Posted on 08/18/2004 12:42:01 PM PDT by HAL9000
Iran Warns Of Preemptive Strike To Prevent Attack On Nuclear Sites
DOHA, Aug 18 (AFP) - Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani warned Wednesday that Iran might launch a preemptive strike against US forces in the region to prevent an attack on its nuclear facilities.
"We will not sit (with arms folded) to wait for what others will do to us. Some military commanders in Iran are convinced that preventive operations which the Americans talk about are not their monopoly," Shamkhani told Al-Jazeera TV when asked if Iran would respond to an American attack on its nuclear facilities.
"America is not the only one present in the region. We are also present, from Khost to Kandahar in Afghanistan; we are present in the Gulf and we can be present in Iraq," said Shamkhani, speaking in Farsi to the Arabic-language news channel through an interpreter.
"The US military presence (in Iraq) will not become an element of strength (for Washington) at our expense. The opposite is true, because their forces would turn into a hostage" in Iranian hands in the event of an attack, he said.
Shamkhani, who was asked about the possibility of an American or Israeli strike against Iran`s atomic power plant in Bushehr, added: "We will consider any strike against our nuclear installations as an attack on Iran as a whole, and we will retaliate with all our strength.
"Where Israel is concerned, we have no doubt that it is an evil entity, and it will not be able to launch any military operation without an American green light. You cannot separate the two."
A commander of Iran`s elite Revolutionary Guards was quoted in the Iranian press earlier Wednesday as saying that Tehran would strike the Israeli reactor at Dimona if Israel attacks the Islamic republic`s own burgeoning nuclear facilities.
"If Israel fires one missile at Bushehr atomic power plant, it should permanently forget about Dimona nuclear center, where it produces and keeps its nuclear weapons, and Israel would be responsible for the terrifying consequence of this move," General Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr warned.
Iran`s controversial bid to generate nuclear power at its plant being built at Bushehr is seen by arch-enemies Israel and the United States as a cover for nuclear weapons development.
The latest comments mark an escalation in an exchange of threats between Israel and Iran in recent weeks, leading to speculation that there may be a repeat of Israel`s strike against Iraqi nuclear facilities at Osirak in 1981.
Iran insists that its nuclear intentions are peaceful, while pointing at its enemy`s alleged nuclear arsenal, which Israel neither confirms nor denies possessing.
Dimona, in the Negev desert, is allegedly where Israel produces weapons-grade plutonium for its estimated 200 nuclear warheads.
Whatever it takes. Iran must be stopped at all costs.
What about the legions of young people who are so disgusted by the revolutionary regime in Iran?
We should be actively supporting efforts to destroy the ayatollahs from within.
Bring it on!
John Kerry said he would retaliate against any attack.
Don't sing it....BRING IT!!!
Raghead says blah, blah, blah...
Bring it on mullah boys!
How about a MOAB with Barbequed Pork Rinds?
I know, that was very un PC.
If Iran openly tries to strike US troops, not only will their attack be crushed, not only will Bushehr cease to exist, but the democracy movement will erase the theocracy.
I wish it weren't just hot air, I wish they were truly this stupid, but they aren't.
The ultimate ZOT will be upon them!
Keep spouting off boys and we'll rock and rolla your ayatollah.
I smell fear in the enemy. They are definitely nervous, as they should be.
They are letting it all hang out. Wow! All I can say is BRING IT ON! Its about time we got out of this spitting match and got down to business. One thing is certain, a preemptive strike by Iran would take a lot of political heat off of Bush for what is inevitable. Obviously the Iranians have done the math as well.
This Shamkhani guy must be heavily invested in oil futures. Either that or he got in the game late.
It would seem that war between the US and Iran is inevitable. The only question is when. No doubt our military and Iran's military already have plans, defensive and offensive. The behind the scenes diplomacy must be getting rather intense. The Russians are backing the Iranians in this affair. How can Israel allow a terrorist state such as Iran get their hands on assymetric weapons? Tel Aviv will be vaporized. The pressure between Israel and the US must be rather intense. The only question in my mind is who will act first, and how the remainder of the significant nations will respond. We may soon be watching the first nuclear war. God help us.
It's already happening. Iran has been sending insurgents and materials into Iraq to keep us there and we've been grinding them up.
A pre-emptive strike against us would, I would think, not be unwelcome. It would certainly open for us the opportunity to respond.
Playing hardball or just bluffing ?
Well, if we do take out their nuclear facilities, it won't be with ground troops. We'll take it out with lots and lots of 'death from above.'
But any pre-emptive attack would just give us a grand excuse for a full-scale follow-up.
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