Pakistan Daily: George W Bush has plans for air strike on Iran by August

[brooklynite]

Source: Pakistan Daily

The George W Bush administration plans to launch an air strike against Iran within the next two months, an informed source tell, echoing other reports that have surfaced in the media in the United States recently.

Two key US senators briefed on the attack planned to go public with their opposition to the move, according to the source, but their projected New York Times op-ed piece has yet to appear.

The source, a retired US career diplomat and former assistant secretary of state still active in the foreign affairs community, speaking anonymously, said last week that that the US plans an air strike against the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The air strike would target the headquarters of the IRGC's elite Quds force. With an estimated strength of up to 90,000 fighters, the Quds' stated mission is to spread Iran's revolution of 1979 throughout the region.

Targets could include IRGC garrisons in southern and southwestern Iran, near the border with Iraq. US officials have repeatedly claimed Iran is aiding Iraqi insurgents. In January 2007, US forces raided the Iranian consulate general in Erbil, Iraq, arresting five staff members, including two Iranian diplomats it held until November. Last September, the US Senate approved a resolution by a vote of 76-22 urging President George W Bush to declare the IRGC a terrorist organization. Following this non-binding "sense of the senate" resolution, the White House declared sanctions against the Quds Force as a terrorist group in October. The Bush administration has also accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons program, though most intelligence analysts say the program has been abandoned.

Read more: http://www.daily.pk/world/americas/99-americas/3981-george-w-bush-has-plans-for-air-strike-on-iran-by-august.html

---

I'm not inclined to give a lot of creedence to a story out of Pakistan; on the other hand, if there's truth to the story and its circulating around the intelligence community, it would seem more likely that Pakistan would be less likely to keep the secret.

[gateley]

1. Wasn't there a story out of Saudi Arabia

a while back claiming the same thing? Don't know if it cited August or not, but...

What will be his justification?

[Mongooseflies]

4. Why am I sensing a "Groundhogs Day" moment?

Where the "Q" in Iraq is replaced with a "N" is the only difference in the justification to go to war....:eyes:

[oldpol]

41. so this years Armageddon is in the fall?

:(

[MilesColtrane]

14. Jerusalem Post, May 20th

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1210668683139&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

No time frame given in the story, but I'd have to believe that it would come before the election.
If I were a betting man, I'd put money on the August 1st new moon.

He'll use the justification outlined in the OP above. Bush wants things to escalate a bit so that the airstrikes can be extended to suspected nuke research sites.

While watching the PBS series on Harry Truman last night I began to get a queasy feeling, because apparently Bush identifies with him-a president with low approval ratings who used nuclear weapons to stop the continuing campaign of evil forces, and was later justified by history.

Shit.

[gateley]

26. With the press kind of ignoring Bush lately,

and Bush/McCain events not being able to sell out a venue, I kind of relaxed thinking -- it's almost over.

How could I be so thick? This is Bush here. Now, again, I'm kind of on pins and needles waiting for January.

:scared:

[billyoc]

2. Muhammed Cohen!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Mongooseflies]

3. they're already working on it....

The International Atomic Energy Agency, in an unusually blunt and detailed report, said Monday that Iran's suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons remains "a matter of serious concern" and continues to need "substantial explanations."

The nine-page report accused the Iranians of a willful lack of cooperation, particularly in answering allegations that its nuclear program may be pointed less at energy generation than at military use.

Part of the agency's case hinges on 18 documents listed in the report and presented to Iran that, according to Western intelligence agencies, indicate the Iranians have ventured into explosives, uranium processing and a missile warhead design — activities that ordinarily would be associated with constructing nuclear weapons...

rest of article:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/27/africa/27iran.php

also more here:

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080527/D90TLAO00.html


:shrug:

[RantinRavin]

5. I thought it was June 25

Oh yeah, that was when it was going to happen last year, and the year before that, and the year before that.....

[Baby Snooks]

6. The Saudis

I doubt the Saudis will allow it - they have become increasingly vocal about the "illegal occupation" in Iraq and will not allow another "illegal occupation" in Iran.

If by chance Bush proceeds, we will face an embargo although what may happen is Iran will start sinking tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and simply block all export from the Persian Gulf.

[Mongooseflies]

7. I don't even think chimpy wants to occupy....

Just surgically air strike strategically relevant sites...
Another feeble attempt to 'shock and awe'



:dunce:

[ForeignSpectator]

10. Occupy with what anyways? No ground troops left, no? n/t

[Baby Snooks]

20. There's always the draft...

There are still sufficient numbers of personnel in Iraq to allow him to shift some to Tehran. Never underestimate the Boy from Brazil.

And then there's always the draft.

[ForeignSpectator]

22. Okay but that personnel is pretty ragged out, no? Plus Iran would present...

a way different resistance than Iraq. And a draft would at least wake the people up. Don't even want to think about that entire prospect...

PS : Where is that "Boy from Brazil" coming from? What did I miss?

[DebbieCDC]

30. Reference to the book by Ira Levin and film "The Boys from Brazil"

Where Joseph Mengele (played by Gregory Peck in the film) cloned 100 boys from Hitler's DNA and had them placed for adoption with families that he could manipulate to recreate Hitler's childhood with the hope of creating another Adolph.

[Baby Snooks]

35. And it looks like he found the right family...

Dr. Mengele obviously found the right family...and such a cute child. Sticking firecrackers in the mouths of frogs, lighting the firecrackers, and then tossing the frogs in the air and watching them explode. While the adoring mother in Midland watched. A chip off both blocks.

And confident he had at least one little Hitler loose in the world once more, he changed his name and went to Washington, working for this administration and that administration, and then went to work for Halliburton. And waited.

Dr. Mengele and his Boy from Brazil. Truly a bedtime story for all of America. Guaranteed to cause nightmares.

[youngharry]

29. Shifting troops

You're not getting it. If Bush bombs Iran, that will be an open invitation for Iran to go into Iraq, which will only lengthen the Iraq war.
It's not about nuclear weapons in Iran, it's about keeping troops in Iraq for the next 100 years to protect the oil and the argument will be about Iran's invading another country, the same as we did, but now the Iranians will have a good reason to attack Americans in Iraq..

[mainer]

23. The Saudis are Sunni -- wouldn't they welcome this?

We're going in and taking out their Shiite rivals. And Al Qaeda probably thinks this bombing is a great idea, too.

[harun]

39. It has everything to do with the fact Saudi is a hereditary monarchy

and Iran is a quasi-democracy put in place by a popular revolution of the people and not really anything to do with it being Shia. Although that may be what people in the press say.

[harun]

38. The Saudi's have been pushing for U.S. action against Iran for years

[blogslut]

8. Well, if it is true

Then let's hope those two senators speak out now.

[Triana]

9. bu$hit will do anything - including attacking Iran - to f*ck with the 2008 elections...

...hide and watch.

[matt007]

11. I think it will be a bombing campaign

and it will be AFTER the elections. They bomb after and dont hurt McCain....They bomb after and dont have anything to lose. Late Nov. Early Dec. thats when it will happen if it ever does.

[leftchick]

12. Here is the Same Story in Asia Times "Bush 'plans Iran air strike by August'

which is extremely credible...


Bush 'plans Iran air strike by August'
By Muhammad Cohen

NEW YORK - The George W Bush administration plans to launch an air strike against Iran within the next two months, an informed source tells Asia Times Online, echoing other reports that have surfaced in the media in the United States recently.

Two key US senators briefed on the attack planned to go public with their opposition to the move, according to the source, but their projected New York Times op-ed piece has yet to appear.

The source, a retired US career diplomat and former assistant secretary of state still active in the foreign affairs community, speaking anonymously, said last week that that the US plans an air strike against the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The air strike would target the headquarters of the IRGC's elite Quds force. With an estimated strength of up to 90,000 fighters, the Quds' stated mission is to spread Iran's revolution of 1979 throughout the region.

Targets could include IRGC garrisons in southern and southwestern Iran, near the border with Iraq. US officials have repeatedly claimed Iran is aiding Iraqi insurgents. In January 2007, US forces raided the Iranian consulate general in Erbil, Iraq, arresting five staff members, including two Iranian diplomats it held until November. Last September, the US Senate approved a resolution by a vote of 76-22 urging President George W Bush to declare the IRGC a terrorist organization. Following this non-binding "sense of the senate" resolution, the White House declared sanctions against the Quds Force as a terrorist group in October. The Bush administration has also accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons program, though most intelligence analysts say the program has been abandoned.

An attack on Iraq would fit the Bush administration's declared policy on Iraq. Administration officials questioned directly about military action against Iran routinely assert that "all options remain on the table".

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JE28Ak01.html

[johnt66]

13. If it happen

If this happen it would sink McCain Presidency, there would be riots in the street of America, because right under the surface,there is a ground swell of hate toward the IRAQ war.

[Robbien]

15. Right Wing Magazine article: Iranians Would Welcome Airstrikes

The Propaganda Campaign has been in full swing on the right side of the web. Freepers have been salivating over Iranian death and destruction for weeks now.

“U.S. airstrikes must be powerful and sustained enough to break the myth of the regime’s absolute power and reveal the weakness of the leadership,” a former official who traveled outside of Iran recently said.

The United States should target the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards Corp, the offices of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and that of his predecessor and rival, Mullah Hashemi-Rafsanjani, Iranian sources say.

The goal should be to carry out sustained airstrikes over a 48-72 hour period that would “decapitate” the regime.

Such a strike would send a clear message to the Iranian people and to disgruntled officials throughout Iran’s faction-ridden government that the United States is serious about confronting the regime over its bad behavior in Iraq and is willing to strike the leaders responsible for that behavior, the Iranian sources argue

. . .

many Iranians contend that limited strikes would have a limited usefulness, and might even be counter-productive.

“The conventional wisdom is that limited strikes will allow the regime to rally the people around the flag,” says Mohebat Ahdiyyih, an Iran media analyst at the office of the director of National Intelligence.

“However, if the U.S. launches a major strike that goes after the leadership in Iran, that’s different,” he told Newsmax. “Most Iranians hate the regime. People would be very happy to see a major strike that took out the leadership.”

Mr. Ahdiyyih and other Iran analysts speaking at an American Enterprise Institute conference on Monday painted a picture of a bitterly-divided regime in Tehran that is “unstable” and fighting for its survival.

http://frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=1D7641E9-5820-4BC8-A74E-75BF57FEB5DE

Sounds like a repeat of the Iraqi campaign where we were told our bombing would be greeted with a rose petal parade.

[closeupready]

24. Right? I was just going to snark something about rose petals here.

:rofl: Give me a break.

[MilesColtrane]

16. This doesn't ring true:

I really don't think Bush would tell select members of the Senate what he was about to do if he had any inkling they might speak out.

As for the anonymous sources cited in the story, it doesn't make sense that someone in the Pentagon would go to intermediaries to get the story out.
Why not just call somebody at the Times?

That aside, I still give the idea that this is being planned credibility, just on this administration's past actions alone.

[raebrek]

17. I posted the Jerusalem post story on the 20th.

The White house denied it and the post put a different story in the link I originally posted. go figure.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3316593&mesg_id=3316593 Was my original post now safely locked up.

Raebrek!!!

[happyslug]

18. I doubt this is accurate, Iraq/Iran are subject to massive dust storms till October.

When the US invaded in 2002, Bush invaded a little bit to late (Remember the Massive Dust Storms that caused the US Advance to halt for the duration of the storms?). The storms are bad in May, but get worse in June through September. In October the storms tend to die down. These storms start in Libya, push themselves over Egypt, then gather a huge amount of sand as it crosses the deserts of Iraq. These storms may even ground aircraft, in that the to much dust can damage jet engines.

I am sorry, I lean to a September/October attack time, nicer weather AND would help McClain get elected. Knowing this administration the latter is more important then the former, but actual restrictions on Military operations can also lead to a political advantage.

[Baby Snooks]

21. The missiles care?

The missiles don't care about the weather conditions.

[happyslug]

31. Cruise Missiles do care, and that is what we will use.

Cruise Missiles are propelled by JETS not rockets, as jets the missiles take in air to feed their engines. Though the air inlets dust can also enter. most of are "smart" bombs suffer from the same problem, propelled by jets not rockets (or propelled to the area of the Target by Jets).

ICBMs are Rockets not Jet Based (as are Submarine launched Ballistic Missiles) but I do NOT believe these will be used to any great degree in an attack on Iran. Cruise missiles are cheaper, and more accurate.

True Smart Bombs also are NOT affected by dust, for their are free fall devices. The problem is their are carried to the Target by Jets.

A complications will be terminal guidance i.e. hitting the target. If the Weapon system is relying on GPS and the target;s GPS coordinates are known, not a problem. If on the other hand the Coordinates are NOT known, the inability to see the target will reduce hit probabilities.

I am sorry, I do NOT see an attack till September do to this weather condition AND the prospect a Fall campaign will help McClain much better than a Summer campaign (maybe August is the dust storms are down).

[closeupready]

25. Honestly, I doubt this story. I don't believe that

anyone in this administration really cares about Iran except maybe Dick Cheney for whom this would be payback for Beirut (I suppose). Which, OTOH, may mean it happens. But if it does happen, it will have to be 100% effective or else it will simply hasten the sweeping of the GOP into the dustbin of history.

[leftchick]

34. doubt away

but I have to say the Asia Times online was way ahead of the western press in the run up to the Iraq invasion and occupation. They have excellent sources and reporters. As fas as anyone in the mis-administration and Iran? They are all neocons and beholden to Israel, Iran is indeed in play.

[Regret My New Name]

48. The problem is, how many times have we seen this same report over the last four years?

Just stating different times in which the imminent attack will take place...

I do wonder who is behind it though... I can think of numerous motives that the Bush admin or perhaps the pentagon might have for it (perhaps ultimately leading to an attack someday). Can't really see much gain for the Iranians though.

[reggie the dog]

37. dust storm

We had one in the south of France today. Dust from Algeria sweeping across the sea making for colourful lightning and dirty rain. The sky has not been blue for 2 days, sort of yellow/orange.

[happyslug]

19. I doubt this is accurate, Iraq/Iran are subject to massive dust storms till October.

When the US invaded in 2002, Bush invaded a little bit to late (Remember the Massive Dust Storms that caused the US Advance to halt for the duration of the storms?). The storms are bad in May, but get worse in June through September. In October the storms tend to die down. These storms start in Libya, push themselves over Egypt, then gather a huge amount of sand as it crosses the deserts of Iraq. These storms may even ground aircraft, in that the to much dust can damage jet engines.

I am sorry, I lean to a September/October attack time, nicer weather AND would help McClain get elected. Knowing this administration the latter is more important then the former, but actual restrictions on Military operations can also lead to a political advantage.

http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/sat_training/dust/iraq/index.html
http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/sandstorm.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandstorm
http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=7043
http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA429674
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeSEOkcbUQY

Each year there are three bad storms, the first around May 25, the second, the second week of June and the worst one the last week of June (These are approximate dates AND only for what the locals call the three worst storms, such storms occur all year long, but are worse in the Summer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamal_%28wind%29
http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/stories/mag86.htm

[paparush]

27. News Headlines to day that Iran may not be fully disclosing nuclear program.

Cranking up the propaganda machine to lay the groundwork with Congress and the 'murkin people to justify opening another doomed-to-fail front in the War on Terror?

[barf]

28. Bush and Campaign

If this is true, I fully expect to see Obama campaigning for McCain and McCain campaigning for Obama, or both running a write in campaign for Clinton.

[fascisthunter]

32. I Hope Bush Hates Small Places

because he belongs in one.

[populistdriven]

33. Why is the Pentagon Leaking this Fake Information Now?

This is psyops, but for what purpose?

[harun]

40. They just keep leaking it in hope that something will gather momentum

It hasn't for years. Hopefully it won't ever.

[Freddie Stubbs]

36. Wayne Madsen: A Bush pre-election strike on Iran 'imminent'

http://www.lebanonwire.com/0410/04102002LW.asp

[roody]

43. I can't get on waynemadsenreport.com today!

It says forbidden on my server. First time ever.

[Freddie Stubbs]

44. The link in my post still works:

http://www.lebanonwire.com/0410/04102002LW.asp

[Pavulon]

42. In further news, jew bashing...great source

http://www.daily.pk/world/middle-east/83-middle-east/3941-israelis-burning-bibles-in-the-holy-land.html

never mind the whole no names pulled out their ass approach to journalism.

bush and 911
http://www.daily.pk/world/americas/99-americas/3789-george-w-bush-authorized-911-attacks-says-government-insider.html

Janes had plenty to say before the current war. When I read it there I will let you know.

[tanyev]

45. Gotta get it in before August.

Everyone knows you don't roll out a new product in August.

[mdmc]

46. And the democrats think that the long primary will be a disaster

:eyes:

[scarface2004]

47. bush plans to blow up world in august!!

better get your affairs in order...the cretin is going out in a blaze of glory!!1

[brooklynite]

49. UPDATE - Senators say report of planned US strikes on Iran untrue

from Rawstory.com

An anonymously sourced report that emerged Wednesday claims President Bush plans to launch an attack against Iran before summer's end, but aides to two Senators who were supposedly told of the plan tell RAW STORY that the report is absolutely untrue.

Asia Times correspondent Muhammad Cohen, reporting from New York, writes that an "informed source" has clued him in to plans from the Bush administration "to launch an air strike against Iran within the next two months."

Cohen's source told him that Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), who is on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Richard Lugar (R-IN), the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, were secretly briefed on the administration's plans and were prepared to write a New York Times op-ed condemning Bush. Aides to the two senators were quick to deny the report.

"That story was inaccurate. Senator Feinstein has not received any briefing – classified or unclassified – from the Administration involving any plans to strike Iran," Philip J. Lavelle, the California Democrat's press secretary, wrote in an e-mail to RAW STORY Wednesday. "In addition, she has not submitted an op-ed to the NYT, or any other paper, on this subject in recent days. She has been a strong advocate for diplomacy with Iran, and will continue to be one."