the Fajr base run by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Quds Force in southern Iran, where Western intelligence agencies say armour-piercing projectiles used against British and US troops are manufactured.

The intelligence officer said that the US military has "two major contingency plans" for air strikes on Iran.

"One is to bomb only the nuclear facilities. The second option is for a much bigger strike that would - over two or three days - hit all of the significant military sites as well. This plan involves more than 2,000 targets." (quoted in The Sunday Telegraph, 16 September 2007)

US-NATO naval deployments are taking place in two distinct theaters: the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean.

In recent developments, it is reported that two aircraft carrier strike groups (USS Nimitz and USS Truman) are en route to the Persian Gulf to join up with the USS Enterprise, which means that there will be, by late September, three carrier strike groups in the Persian Gulf.

According to military sources, the USS Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group took up position in late August opposite the Lebanese coastline.

The attacks on Iran are now officially supported by America's European allies including France and Germany. France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has called upon France to support the US war on Iran:

"We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war," Mr Kouchner said in an interview on French TV and radio. Mr Kouchner said negotiations with Iran should continue "right to the end", but an Iranian nuclear weapon would pose "a real danger for the whole world" .(quoted by BBC, 16 September 2007)

Britain is closely involved, despite denials at the diplomatic level. Turkey occupies a central role in the Iran operation. It has an extensive military cooperation agreement with Israel. NATO is formally involved in liaison with Israel, with which it signed a military framework agreement in November 2004.

While the US, Israel, as well as Turkey (with borders with both Iran and Syria) are the main military actors, a number of other countries in the region, allies of the US, including Georgia and Azerbaijan have been enlisted.

There are indications from several media sources that Israel is also in an advanced stage of military preparedness and would be involved in carrying out part of the aerial bombardments. Syria and most probably Lebanon would also be targeted.

Already in 2005, the Israeli Air Force had reached a state of preparedness. Israeli air attacks of Iran's nuclear facility at Bushehr had been contemplated using US as well Israeli produced bunker buster bombs. The attack was planned to be carried out in three separate waves "with the radar and communications jamming protection being provided by U.S. Air Force AWACS and other U.S. aircraft in the area".

(See W Madsen, http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/MAD410A.html

Escalation Scenarios

If this military operation were to be launched, the entire Middle East Central Asian region would flare up.

The war would encompass an area extending from the Eastern Mediterranean to China's Western frontier.

In this regard, US military planners have analyzed various "escalation scenarios".

In fact, they expect the war to escalate. In other words, escalation, namely retaliation by Iran is a desired objective. It is part of the military agenda.

"A strike will probably follow a gradual escalation. Over the next few weeks and months the US will build tensions and evidence around Iranian activities in Iraq....

Under the theory - which is gaining credence in Washington security circles - US action would provoke a major Iranian response, perhaps in the form of moves to cut off Gulf oil supplies, providing a trigger for air strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities and even its armed forces. (Sunday Telegraph, op cit)

Iran Retaliates

The nature of Iran's retaliation should be understood. General David Petraeus, who is responsible for managing the Iraq war theater, has voiced his opposition to an attack on Iran.

"Gen David Petraeus, Mr Bush's senior Iraq commander, denounced the Iranian "proxy war" in Iraq last week as he built support in Washington for the US military surge in Baghdad." (Sunday Tewlegraph, op cit)

General Petraeus is fully aware of the underlying implications for the Iraq war theater. A war on Iran would immediately spill over into Iraq:

Iran is the third largest importer of Russian weapons systems after India and China. In the course of the last five years, Russia has supported Iran's ballistic missile technology, in negotiations reached initially in 2001 under the presidency of Mohammed Khatami.

Iran tested three new types of land-to-sea and sea-to-sea missiles in the context of its "Great Prophet II" military exercises last November. These tests were marked by precise planning in a carefully staged operation. According to a senior American missile expert, "the Iranians demonstrated up-to-date missile-launching technology which the West had not known them to possess."

Tehran has the ability to retaliate and wage ballistic missile attacks against US and coalition facilities in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Gulf states. Israel would also be a potential target, if Israel were to be an active partner in the bombing campaign.

Iranian ground troops could cross the border into Iraq and Afghanistan.

Iran's forces total about 350,000 active military personnel as well 350,000 million reservists (Jane's Iran Profile). The Iranian Army disposes of some 2200 tanks. With these capabilities, in terms of military personnel and hardware, Iran could potentially inflict significant losses to US and coalition troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bush-Cheney Military Appointments

Several key military appointments were made in recent months which tend to reinforce Bush-Cheney control over the Military. Specifically, these appointments pertain to the positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the commanders respectively of USCENTCOM, USSTRATCOM and US Pacific Command. All three commanders recently relinquished their respective positions.

These new appointments are crucial because USSTRATCOM, USCENTCOM and US Pacific Command are slated to play key roles in the coordination and implementation of the Iran military operation, in liaison with Israel and NATO.

1. Joint Chiefs of Staff

In May, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) General Peter Pace was fired ("non-renewal"). General Pace, in recent months, had indicated his disagreement with the Administration regarding both Iraq and the proposed attacks on Iran. General Pace stated (February 2007) that he saw no firm evidence of Tehran supplying weapons to Shiite militias inside Iraq, which was being heralded by the Bush administration as a justification for waging war on Iran:

"[M]aybe that's why he's the outgoing chairman. Maybe that's why they're not renewing him. Because ...He has seen no evidence that Iran is fomenting unrest in Iraq that's causing Americans lives... " (Fox News' Alan Colmes, ox News, June, 13, 2007),

General Peter Pace's term as Chairman of the JCS ends at the end of September. Defense Secretary Gates' chosen successor Admiral Michael Mullen, formerly U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, is slated to replace General Peter Pace as Chairman of the Joint chiefs of Staff.

Mullen's discourse is in marked contrast to that of General Peter Pace. Mullen, who was in charge of coordinating 2006-2007 naval war games off the Iranian coastline, has expressed an unbending commitment to "waging" and "winning asymmetric wars", while also "protecting the United States":

"we must ensure we have the Battle Force, the people, and the combat readiness we need to win our nation's wars...

Our Navy is fighting the Global War on Terror while at the same time providing a Strategic Reserve worldwide for the President and our Unified and Combatant Commanders.... Simply reacting to change is no longer an acceptable course of action if our Navy is to successfully wage asymmetric warfare and simultaneously deter regional and transnational threats (Statement, Senate Armed Services Committee, 7 May 2007)

Admiral Mullen's stance is in line with that of the Bush Administration's key Neo-conservative ideologues. With regard to Iran, echoing almost verbatim the stance of the White House, Admiral Mullen considers that it is "unacceptable that Iran is providing U.S. enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan with capabilities that are hurting and killing U.S. troops." (Inside the Pentagon, June 21, 2007). But on the issue of Iran, the Democrats are on board. There is a bipartisan consensus, expressed by Senator Jo Lieberman:

"I want to make clear I'm not talking about a massive ground invasion of Iran,... [but a] strike over the border into Iran, where we have good evidence that they have a base at which they are training these people coming back into Iraq to kill our soldiers" (AP, June 11, 2007)

In June, Secretary of Defense Gates appoints the Commander of USSTRATCOM, General Cartwright to the position of Vice-Chairman of the JCS. Together with the appointment of Admiral Mullen, who is slated to take on his position of Chairman of JCS in October, these two new appointments imply a significant overhaul in the power structure of the JCS

In the meantime, USSTRATCOM is headed, pending Senate confirmation of a new commander, on an interim basis, by Air Force Lt. Gen. C. Robert Kehler

2. CENTCOM

Admiral. William J. Fallon, was appointed Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in March by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

Admiral Fallon is fully compliant with the Bush administration's war plans in relation to Iran. He replaces Gen. John P. Abizaid, who was pushed into retirement, following apparent disagreements with Rumsfeld's successor, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. While Abizaid recognized both the failures and the weaknesses of the US military in Iraq, Admiral Fallon is closely aligned with Vice President Dick Cheney. He is also firmly committed to the "Global War on Terrorism" (GWOT). CENTCOM would coordinate an attack on Iran from the Middle East war theater.

Moreover, the appointment of an Admiral is indicative of a shift in emphasis of USCENTCOM's functions in the war theater. The "near term" emphasis is Iran rather than Iraq, requiring the coordination of naval and air force operations in the Persian Gulf.

3. Pacific Command

Another major military appointment was implemented, which has a direct bearing on war preparations in relation to Iran. Admiral Timothy J. Keating Commander of US NORTHCOM was appointed in March, to head US Pacific Command, which includes both the 5th and the 7th fleets. The 7th Fleet Pacific Command is the largest U.S. combatant command. Keating, who takes over from Admiral Fallon is also an unbending supporter of the "war on terrorism". Pacific Command would be playing a key role in the context of a military operation directed against Iran.(http://www.pacom.mil/about/pacom.shtml)

Of significance, Admiral Keating was also involved in the 2003 attack on Iraq as commander of US Naval Forces Central Command and the Fifth Fleet.

It should be understood that these new military appointments tend to consolidate the power of Bush-Cheney in the military, overriding potential dissent or opposition to the Iran war agenda from within the upper echelons of the US military.

It is, however, unlikely that a major military operation would be launched immediately following Mullen's instatement as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and prior to the confirmation of a new USSTRATCOM Commander by the US Senate.

USSTRATCOM's Central Role in Coordinating the Attacks

USSTRATCOM would have the responsibility for overseeing and coordinating this military deployment as well as launching the military operation directed against Iran. (For details, Michel Chossudovsky, Nuclear War against Iran, Jan 2006 ).

In January 2005 a significant shift in USSTRATCOM's mandate was implemented. USSTRATCOM was identified as "the lead Combatant Command for integration and synchronization of DoD-wide efforts in combating weapons of mass destruction." To implement this mandate, a brand new command unit entitled Joint Functional Component Command Space and Global Strike , or JFCCSGS was created.

Overseen by USSTRATCOM, JFCCSGS would be responsible for the launching of military operations "using nuclear or conventional weapons" in compliance with the Bush administration's new nuclear doctrine. Both categories of weapons would be integrated into a "joint strike operation" under unified Command and Control.

According to Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen, writing in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists,

"The Defense Department is upgrading its nuclear strike plans to reflect new presidential guidance and a transition in war planning from the top-heavy Single Integrated Operational Plan of the Cold War to a family of smaller and more flexible strike plans designed to defeat today's adversaries. The new central strategic war plan is known as OPLAN (Operations Plan) 8044.... This revised, detailed plan provides more flexible options to assure allies, and dissuade, deter, and if necessary, defeat adversaries in a wider range of contingencies....

One member of the new family is CONPLAN 8022, a concept plan for the quick use of nuclear, conventional, or information warfare capabilities to destroy--preemptively, if necessary--"time-urgent targets" anywhere in the world. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld issued an Alert Order in early 2004 that directed the military to put CONPLAN 8022 into effect. As a result, the Bush administration's preemption policy is now operational on long-range bombers, strategic submarines on deterrent patrol, and presumably intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)."

The operational implementation of the Global Strike would be under CONCEPT PLAN (CONPLAN) 8022, which now consists of "an actual plan that the Navy and the Air Force translate into strike package for their submarines and bombers,' (Japanese Economic Newswire, 30 December 2005, For further details see Michel Chossudovsky, Nuclear War against Iran, op. cit.).

CONPLAN 8022 is 'the overall umbrella plan for sort of the pre-planned strategic scenarios involving nuclear weapons.'

'It's specifically focused on these new types of threats -- Iran, North Korea -- proliferators and potentially terrorists too,' he said. 'There's nothing that says that they can't use CONPLAN 8022 in limited scenarios against Russian and Chinese targets.' (According to Hans Kristensen, of the Nuclear Information Project, quoted in Japanese Economic News Wire, op. cit.)

USSTRATCOM would play a central decision making and coordinating role in the eventuality of a war on Iran. The administration has demanded USSTRATCOM to elaborate centralized war plans directed against Iran. CENTCOM would largely be involved in carrying out these war plans in the Middle East war theater.

USSTRATCOM's is described "a global integrator charged with the missions of full-spectrum global strike".

USSTRATCOM is in charge of the coordination of command structures under global C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance). "Day-to-day planning and execution [by STRATCOM] for the primary mission areas is done by five Joint Functional Component Commands or JFCCs and three other functional components:"

If Iran Retaliates, the US Could Use Nuclear Weapons

US, NATO and Israeli military planners are fully aware that the aerial "punitive bombings" could lead coalition forces into a ground war scenario in which they may have to confront Iranian and Syrian forces in the battlefield.

Tehran has confirmed that it will retaliate if attacked, in the form of ballistic missile strikes directed against Israel as well as against US military facilities in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf, which would immediately lead us into a scenario of military escalation and all out war.

Iranian troops could cross the Iran-Iraq border and confront coalition forces inside Iraq. Israeli troops and/or Special Forces could enter into Syria.

If Iran were to retaliate in a forceful way, which is contemplated by US military planners, the US could then retaliate with tactical nuclear weapons.

This scenario of using nuclear weapons against Iran has been in the pipeline since 2004. In 2005, Vice President Dick Cheney ordered USSTRATCOM to draft a "contingency plan", which "includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons." (Philip Giraldi, Attack on Iran: Pre-emptive Nuclear War , The American Conservative, 2 August 2005).

In relation to current war plans, Cheney has confirmed his intention to strike Iran with nuclear weapons.

"The vice president is said to advocate the use of bunker-busting tactical nuclear weapons against Iran's nuclear sites. His allies dispute this, but Mr Cheney is understood to be lobbying for air strikes if sites can be identified where Revolutionary Guard units are training Shia militias.

Recent developments over Iraq appear to fit with the pattern of escalation predicted by Pentagon officials." (Sunday Telegraph, op cit)

Nuclear Weapons Deployment Authorization

In May 2004, National Security Presidential Directive NSPD 35 entitled Nuclear Weapons Deployment Authorization was issued.

The contents of this highly sensitive document remains a carefully guarded State secret. There has been no mention of NSPD 35 by the media nor even in Congressional debates. While its contents remains classified, the presumption is that NSPD 35 pertains to the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the Middle East war theater in compliance with CONPLAN 8022.

Tactical nuclear weapons directed against Iran have also been deployed at military bases in several NATO non-nuclear states including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Turkey.

It should be understood that even without the use of nukes, the proposed US aerial bombardments of Iran's nuclear facilities could result in a nuclear Chernobyl type disaster on a significnatly larger scale.

World War III Scenario

While the war on Iran is acknowledged by the Western media, it is not front page news.

The broad implications of an impending catastrophe are simply not addressed.

Escalation could lead us into a World War III scenario.

Through media disinformation, the seriousness of a US-led war on Iran allegedly in retaliation for Iran's defiance of the "international community" is downplayed . The objective is to galvanize Western public opinion in support of a US-led military operation, which would inevitably lead to escalation.

War propaganda consists in "fabricating an enemy" while conveying the illusion that the Western World is under attack by Islamic terrorists, who are directly supported by the Tehran government.

"Make the World safer", "prevent the proliferation of dirty nuclear devices by terrorists", "implement punitive actions against Iran to ensure the peace". "Combat nuclear proliferation by rogue states"...

Supported by the Western media, a generalized atmosphere of racism and xenophobia directed against Muslims has unfolded, particularly in Western Europe, which provides a fake legitimacy to the US war agenda. The latter is upheld as a "Just War". The "Just war" theory serves to camouflage the nature of US war plans, while providing a human face to the invaders.

What can be done?

The antiwar movement is in many regards divided and misinformed on the nature of the US military agenda. In the US, United for Peace and Justice tacitly supports US foreign policy. It fails to recognize the existence of an Iraqi resistance movement. Moreover, these same antiwar organizations, which are committed to World Peace tend to downplay the implications of the proposed US bombing of Iran. More generally the antiwar movement fails to address the existence of a broader Middle East military agenda, a long-war. Its actions are piecemeal, focusing on Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine without addressing the relationship between these various war theaters.

To reverse the tide requires a massive campaign of networking and outreach to inform people across the land, nationally and internationally, in neighborhoods, workplaces, parishes, schools, universities, municipalities, on the dangers of a US sponsored war, which contemplates quite explicitly the use of thermonuclear weapons. The message should be loud and clear: As confirmed by the IAEA report, Iran is not the threat.

Debate and discussion must also take place within the Military and Intelligence community, particularly with regard to the use of tactical nuclear weapons, within the corridors of the US Congress, in municipalities and at all levels of government.

Ultimately, the legitimacy of the political and military actors in high office must be challenged.

The corporate media also bears a heavy responsibility for the cover-up of US sponsored war crimes. It must also be forcefully challenged for its biased coverage of the Middle East war.

For the past two years, Washington has been waging a "diplomatic arm twisting" exercise with a view to enlisting countries into supporting its military agenda. It is essential that at the diplomatic level, countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America take a firm stance against the US military agenda.

What is needed is to break the conspiracy of silence, expose the media lies and distortions, confront the criminal nature of the US Administration and of those governments which support it, its war agenda as well as its so-called "Homeland Security agenda" which has already defined the contours of a police State.

The World is at the crossroads of the most serious crisis in modern history. The US has embarked on a military adventure, "a long war", which threatens the future of humanity.

It is essential to bring the US war project to the forefront of political debate, particularly in North America and Western Europe. Political and military leaders who are opposed to the war must take a firm stance, from within their respective institutions. Citizens must take a stance individually and collectively against war.


This article includes a few selected excerpts from my previous writings on US war plans in relation to Iran. For a review of US war plans in relation to Iran, see Global Research's Iran dossier.

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