Confirmation of Larisa Alexandrovna's scoop on Iran Military Ops!

[benburch]

Larisa's story here;

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/US_outsourcing_special_operations_intelligence_gathering_0413.html

Confirming story here;

http://wotisitgood4.blogspot.com/2006/04/we-are-already-at-war-with-iran.html

We are already engaged in Iran.

Now, anybody who doubted Larisa, I have something for you to eat;

http://www.themoderatevoice.com.nyud.net:8090/files/joe-eating_crow-small.jpg

EDIT - Damned spellchecker shouldn't change names!

[bananas]

1. CNN: GARDINER: "military operations are under way"

via digby - Colonel Sam Gardiner is the retired colonel who taught at the National War College, the Air War College and the Naval Warfare College, on CNN:

GARDINER: Sure. Actually, Jim, I would say -- and this may shock some -- I think the decision has been made and military operations are under way.

<more>

[acmavm]

2. I find it amazing that, with the failure rate of this administration,

anyone connected with the military would allow themselves to be drawn into another war what with two going on already. This is mind boggling.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

3. Yes.

They've already stirred one hornet's nest up really good--Iraq.

But Iran . . . sheesh. They have a very serious military. And the scientific community there is exceedingly competent. No comparison to Saddam's rag-tag circus.

Some general somewhere . . . is going to have to decide to be a hero, and apply the brakes.

[benburch]

5. This whole thing is on autopilot, like Bush's F-102

Nothing will stop it now except utter failure.

[bleever]

4. Clearly a violation of U.S. law to fund organizations with ties to

known or suspected terrorist activities.

Before, there was a question of whether we should skirt that to use the MEK to destabilize Iran.

Looks like some people have chosen their answer. The problem is, it may still be illegal.


:thumbsup: Top notch reporting.

[IndianaGreen]

53. Anything that Bush does is legal by virtue of his being above the law

If Bush were to decide to use Al-Qaeda to attack the Shias of Iran, that would be legal too. Don't you know that whatever our Fuehrer wants, he gets?

[Supersedeas]

99. when did illegality ever cause the Presnit to pause

[gumby]

6. There were multiple stories of Ops being in Iraq

long before Shock And Awe.

EVERYTHING happening and being promoted about Iran mirrors Iraq.

Where do I go to get a different ticket on another bus?

[benburch]

7. My sources (little birds) cheep to me that the kick-off date is June 7th.

I really hope they are wrong, and that it never happens.

[Jigarotta]

12. something coming down between now and June 7th then

another fake terror attack to get everyone 'in the mood'?

good lord.

[vickitulsa]

77. I've been dreading this....

Since I learned how to ferret out the real news on the Web a few years ago, and then found DU a few months ago, which has proved very helpful re news awareness (besides lifting my mood just to be with thousands of folks who feel as I do), I have pretty much stopped watching TV news, cable or otherwise.

This is significant because I've been a "news junkie" for most of my adult life!

But lately I've found that I'm tuning in the cable "news" networks (very briefly) every morning when I wake up, just to see if the latest "Pearl Harbor" or "9/11" has been initiated by the Repugs in order to scare America again and enlist public support for the planned Iran campaign.

Wonder what brilliant operations names they are considering for the strikes in Iran? Maybe they have to wait to name ops there until they've settled on the best "terrorist attack" they can come up with for us here at home, so they can tie the two neatly together....

[Doctor_J]

13. June 6 would make a better photo-op

D-Day. Il Dunce' can put on a soldier uniform and giggle and prance and pretend he stormed Normandy. Tweety will have an orgasm right on the air.

[benburch]

16. Yes, but...

That date is 6/6/6

Bush's fundy base wouldn't cotton to that.

[Doctor_J]

55. Hmm....

Smirk making another satanic gesture on 666. This is getting spooky.

[rodeodance]

48. gawd's what a terrible image!

......Tweety will have an orgasm right on the air.......

[cascadiance]

59. Maybe they're trying to time it right after some state pimaries...

State primaries occur in a lot of big states on June 6th, including California. Maybe they want these elections which include the special election to replace the Dukestir already behind them before they start the war!

Alabama
California
Iowa
Mississippi
Montana
New Jersey
New Mexico
South Dakota

[Delphinus]

88. Are any of those little birds

telling you that the world is not going to stand for bullshit like this?

[happydreams]

63. Yep, There were lots of reports.

[Emit]

8. Kick this up! n/t

[lavenderdiva]

9. Kicked and Recommended!

:kick:

[Hissyspit]

10. Not that we really needed confirmation... n/t

[Erika]

11. You will probably see the day our military tells W "No"

Enough is enough.

[benburch]

15. Hitler's Military never did.

They would take orders from him for units they knew had been destroyed already, encode those orders, and radio them to the units that were not there, and then report to him great victories by those now-fictional units.

[Erika]

26. Perhaps you are right

You must remember our military is voluntary. As much as I hate to say it, many of the military now sees themselves as useful idiots in an insane war.

They "volunteered" to see the world or get funds for an education. Some volunteered out of patriotism which they now see as misdirected.

We should question ourselves in supporting our troops. The best support is to yell "get them out now".

[Fovea]

60. a third of them

probably would follow baby jesus bush into the end of days.

And that is all it will take when the order comes.

[Uncle Joe]

64. If they do, they will be court martial ed as long as Bush

occupies the White House, he is their commander in chief. Bush must be impeached.

[nickyt]

14. I just Googled "MEK":

From the "Naval Postgraduate School" website:

Near the end of the 19801988 war with Iran, Baghdad armed the MEK with military equipment and sent it into action against Iranian forces. In 1991, the MEK assisted the Government of Iraq in suppressing the Shia and Kurdish uprisings in southern Iraq and the Kurdish uprisings in the north.

much much more

http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/tgp/mek.htm

I am - speechless -

[Viva_La_Revolution]

18. and now we are using them, just like we used "Al Qaeda"

fucking revolting! :mad:

[Emit]

23. MEK and neocon relationship

lots of discussion/info here downthread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=923696&mesg_id=923696

[TheBaldyMan]

17. So let me get this straight, US is funding a group that is based in

Iraq and is a Iraqi version of the Contras. The cover for this is creating instability in Iran.

Let me guess, they are the ultra-reliable source for the Pentagon about conditions within Iran and how it's on the brink of nuking us all back to the stone age. Sounds exactly like the ultra-reliable evidence of the looming power of Iraq under Saddam Hussein.

I think this is final proof that Rummy is unhinged. Marxist-Islamic terrorists overthrowing a legitimate government in Iran on behalf of the US.

[benburch]

19. I think your comprehension approaches 100%. nt

[Hissyspit]

20. All the outspoken retired generals hoping that criticism of Rumsfeld

will keep the Iran debacle from happening?

[rocktivity]

21. In this performance of "War With Viet Nam's Fingerprints All Over It"

The role of Cambodia will be played by Iran.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Warren Stupidity]

58. Note also that Iran can be supplied from Russia and the *stans.

After considering this for several days, I am starting to agree with those here who have been speculating that we are walking into a trap. This is likely to be our military downfall.

[lukery]

22. confirmation?

ha! we don't need no stinkin confirmation - lala's reporting is all the confirmation i need :-)

[serryjw]

24. Another LONG excellent article

http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.24230/pub_detail.asp

[Emit]

36. That was long

So, I mostly skimmed it after half-way through. So far, it reads just like a blueprint for exactly what the neocons have planned and are in the process of doing! Written by AIE neocon Gerecht, too. I'll finish it, but just wanted to ask why you thought it "excellent" so I could understand and/or comment to your perspective.

Here are the points that stick out with me so far: Escalate the situation b/w Bush and Ahmadinejad/Iranian clerics (we're doing that now). Never offer appeasements. Don't bargain. Same as what Mike Rubin of AEI noted recently, he was, afterall the author of that draft NSPD that called to destabilize the Iranian government that Larry Franklin of AIPAC scandal fame passed on to Israel.

More: Don't be a realist -- you have to match the mullah's "good vs evil" stance with our own: "All that said, the gut-wrenching nature of contemplating a preventive military strike against the mullahs' nuclear facilities may still be enough to push the Bush administration to explore secretly the possibility of a "grand bargain" with Tehran....Such "realists" are always irretrievably secular. Yet, it's a good bet that Secretary Rice doesn't share this perspective: She seems to think that Iran's ruling clerics see themselves in a good-versus-evil struggle where there is no possibility of permanent compromise. And Secretary Rice would be right in that assessment."

On edit: Bomb. I forgot that one. Bomb Iran now. Not later.

It seems, almost, that this is sort of like damage control, in a way, or a wish list. Or, maybe, he's just preparing his readership for the future events as planned.

[serryjw]

66. It was not meant as a commentary

on the righteousness of the article...just that it was a thorough 'propaganda"report! There is so much misinformation worldwide the more you read on a subject, the more likely you are to see the REAL truth( IMHO!)

[Emit]

67. Gotcha. And I agree that is is a good article for others to read

in order to get the perspective of the neocon's/Bush & Co.'s plan. Thanks for posting the link. It is interesting to read Larissa's article in the OP, for example, as well as a lot of other stuff out now, and then to read this, it is possible to see right through some of their statements and actions. Also, on that note, to rely on corporate media for all ones news ensures that one would buy into their plan and believe their propaganda.

[serryjw]

71. Strange statement

to rely on corporate media for all ones news .....

Why would you listen to ANY of it unless you like being lied to?

[Emit]

75. Sadly, I think most people who do not get their news on line

or from reading alternative sources, etc. think that they are watching the news, when in fact, they are just being lied to. They don't know any better.

Here's a recent example -- At a recent birthday party, I spoke with a mother of one of the other kids. I casually mentioned to her some local Democratic volunteer stuff I was doing to see if she was intereseted in politics, etc. She said she was a Democrat, but that since she hadn't been paying much attention, then she had just recently started listening to the news more. I asked her what she was listening to. She said she had started to listen to Sean Hannity on talk radio -- Well, you can imagine my reaction. "That's not news! And the least you should do is listen to the other side...and you should really be online getting alternative news, or try The Nation, Vanity Fair, etc., etc. Anyway, she just blankedly stared at me, and made some sort of comment about not being satisfied with the Democrats anyway...and then her baby started crying and she excused herself.

That was it. People think they're getting news. They don't know they're being lied to. And their lives are so full, they can't even catch up.

[serryjw]

76. Absolutely

I blame this on the democrats. All the alternative online/radio sources should be on their (DNC) website. When I was fundraising for the DNC I heard this all the time. IF they didn't get their news on the tube they would go to NETWORK news ONLINE? So that way they can read the lies instead of hearing them. I have been in sales for years and I would hear Rush on 80% of the radios in people's offices

[EFerrari]

25. Our government is insane. And thanks to you and to Larisa

for highlighting the insanity.

We can't get "used" to this.

[stillcool]

27. incredible....and so depressing...

February 14, 2002: US Military Bases Line Afghan Pipeline Route
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline.jsp?timeline=complete_911_timeline&before_9/11=pipelinePolitics
The Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv notes: “If one looks at the map of the big American bases created , one is struck by the fact that they are completely identical to the route of the projected oil pipeline to the Indian Ocean.” Ma’ariv also states, “Osama bin Laden did not comprehend that his actions serve American interests... If I were a believer in conspiracy theory, I would think that bin Laden is an American agent. Not being one I can only wonder at the coincidence.”


"The well-known term "conspiracy" may not actually serve us very
well, since it suggests an arcane aberration rather than the
normal workings of our ruling class."

[Mr Rabble]

31. we have a winner!

How people don't see this, after all the screaming about it is beyond me.

We have bases, along a pipeline route to the Indian to the south, as well as through Iraq/ Israel to the West. (although the bases are not on the above map)

Imagine if they spent all of this "war for oil" money on alternative energy research...

[Cooley Hurd]

47. Okay - totally tinfoil-hatting here on my part, but the USS JFK...

...is rumored to be decommissioned this year. According to your map, she's on station in the Indian Ocean. Could they, WOULD they send her through the Strait of Hormuz and sacrifice her to an Iranian anti-ship missile attack to drum up support for an all-out Iranian conflict?

There was a time when such a thing would be unthinkable, but now, I just don't know...:(

[NMDemDist2]

54. that is right in line with the infamous "Gulf of Tonkin" resolution

HJ Res 1145 Aug 7, 64
Formally titled: Southeast Asia Resolution
Approved by House 416 to 0; Senate 88 to 2

To promote the maintenance of international peace and security in Southeast Asia.

---WHEREAS naval units of the Communist regime in Vietnam, in violation of the principles of the Charter of the UN and of international law, have deliberately and repeatedly attacked US naval vessels lawfully present in international waters, and have thereby created a serious threat to international peace; and

---WHEREAS these attacks are part of a deliberate and systematic campaign of aggression that the Communist regime in NV has been waging against its neighbors and the nations joined with them in the collective defense of their freedom; and

---WHEREAS the US is assisting the peoples of Southeast Asia to protect their freedom and has no territorial, mili or political ambitions in that area, but desires only that these peoples should be left in peace to work out their own destinies in their own way; Now, therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the US of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Cmdr in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the US and to prevent further aggression.....

[Nothing Without Hope]

61. Yes, I think that is quite possibly in the plans. The possibility of a

"bombed by Iran and/or Al Qaeda" US ship as a mini-9/11 agenda-booster has been discussed at DU before, several months ago. (Sorry, didn't keep a link.)

[Douglas Carpenter]

28. related to Iran as a " threat "-- here is the latest from Juan Cole

link: http://www.juancole.com/

"Kiriyenko: Iran's Method "Unfeasible" for Fissionable Material

Here is what a nuclear official who has no interest in getting up a war on Iran says about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's claims earlier this week to have slightly enriched a small quantity of uranium:
link: http://www.kyivpost.com/bn/24251/
MOSCOW (AP): Russia's nuclear chief on Thursday said Iran is far from being capable of industrial-scale uranium enrichment, the Interfax news agency reported. Russian Federal Nuclear Energy Agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko said the enrichment facility in the Iranian city of Natanz, equipped with 164 gas centrifuges, could not produce any significant amount of enriched uranium, which can be used to fuel power plants or produce atomic weapons. "These centrifuges allow Iran to conduct laboratory uranium enrichment to a low level in insignificant amounts," Kiriyenko was quoted as saying. "The acquisition of highly enriched uranium is unfeasible today using this method."

How refreshing, a high government official who isn't LWB (lying while breathing)."

link: http://www.juancole.com/

More from Juan Coles'article:

Fishing for a Pretext in Iran

by Juan Cole; March 18, 2006

link: http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=9929

snip:"Supreme Jurisprudent Ali Khamenei has given a fatwa or formal religious ruling against nuclear weapons, and President Ahmadinejad at his inauguration denounced such arms and committed Iran to remaining a nonnuclear weapons state."

snip:"Tehran denies having military labs aiming for a bomb, and in November of 2003 the IAEA formally announced that it could find no proof of such a weapons program."

snip:"it is often alleged that since Iran harbors the desire to “destroy” Israel, it must not be allowed to have the bomb. Ahmadinejad has gone blue in the face denouncing the immorality of any mass extermination of innocent civilians, but has been unable to get a hearing in the English-language press. Moreover, the presidency is a very weak post in Iran, and the president is not commander of the armed forces and has no control over nuclear policy"

snip: "in November of 2003 the IAEA formally announced that it could find no proof of such a weapons program. The U.S. reaction was a blustery incredulity, which is not actually an argument or proof in its own right, however good U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton is at bunching his eyebrows and glaring."

[benburch]

30. Enrichment is not all that hard if you have unlimited electrcity.

A "simple" device called a calutron can do this, and indeed most of the material that went into the Nagasaki bomb was from a calutron cascade.

I could build you a working one in a couple of months with perhaps $100,000 to work with.

[benburch]

34. The Calutron

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calutron

[Emit]

97. Article: "Iran was not ordered to Stop Enrichment "

On a related note:

Iran was not ordered to Stop Enrichment

By Mike Whitney

04/16/06 "ICH" -- -- It’s easy to get confused about developments in Iran because the media does everything in its power to obfuscate the facts and then spin the details in way that advances American policy objectives. But, let’s be clear; the Security Council did NOT order Iran to stop enriching uranium. It may not even be in their power to do so since enrichment is guaranteed under the NPT (Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty). For the Security Council to forbid Iran to continue with enrichment activities would be tantamount to repealing the treaty itself. They didn’t do that.

What they did was “request” that Iran suspend enrichment activities so that the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) could further prove that Iran’s nuclear programs were entirely for peaceful purposes.

Iran, of course, did the only thing they could do; they graciously declined. After all, Iran followed every minute step that the Bush administration took in the long march to war with Iraq, so it is only natural that they would choose to take a different path. Why would they invite more intrusive inspections allowing the UN to ferret through every inch of Iranian territory in an attempt to uncover every armory, radar station, and missile site before the inevitable US bombing? Why would they endure the humiliation of being singled out and scorned for complying with the NPT when nuclear cheaters like India are rewarded with praise and offered banned nuclear technology by Washington?

No thanks.

The Security Council is looking for a peaceful way out of the standoff, so they are bending as much as possible, but, make no mistake, there will be no sanctions, no Chapter 7 resolutions, and no outright ban on Iran enriching uranium.

It won’t happen. ... In fact, as nuclear scientist Gordon Prather reports, the Security Council actually confirmed Iran’s right to enrich uranium in a terse Presidential Statement which they issued after two weeks of deliberation ...

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article12757.htm

[serryjw]

29. Is this the same Mujahideen that is Afghanistan?

n/t

[TheBaldyMan]

33. Mujihadeen roughly means 'fighters in a jihad' in Arabic or Pathan

I think. It's not restricted to the Mujihadeen that fought against the USSR back in the '80s.

[lukery]

32. larisa interview about iran

btw - i interviewed larisa last week about the war in iran (and some other stuff, incl. sibel and brewster jennings)

[Emit]

39. I read that earlier this week!

Thanks so much -- very informative! And, welcome! :hi:

[lukery]

41. thnx

thnx emit.

am hoping to get another installment out over the weekend...

[Emit]

44. Great. Let us all know by posting it here. Tx again. n/t

[druidity33]

50. Agreed!

Good work! I've been waiting for someone to interview LaLa for a while now... she seems so damn well informed (and totally hot to boot). How can it be that she's the only investigative reporter on the planet doing a fantastic job? (ok, ok there's Waas and Hersch... but too damn few just doing their job, if you ask me) I can't believe she was able to stomach interviewing Ledeen and i'm really surprised he agreed to it. She needs interns and students to grow up to be like her. QUESTION AUTHORITY! NGU!

peace... looking forward to the next installment.

K&R

[DemInDistress]

79. just checked out your blogsite...outstanding !! your too good

very informative,very revealing and the comments by others were right on the money. I will be visiting that
blog more often,sad Sybil was held to the State Secrets Act. Bet she and a couple of others could bring down this crime family and all their stooges.

Good stuff,very impressed with your ability.

thanks for posting at DU.

DemInDistress

[BrklynLiberal]

35. Kicked and recommended !

[donheld]

37. We are a trifling nation

Someday sooner than we think we're going to answer for our trifling.

[benburch]

38. Three wars at once.

And nuclear weapons on both sides. (You don't think Pakistan will remain our "friend" do you?)

Even Hitler did not act so stupidly.

[hvn_nbr_2]

42. "Even Hitler did not act so stupidly."

Well, he wasn't as stupid as Chimpie McStrangelove. He was no more and probably less power-drunk than the whole neocon cabal.

[Horse with no Name]

43. I'm concerned about Russia and China remaining our "friend"

as well.
China holds us by the shorthairs.
Question is will they give us a good yank--for the good of the world?
After all, they need the fuel in Iran as well and if Spurious George decides to nuke--it will bring Peak Oil much sooner.
Sheesh...I think I need to drink.

[femmedem]

51. My Iranian friend says China and Iran have long cultural ties. n/t.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

89. Actually, it's more India and Iran-- very ancient cultural links

The languages of Iran and the major northern languages of India are incredibly similar to each other, and there are historical connections between Persian dynasties and the people and ruling rajahs (and nawabs) in India stretching back many centuries. Interestingly, though Iran is a Muslim country, its particular brand of Shiite Islam shares many characteristics with Indian Hinduism and, of course, with ancient Zoroastrianism, the modern followers of which (Parsees) are mostly in India. India and Iran have very interesting, ancient cultural connections.

[oasis]

40. Interesting. (eom)

[Garbo 2004]

45. Remember Scott Ritter said last year was there was US sponsored shit

going on in Iran and plans were being put in place for an attack?

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0330-31.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0620-31.htm

[Kurovski]

46. K&R(nt)

[DemReadingDU]

49. K&R

[wicket]

52. Wow, just wow

:wow:

:kick:

[benburch]

56. I've lost my capacity for surprise. nt

[MelissaB]

57. This one suprised me.

[Maraya1969]

62. Any praying people out there, please pray for us and Iran

This is just sick. :cry:

[Eric J in MN]

65. The issue for me is whether the US is funding terrorists in Iran.

I'm not saying that the Bush Administration is too honorable to do such a thing, but if they are I'd like corroboration.

[benburch]

68. What part about this did you fail to understand?

First, Raw Story has five sources according to their earlier statements.

Second, here is another source independent of those.

You need to have the decency to eat some crow and apologize sincerely.

[benburch]

69. Oh, and if you doubt that CNN interview transcript....

Crooks & Liars should have it up shortly, I am told.

[Eric J in MN]

70. Where does it say in the CNN interview that the US is funding

a terrorist group in Iran?

[benburch]

73. I see this as confirming that...

"Hey, I hear you're accusing Americans of being in there operating with some of the units that have shot up revolution guard units."

He said, quite frankly, "Yes, we know they are. We've captured some of the units, and they've confessed to working with the Americans."

Frankly I can see no other way to read this except to say that we have created an irregular force that is working on our orders to attack targets within Iran.

I expect more confirming detail to come out shortly, too.

[Emit]

90. Another source

Richard Sale:

~snip~

To collect badly needed intelligence on the ground about Iran's alleged nuclear program, the United States is depending heavily on Israeli-trained teams of Kurds in northern Iraq and on U.S.-trained teams of former Iranian exiles in the south to gather the intelligence needed for possible strikes against Iran's 13 or more suspected nuclear sites, according to serving and retired U.S. intelligence officials.

Both groups are doing cross border incursions into Iran, some in conjunction with U.S. Special Forces, these sources said.

They claimed the Kurds operating from Kurdistan, in areas they control. The second group, working from the south, is the Mujahedeen-e Khalq, listed by the State Department as a terrorist group, operating from southern Iraq, these sources said.

The use of the MEK for U.S.-intelligence-gathering missions strikes some former U.S. intelligence officials as bizarre. The State Department's annual publication, "Patterns of Global Terrorism," lists them as a terrorist organization.

~snip~

The MEK are said to be currently launching raids from Camp Habib in Basra, but recently Pakistan President Pervez Musharaff granted permission for the MEK to operate from Pakistan's Baluchi area, U.S. officials said.

Asked about the Musharaff decision, Laipson said: "Not a smart move. The last thing he (Musharaff) needs is another batch of hotheads on Pakistani soil."

~snip~

http://www.democrats.com/node/2923

[Mojorabbit]

92. I have heard

that Israel is expected to do the deed. I can't say where I heard it though.

[Emit]

94. I think we've heard that from a variety of sources

On a related note, I just received this article yesterday via email:

http://www.irmep.org/GBU.htm

Arming an Israeli Attack on Iran:
Why the US should cancel "Bunker Buster" Bombs for Israel

Faulty Intelligence, WMD Hype and a New Trigger for War

On April 28, 2005 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the sale of 100 GBU-28 "bunker buster" guided bombs to Israel. Designed to penetrate hardened command centers located deep underground, the GBU-28 is a 5,000-pound laser-guided bomb that uses a 4,400-pound penetrating warhead and contains 630 pounds of high explosives.

The Israeli target for the GBU is no secret. For months Israeli intelligence, political and policy operatives in the US have been presenting a case that Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons that threaten Tel Aviv and other Israeli population centers.

American skeptics will recall similar statements by Ariel Sharon who made claims along with a network of American pundits that Iraqi weapons of mass destruction had been shipped into Syria at the start of the US invasion of Iraq. Although the 1,700-member Iraq Survey Team responsible for hunting WMD in Iraq officially announced on April 23, 2005 it found no evidence of any weapons of mass destruction or transfer to Syria, proponents of conflict with Syria and Iran continue to push their case forward. Like misleading intelligence claims about Iraq, a GBU-28 sale could trigger an immediate, needless and bloody conflict, only this time between the US and Iran (see Exhibit 1).

~snip~

Recommendations:

The US must take a number of steps to defuse the budding crisis in the region. The US must:

1. Not sell Israel the GBU-28. To sell them is to all but guarantee their use, creating an unnecessary human and environmental disaster in Iran and the region;
2. Caution Israel not to engage in a nuclear first strike against Iran. Although Israel is capable of strategic submarine and air attacks against Iran, it should be sternly warned not to do so;
3. Bring Israel into the Non-Proliferation Treaty. If Iran sets out to build a nuclear capability, it will largely be to counter Israeli nuclear weapons. By moving Israel into the NPT and eliminating its stockpile of nuclear weapons, one of the major drivers of instability in the region would be eliminated.

The US Congress has 30 days to object to this sale. IRmep strongly encourages members of Congress to consider the factors outlined in this policy research note and reject the destabilizing sale of GBU-28s to Israel.

[Cocoa]

72. the story is fantastic, but the taunting sucks

anyone who pressures people not to express their honest doubts is totally full of shit. Skepticism is important.

Back to this story, my favorite part is their making the terrorists "resign" from MEK:

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/US_outsourcing_special_operations_intelligence_gathering_0413.html

<snip>

According to still another intelligence source, the policy infighting ended last year when Donald Rumsfeld, under pressure from Vice President Cheney, came up with a plan to “convert” the MEK by having them simply quit their organization.

“These guys are nuts,” this intelligence source said. “Cambone and those guys made MEK members swear an oath to Democracy and resign from the MEK and then our guys incorporated them into their unit and trained them.”

:rofl: and at the same time :scared:

[benburch]

74. Sorry, Cocoa...

When I see my friends attacked I get rather ornery.

[Notoverit]

78. Didn't Wes Clark announce it a few months ago as a sure thing?

I believe he gave a summer date - June?

[benburch]

81. If he did, that jives with my sources.

My sources also say to expect a crackdown on domestic dissent like you have never seen before.

[Emit]

84. can you elaborate on that point, benburch?

the "to expect a crackdown on domestic dissent like you have never seen before" part? I'm not sure I follow. Thanks much.

[benburch]

85. Bush will go to the mat to shut us up.

That is what two of my three sources said.

[Emit]

87. It is interesting to read the neocons on this issue of Bush & Co.

using the MEK. Many neocons have danced around it (Ledeen), some have embraced and fought for it openly (Perle), and some outright oppose it (Timmerman). But, if you look at the history of the relationship b/w MEK/MKO and their political front organizations and the neocons, it is clear that the MEK has been invloved with their plans for some time now, dating back at least 'til '01. Some neocon propagandists seem to be embracing them on the one hand and denouncing them in their writing on the other, likely fronting for Bush & Co. Classic.

[robertpaulsen]

95. I get the feeling Timmerman just hasn't got the memo yet.

Especially after reading this article he wrote where he attempts to absolve Ahmed Chalabi of the left wing "hatchet job" outing him as an Iranian spy:

http://www.kentimmerman.com/2004_05_13chalabi.htm

[lukery]

80. Vince Cannistraro joins in

"However, Mr Cannistraro said covert military action, in the form of special forces troops identifying targets and aiding dissident groups, is already under way.

"It's been authorised, and it's going on to the extent that there is some lethality to it. Some people have been killed.""

http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,1750678,00.html

[benburch]

82. Thanks for posting that! nt

[Emit]

86. Thanks lurkey. From that link

Continued from your quote:

He said US-backed Baluchi Sunni guerrillas had been involved in an attack in Sistan-Baluchistan last month in which over 20 Iranian government officials were killed and the governor of the provincial capital was wounded. The Iranian government had blamed British intelligence for the incident.

That would be plausible as far as who Bush & Co. may have employed, because, from what I've read about the various groups the neocons are backing for regime change in Iran, Reza Pahlavi (son of the former Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was deposed in the 1978-79 Islamic revolution) and Sohrab (Rob) Sobhani (president of Caspian Energy Consulting) are top in the running.

And, the Baluchi Sunni, "did well under the secular Pahlavi government and their tribal leaders entered into a patron client relationship with the Pahlavis which allowed them limited self government." at link

[benburch]

83. Lyndon Johnson knew what nuclear war was all about.

http://www.pbs.org/30secondcandidate/timeline/years/1964b_l1.html

THIS is the best commentary I can imagine on Bush's insane lust for nuclear war.

[robertpaulsen]

91. Here's the Raw Story update on the CNN report.

Retired colonel claims U.S. military operations are already 'underway' in Iran

Ron Brynaert
Published: Saturday April 15, 2006

Print This | Email This

During an interview on CNN Friday night, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner claimed that U.S. military operations are already 'underway' inside Iran, RAW STORY has found.

"I would say -- and this may shock some -- I think the decision has been made and military operations are under way," Col. Gardiner told CNN International anchor Jim Clancy (as noted by Digby at the blog Hullabaloo).

(Crooks and Liars has a video clip of the interview)

Gardiner, who designed a war game in November of 2004 for Atlantic Magazine ("Will Iran be next?") which simulated "preparations for a U.S. assault on Iran," also claimed that Aliasghar Soltaniyeh, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nation's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told him a few weeks ago that units who had attacked the Revolutionary Guard had been captured and confessed to working with Americans.

more...

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Retired_colonel_claims_U.S._Military_operations_0415.html

[robertpaulsen]

93. Kucinich on top of confronting * on this, wrote letter April 14!

Kucinich Demands Answers From Administration About US Troops In Iran
Sends Letter To The President


WASHINGTON - April 14 - Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), Ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, sent the following letter to President George W. Bush today about the presence of US troops in Iran:

Dear President Bush:

Recently, it has been reported that U.S. troops are conducting military operations in Iran. If true, it appears that you have already made the decision to commit U.S. military forces to a unilateral conflict with Iran, even before direct or indirect negotiations with the government of Iran had been attempted, without UN support and without authorization from the U.S. Congress.

The presence of U.S. troops in Iran constitutes a hostile act against that country. At a time when diplomacy is urgently needed, it escalates an international crisis. It undermines any attempt to negotiate with the government of Iran. And it will undermine U.S. diplomatic efforts at the U.N.

Furthermore, it places U.S. troops occupying neighboring Iraq in greater danger. The achievement of stability and a transition to Iraqi security control will be compromised, reversing any progress that has been cited by the Administration.

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0414-06.htm

[Emit]

96. benburch, on plans to attack

U.S. backup plan: invade iran by land, air, water strikes

By Maxim Kniazkov

04/16/06 -- "Asian Age" -- -- Washington, April 16: The United States began planning a full-scale military campaign against Iran that involves missile strikes, a land invasion and a naval operation to establish control over the Strait of Hormuz even before the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, a former US intelligence analyst disclosed on Sunday.

William Arkin, who served as the US Army’s top intelligence mind on West Berlin in the 1970s and accurately predicted US military operations against Iraq, said the plan is known in military circles as Tirannt, an acronym for "Theatre Iran Near Term."

It includes a scenario for a land invasion led by the US Marine Corps, a detailed analysis of the Iranian missile force and a global strike plan against any Iranian weapons of mass destruction, Mr Arkin wrote in the Washington Post. US and British planners have already conducted a Caspian Sea war game as part of these preparations, the scholar said.

"According to military sources close to the planning process, this task was given to Army General John Abizaid, now commander of Centcom, in 2002," Arkin wrote, referring to the Florida-based US central command. But preparations under Tirannt began in earnest in May 2003 and never stopped, he said. The plan has since been updated using information collected in Iraq. Air Force planners have modelled attacks against Iranian air defences, while Navy planners have evaluated coastal targets and drawn up scenarios for keeping control of the Strait of Hormuz...

~snip~

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article12753.htm


Edited to add:
Not confirmation of the subject of OP, but more details on what Sy Hersh has been talking about.

[benburch]

98. I hope we are ALL 100% wrong about this.

And that there are no such plans.

But I also hope that I'll win the Big Game lottery tomorrow night, too.