Iran Poised to Strike?

Jerusalem Newswire ^ | May 14, 2006 | Stan Goodenough

[richardtavor]

Indicators observed by independent Iran watchers during the past week are raising the question that nuclear-seeking Iran is not merely playing a serious game of brinkmanship, but is actually preparing to strike at Israel, European and US interests.

Headlined "Iran declares war," a May 11 editorial in the New York Sun expressed the belief that a recent letter written by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which had been widely interpreted as a peaceful gesture, "is in fact a declaration of war."

According to the Sun, a coded message is contained in the closing section of the eight-page letter. While the rest of the message had been translated into English, the salutation in had not. It reads "Vasalam Ala Man Ataba'al hoda" and means "Peace only unto those who follow the true path."

[enraged]

good read here, 2nd post down....

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=205731&page=2

[El Gato]

The enemy has only to plant several devices in areas of the nation in order to reduce out strike back ability. The only force that the terrorists are not able to compromise is our nuclear missile submarine fleet when it is at sea.

There are about 500 Minuteman silos. Add in the B-52, B-1 and B-2 bases, not to mention all the places where the "special" weapons for the tactical fighters are stored (F-15E,F-16, F/A-18), making for a lot of places that have to be taken out to seriously compromise our ability to nuke a country like Iran, and it's pretty much impossible.

However, IMHO, the Angry Ayatollahs and Insane Imams don't really care if we retaliate. A Martyr for Allah, is a martyr rather they kill themselves, or we do for them. Wholesale paradise, so to speak. If it brings on the 12th Imam, well it'll be worth the "sacrifice", if a bit hard on the virgin supply.

[El Gato]

The terrorists had good luck in Spain with the pre-election bombing. They could defeat us in our own elections by helping the democrats.

American, and Brits for that matter, are not Spaniards. I think such a tactic would backfire. I also don't think the Iranians give a hoot.

[El Gato]

I wonder how many boomers are in the Persian Gulf right now?

None I would hope. They can launch from anywhere, so surely somewhere in middle of the Indian Ocean would be fine. The Persian Gulf is way to shallow to be taking a boomer into. I wouldn't really want to send our LA class fast attacks in there, but if might prove necessary if the Iranians get frisky with their Kilos. Not for long of course. Although I think the P-3s, Nimrods, ASW choppers, and tactical fixed wing could make short work of the Kilos, without putting the LA's at risk.

[andy58-in-nh]

Bush would not worry about politics if we were attacked. If attacked, he would act.

I agree: that is his nature, and he has good instincts. He doesn't give a hoot in Hades for what the Democrats think, nor should he. The problem I see as a potential cause of Presidential hesitancy has nothing to do with politics, but rather with the existence or assumed existence of a violent domestic threat that we as a nation are ill-prepared to deal with.

[gotribe]

Yep. We're the blocking force to Israel's move into Syria.

[gotribe]

I believe we also have ballistic missiles in Iraq as well.

[GreyWolf]

Probably not. I think the risk of them falling into the wrong hands is too high. There might be tactical non-convential weapons there but it would be a small cache which could be loaded on a C-130 or C-17 quickly if they need to evac in a hurry.

Of course, if things continue to heat up with Iran, Iraq may play a major strategic role.

[Doc91678]

Israelis have already killed Iranian fighters in Lebanon. There is no reason to doubt it.
They are the ones operating the sagger anti-tank missiles.

Your right about the August 22 Date


Thirteen days and counting

[brazzaville]

Good evening.
"...we're unlikely to in a war against Iranian shia"

What do you base that statement on?

There is no such thing as a war that can't be won, though the winners might wonder if they had truly won when it was over. This war doesn't even pose that kind of risk.

Our war fighters in the Middle East are a professional, veteran force and they have support throughout the region.

If a conflict were to go nuclear we would have a deadly edge over the entire world. In that kind of war we would use what we have to to win. If Israel is nuked in any way, they to will do what they must as well.

Michael Frazier

[Mr. Jazzy]

"There are about 500 Minuteman silos. Add in the B-52, B-1 and B-2 bases, not to mention all the places where the "special" weapons for the tactical fighters are stored (F-15E,F-16, F/A-18), making for a lot of places that have to be taken out to seriously compromise our ability to nuke a country like Iran, and it's pretty much impossible."

I acknowledge that these systems are in place and agree that they currently pose a major threat to any who would attack the US. These systems are perfect for an enemy that fights as we do, in a traditional, symmetrical fashion.

This enemy fights in an asymmetrical fashion but has the option to change at any moment.

The problem with these systems is that the are not fully autonomous and rely on a multitude of other, perhaps more vulnerable support systems. Imagine a disaster that would strike the communications systems and shut down all the routers and interlinked networks that our land based weapons require. There is not a single wing of fighters or bombers that are on 24/7 alert, flying missions around the world, with "Special Weapons" hanging from their hard points or inside their bomb bays. The weapons are there, positioned and ready in well protected bunkers, but if the national command authority is unreachable due to system failure, those weapons will not be used. It's part of the safety system to prevent the "mad-man" scenario.

The only, untraceable, completely stealth weapons delivery system that we posses are the missile boats on patrol. They are self sustaining deterrent system that are limited only by the amount of food they carry aboard and the endurance of their crew. The boat commanders and crew are scrutinized like no other individuals that I am aware of, for both their background in sensitive matters and psych profiles. That doesn't mean you won't get traitors like the Walkers, but those people are thankfully an aberration. The command structure, meaning the officers and boat skippers, are some of the best, most stable, self sacrificing heroes you will probably never hear about. To say that almost hurts my Marine sensibilities!

The Angry Ayatollahs and Insane Imams really DO care if we retaliate. That is why the would never offer themselves or their children up as "homicide bombers". They are as bad and self serving as our own leftist elitist. They will happily sacrifice multiple millions of their muslim brothers, sisters, mothers, babies of the masses in order to exert power, both religious and political.

Of course, this is all personal perspective and opinion. Thanks for the comment. I really enjoy the discussion.

[Joan Kerrey]

I think I was responding to a comment that went something like, "we have Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq surrounding Iran" and I my comment was addressing the fact that we don't necessarily have Iraq shia in our pocket and that we can't assume Iraq's shia will be an asset in a war against Iran. That was my intention. Sorry if it was a foggy post.

[Fury]

Good discussion - and was wondering what you think of the 08/22 date being mentioned...

[Fred Hayek]

Will the UN Security Council types forbid any retaliation on the part of Israel via the US?..........


Bleep the U.N.

Send the USS New Jersey on a final sortie. Load up some 406mm from Earle, steam up the East River.
A, B, and X turrets to port...............

[Southack]

Insignificant date.

[evangmlw]

And will the result be the New World Order?

[brazzaville]

Good evening.
"Sorry if it was a foggy post."

No problema, FRiend.

I would hope that Iraqis, of whatever ilk, are not included in our battle planning for war with Iran at the moment, other than as potential threats.

I believe we are prepared, as nasty as it can potentially be. I think the post about us having Iran surrounded had to do with the strong military presence we have in the region, us, the Coalition and Israel. It sort of makes W look smart, doesn't it.

Michael Frazier

[Schwaeky]

institute an air, land and sea blockade (quarantine for those looking for a pc term to avoid an act of war) of Iran...

[Red Badger]

Is the East River deep enough to handle a battleship?.........

[af_vet_rr]

Do you think Ahmadinejad will have a problem with using a nuclear bomb on us Infidels. Especially the Infidels (Jews) occupying Muslim land. (Israel)

Ahmadinejad, for all of his rhetoric, knows he can't wield power from the grave - everybody knows Israel has subs with ballistic missiles.

He also knows that if he drags the Middle East into a nuclear war, that no matter the outcome, his power and his potential to make Iran the defacto leadership of Islam would vanish, just as millions of his followers would cease to exist.

This is not 1956, it's not 1967, it's not 1973. Israel has a means by which they can severely punish anybody if they think they are going down. They've been **** on for thousands of years. Only now, they have the means to make people pay for it.