US 'Iran attack plans' revealed

[STEED]

http://newsbbc.co.uk/

Is this for real? I just get a strange feeling this is not on the ball so too speak.

[ASWnut101]

is this for real?

Yes and No. I guarantee you that the US has had these "plans", so to speak, since Akmadinijad had attracted the attention of the NSA and CIA. I can also say with confidence that there are the same type of "plans" that have been drawn up for North Korea, Venezeuala, and every other nation viewed by the US intelligence service as a potential threat. Think of them as a pre-made battleplan for use only if worst comes to worst and we get into war with Iran. As for it meaning a imminent attack, no; they are only precautionary.

[Oberon]

I suppose that's one way to warn Dinnerjacket off, it's not as if there's much he can do to prevent such a strike. Except shunt a few SAMs about and pray to Allah.

[TteFAboB]

It's not real if it doesn't include the anti-Palestinian Nano-Bee.

[flintlock]

The BBC is basing this article on "diplomatic sources."

[ASWnut101]

Glad they mentioned the names:roll:

[Oberon]

Reading through it, it seems to be the sort of plan I'd have expected them to do, focus on the nuclear facilities but also take the opportunity to hamstring the Iranian military capability, thus knocking back their involvement in Iraq, because, let's face it, if they're not aiding Iraqi insurgents then Dinnerjacket is an idiot, it's the perfect thing to do in the situation if you can get away with it...which so far he has.

Now, the UN deadline for Iran to stop its nuke enrichment is tomorrow....ten will get you twenty they'll still be going at it on Wednesday, so that's one trigger pretty much squeezed...then there's the next large scale attack by Iraqi insurgents on US forces, well, that could happen any day now...

Place your bets folks....I'm thinking March....it seems to be a popular month for military attacks in that area....


And on the other side of the dust cloud...well...IF they do manage to knock out the reactors, it'll knock back their nuclear weapons program significiantly...but what are their chemical weapons facilities like? Throwing a quick google, it seems they have chemical facilities...so...what are the chances of a chem missile being lobbed at *checks Google Earth* Sulaymaniyah, or perhaps Kirkuk from one of Irans Scuds....somewhere reasonably close to the Iranian border to lessen the time to intercept...

One thing's for pretty much certain, this attack does take place, you can kiss goodbye to those Kilos at Bandar Abbas ;) I bet the US Navy has been itching to do away with those for years ;)

[flintlock]

If the US are actually planning an attack, I just hope they don't act unilaterally.

[STEED]

I heard on the news if America invaded this would send the cost of oil sky high and will have a major impact on the everyday folk over there.

[Oberon]

Oh, I doubt very much they'll invade Iran, the US isn't that dumb. A large scale tactical strike on military, nuclear and some economic targets would hopefully be enough to knock Iran back a bit. The major knock on effects would be increased violence in Iraq, a possible chemical strike on Eastern Iraq from Iran (provided the US doesn't nail all of Irans Scud launchers first, which I should imagine they won't as they're good at hiding), a jump in oil prices (lets face it, ANY violence in the Middle East makes oil prices jump) and frowning from Western Europe...

All the usual stuff basically, 'side from the chem attack which is a major guess on my behalf and one which I personally hope doesn't happen.

If the US DOES invade Iran....it'll topple the Bush administration....they can't take another invasion...not in the military, not in the government, sure the old saying 'The president can bomb whoever he likes' does apply, and the US can act unilaterially in invading Iran (because I doubt even the UK would supply forces for an invasion....simply put...we don't have enough, we're stretched thin as it is.) but it'll cripple them, and I'm sure the US government knows that. With Democrats in the majority in the House, it's gonna be a tough job just doing a surgical strike on Iran I should imagine...but if the NSA puts forward a good enough case on Iran, which, let's face it, there's plenty of material to go on. I reckon all but the most leftist Democrat would nod it through, although some would try to stop it just to pee Bush off I'd imagine.

As for the UK's involvement...well I dare say some TLAMs from our subs, airstrikes from our Tornados, the usual things that used to happen back in the Clinton days in Iraq.

[DanCanovas]

I think if anything happens it will be a quiet quick strike on key facilities, i don't think they'll do anything large scale.

[mr chris]

Im preety sure that good old tone will follow the US lead and throw the UK's weight and elelastic band like Armed Forces into the action.
As for Targets it is most likey that US, UK SF's are at this very moment eyeing up and keeping Tabs on Irans Scuds.

[ASWnut101]

...Irans Suds.

:o As in, Iran's washing detergent?

[mr chris]

Well its been a very hard and long day at work thats my excuse:yep:

[sonar732]

With Democrats in the majority in the House, it's gonna be a tough job just doing a surgical strike on Iran I should imagine...but if the NSA puts forward a good enough case on Iran, which, let's face it, there's plenty of material to go on. I reckon all but the most leftist Democrat would nod it through, although some would try to stop it just to pee Bush off I'd imagine.



If the NSA was able to convince the American people and congress that the Iraq situation was as grim as it was made out to be...I don't think Iran will be a problem. You'll still have the leftist like John Murtha who will oppose any action.

[flintlock]

With respect to the UN deadline in the original article:

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has rejected international calls for Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment, a day before a UN deadline runs out.
No big surprise there.

Source:
http://newsbbc.co.uk/

[fredbass]

Having plans and utilizing plans are two different things.

The Pentagon is always planning, so it's always good to be prepared, just in case. :know:

[sonar732]

...Irans Suds.
:o As in, Iran's washing detergent?

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I can see it now...

"Sir...we've got a situation here."

"What's that soldier?"

"We've found Cascade Detergent in Iranian Scud Missiles"

jk

[STEED]

Typical BBC News hype just what I was thinking.

[bradclark1]

You'll still have the leftist like John Murtha who will oppose any action.
Why don't you check his background for Iraq before you puke that leftest crap out!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Murtha#Views_on_the_2003_Iraq_War

[Oberon]

...Irans Suds.
:o As in, Iran's washing detergent?

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I can see it now...

"Sir...we've got a situation here."

"What's that soldier?"

"We've found Cascade Detergent in Iranian Scud Missiles"

jk


I couldn't resist....

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/8876/scuden8.jpg

SCUD - As used by all good Middle Eastern dictatorial countries!!

[sonar732]

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:: rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[ASWnut101]

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

That was good, Oberon!:rotfl:

[STEED]

Oberon dose it again. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[sonar732]

I just found this on CNN's website (http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/19/iran.iraq/).

• Officials: Iranian patrol boats recently entered Iraqi waters near oil terminals
• U.S. Navy officer says Iran trying to see what response its actions get
• Iran's actions the subject of recent U.S. military briefings, officials say
• U.S. assessment is Iran trying to raise its military presence in Persian Gulf.

:o:o

Now this on Yahoo (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070220/ap_on_re_mi_ea/gulf_us_iran).

MANAMA, Bahrain - Iran (http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?p=Iran) has brought its war games maneuvers over the past year into busy shipping lanes in the Straits of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which two-fifths of the world's oil supplies pass, the top U.S. Navy (http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?p=U.S.+Navy) commander in the Mideast said.

The moves have alarmed U.S. officials about possible accidental confrontations that could boil over into war, and led to a recent build-up of Navy forces in the Gulf, Vice Adm. Patrick Walsh said in an interview with The Associated Press and other reporters.

[flintlock]

a country who has over 2,000 of them. Oh the irony of it all.

[ASWnut101]

Fine, I'll stop ranting.

[baggygreen]

As has been said, im sure they've got a plan for everything - probly even for taking out paris a la team america.

Uswing the plans, thats another matter. If thins keep going the way they are, i've no doubt that Iran will overstep the mark and someone will attack either a tanker or warship, and then we'll see a short, sharp conflict that will take oil back through the roof!

[flintlock]

then we'll see a short, sharp conflict that will take oil back through the roof!
Yeah, just what I'd need too -- more sleepless nights watching the market respond during the day.

[moose1am]

How many CAG are in the Arabian Sea at this time? TWO! Stennis and the Big E right now with one more heading there. If Bush sends three US Air Craft Carrier Groups to that area things may get hot real fast. Lets hope that if it gets hot we wipe out Iran before they can mine the straights or destroy any us or other ships in the area with those long range sea skimming supersonic land to sea missiles.

I think that Iran is testing us and that Iran wants to bluff the USA. All it takes if for one skipper on either side to start shooting.

The one carrier group arrived in the gulf area on Feb 15th but the news papers didn't say where it was until today. Last week the news reported this CAG at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean.

It's going to get really crowded in the 6 mile wide shipping lanes of the Straits which is only about 36 miles wide.

I hope that our ships are ready to take on these crazy Iranians with force at a moments notice.

We have mine sweepers already in the area to help clear any sea mines that Iran puts in the waters.

I do think that if Iran even blinks we will take out all it's major military assets along with it's known nuclear facilities. As the USA has plenty of missiles of our own.

It may be a good time to stock up on gasoline as the price of oil may shoot up for a short time if the shipping lanes are blocked. Fear of the missiles or mines may be the worst enemy of the West. All Iran has to do is take out one supertanker and the insurance rates will be sky high or shipping insurance will not be available for this area of the world for a while. And if any tankers hit a mine and sinks the environmental effects as well as the economic effects will be disturbing. John Pike thinks that this would hurt Iran economically as much as the rest of the world. But I don't know if John has this right. These Iranian mullahs may not think in Western Terms like we do. They may be happy being taken back to the Stone Ages.

[flintlock]

the price of oil may shoot up for a short time Considering Iran is one of the top four oil producers and exporters in the world, that may be quite a lengthy "short" time.

[tycho102]

This administration refuses to close our southern border because it's going to hit so many businesses who employ illegal aliens, thus reducing campaign contributions both directly and indirectly (hedge-fund CEO's having to listen to issues at dinner parties).

It utterly failed to secure the borders when invading Iraq, because it would have taken 300,000 combat soldiers and we would have had to transfer soldiers out of Korea, Japan, Germany, NATO, and the UN, as well as calling up the reserves. That would have hit our economy as well simply from all the reservists.

My point is this administration is not going to risk the oil disruptions, and Iran (the Supreme Council) knows it. We will not attack first, and if we are attacked, the priority will be defense of the Gulf traffic. We will deploy fleets to make it look like we're doing something but if it ever actually goes to combat, the main focus will be to keep the Arabian Gulf open to oil tankers. There will be absolutely no invasion of Iran and bombing will be minimal along the coast against AA batteries and static missile platforms.

Won't be enough, though. If I was Iran, I would have some kind of plan to physically blockade the Hormuz strait. The best thing would be to sink several tankers to create an actual physical barrier, but I'm not certain of the water depth. It's probably a couple hundred feet -- If it's less than 100, then Katie-bar-the-door.