Iran: "The End of Summer Diplomacy; Assessing US Military Options"

[chill_wind]

The End of the "Summer Diplomacy"
9-27-06

Assessing U.S. Military Options on Iran
Sam Gardiner, Colonel, USAF (RET.)

In a new report for The Century Foundation, Retired Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner warns that powerful voices in the Bush administration are making the case for air strikes aimed not only at setting back Iran’s nuclear program, but also at toppling the country’s government. He says that these officials are undeterred by the concerns of military leaders about whether such attacks would be effective.

link: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/14347

which links to 26 page pdf paper by Gardiner.
http://www.tcf.org/publications/internationalaffairs/gardiner_summer_diplomacy.pdf

[chill_wind]

1. Anybody read it yet?

"This report draws on my long experience of running military war games to examine some of the complications of the current situation: the various pressures and rationales for an attack on Iran; the probable direct and consequences of airstrikes; the significant gap between what the proponents of the military option want to achieve and what in fact such attacks will achieve; and the likelihood that policymakers will ignore those gaps and proceed to war despite them."

[Leopolds Ghost]

2. Why's it always Gardiner?

I've done my share of fearmongering on what would happen if we actually did this, but I am still waiting for an indication this is more than just a pressure campaign by the Bush admin.

[shadowknows69]

4. How about the fact that I've talked to many soldiers

That tell me Iran is not an "if" but a "when". Some apparently have been told this in basic training. Only repeating what I've heard.

[chill_wind]

3. More at this thread (link)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2534654

kicking.

[shadowknows69]

5. Yeah that too

It wouldn't surprise me if GW doesn't find a reason to nuke North Korea too while he's at it. Gotta vanquish that "Axis of Evil", God told him so.