USA plans to attack iran nuke sites

London: The United States is drawing up plans for bombing raids backed by submarine-launched ballistic missile attacks against Iran's nuclear sites as a 'last resort' to block Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, a media report said today.

Central command and strategic command planners are identifying targets, assessing weapon-loads and working on logistics for an operation, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

The war strategists are reporting to Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, as the US is updating plans for action if the diplomatic offensive fails to thwart the Islamic republic's nuclear bomb ambitions, the report said.

Tehran has repeatedly said that it is developing only a civilian energy programme. "This is more than just the standard military contingency assessment," a senior Pentagon adviser told the newspaper. "This has taken on much greater urgency in recent months."

The prospect of military action could put Washington at odds with Britain which fears that an attack would spark violence across the Middle East, reprisals in the West and may not cripple Tehran's nuclear programme.

However, the steady flow of disclosures about Iran's secret nuclear operations and the virulent anti-Israeli threats of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has prompted the fresh assessment of military options by Washington.

The most likely strategy would involve aerial bombardment by long-distance B2 bombers, each armed with up to 40,000lb of precision weapons, including the latest bunker-busting devices. They would fly from bases in Missouri with mid-air refuelling.

The Bush administration has recently announced plans to add conventional ballistic missiles to the armoury of its nuclear trident submarines within the next two years. If ready in time, they will also form part of the plan of attack, the report said.

Tehran has dispersed its nuclear plants, burying some deep underground, and has recently increased its air defences, but Pentagon planners believe that the raids could seriously cripple Iran's nuclear programme.

Iran was reported to the United Nations Security Council by the International Atomic Energy Agency last weekend for its banned nuclear activities. Tehran reacted by announcing that it would resume full-scale uranium enrichment - producing material that could arm nuclear devices.

The White House says that it wants a diplomatic solution to the stand-off, but President George W Bush has refused to rule out military action and reaffirmed last weekend that Iran's nuclear ambitions "will not be tolerated".

Sen John McCain, the Republican front-winner to succeed Bush in 2008, has advocated military strikes as a last resort.

"There is only one thing worse than the United States exercising a military option and that is a nuclear-armed Iran," he said recently.

Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat, has made the same case and Bush is expected to be faced by the decision within two years.

By then, Iran will be close to acquiring the knowledge to make an atomic bomb, although the construction will take longer, the report said.

However, Bush will not want to be seen as leaving the White House having allowed Iran to go nuclear.

I am aware of the clout behind the potential move to Euro Dollars. Most of the OPEC nations favor the Euro. Putin favors the Euro as well. Iran does not sell oil directly to the U.S. But oil is fungible. A barrel from Iran is much the same as one produced in Saudi Arabia. Oil speculators drive the cost of oil up on world markets. I object to rich sheiks, that made money selling oil to Shell, playing speculator again with the world oil market. Arab bankers, private hedge funds, and people like Soros make tons of money speculating in oil futures. That is like double dipping for fun and profits.

The Ohio SSGN conversions carry Tomahawk cruise missiles. I think what they are talking about here is a conventionally armed Trident missile. The difference being that the Tridents fly a ballistic course while the Tomahawks fly an Earth hugging course.

No. If we use missiles it will be SLCMs from such as USS Ohio, just converted from a ballistic missile sub to a cruise missile sub.

Good point!

I am not an economist and I didn't spend the night in a Holiday Inn Express last night, but my memory tells me that virtually NOTHING the experts predict EVER comes out the way they expected. Sometimes the outcome is worse, sometimes it's better, but it's usually an unexpected outcome. We need to decide what outcome is in the best interest of the U S of A and then set about to assure that outcome, regardless of how it affects our friends or our enemies. No one is going to look out for our best interests and if something needs to be done then we best get busy and get it done!

This is news? The US has had plans on the books to attack Iran for many, many years.

Of course the plans are updated as times change and military tactics and sites change.

I mean, really, this is news? To who?

25 posted on 02/12/2006 7:37:34 AM PST by standing united (82nd ABN 1/508th BN Bco 1st Sqd. Alpha Fireteam Leader: "fury from the sky" 8-Duce on the Loose!!)

But I wonder who is leaking and why the leaks?

IMO, probably the Administration, to ratchet-up the pressure on the Iranian regime, in an effort to get them to make the first move.

By "submarine-launched ballistic missles"I presume they mean The Big Ones(not cruise-missles)?

Iran does not respond well to diplomatic pressure. Already, they are making very aggressive covert moves in Iraq. They have teamed up with Syria to spread ill will all across the Muslim world. Next weekend, London will awaken to 100,000 chanting Islamics demonstrating against a stupid cartoon. Wait, watch, listen. Oil will be priced at $ 75 bbl very soon. Then you will hear griping from all those idiots who bought an SUV with equity money they got by refinancing their homes.

Agreed. That piece read like an 8th graders summary of "David Copperfield", produced using Cliff Notes and internet resources.

I'm sure there's more than just US with a plan. Distasteful but has to be done, I'm betting.

32 posted on 02/12/2006 10:53:26 AM PST by Terriergal ("My conscience is captive to the word of God...here I stand. I can do no other. So help me God." ML)

Watch oil prices surge higher.

I hope so. My energy positions tuned lower last week. Such an evil republican I am LOL..........

33 posted on 02/12/2006 11:08:52 AM PST by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)

Truman knew what had to be done 50 years ago.

Truman should've nuked Stalin in '46.

There would be NO commies left anywhere if he had done this. (China would've been scared shitless, no Korea, no Vietnam, no need for a Euroweenie peace movement, no Gramsci-inspired infiltration of US culture...

Talk about your peace dividends!

34 posted on 02/12/2006 12:00:16 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)

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