US plans envision broad attack on Iran - analyst

Reuters (excerpt) ^ | January 19, 2007

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - U.S. contingency planning for military action against Iran's nuclear program goes beyond limited strikes and would effectively unleash a war against the country, a former U.S. intelligence analyst said on Friday.

"I've seen some of the planning ... You're not talking about a surgical strike," said Wayne White, who was a top Middle East analyst for the State Department's bureau of intelligence and research until March 2005.

"You're talking about a war against Iran" that likely would destabilize the Middle East for years, White told the Middle East Policy Council, a Washington think tank.

"We're not talking about just surgical strikes against an array of targets inside Iran. We're talking about clearing a path to the targets" by taking out much of the Iranian Air Force, Kilo submarines, anti-ship missiles that could target commerce or U.S. warships in the Gulf, and maybe even Iran's ballistic missile capability, White said.

~ snip ~

[zarf]

State Department big mouth. I'm stunned./s

[pieceofthepuzzle]

I hope all of this is understated.

[gotribe]

Second good military news since Bush took office, the first being the route of the talibanis.

[fso301]

U.S. contingency planning

I'm sure the US also has a contingency plan for invading the Bahamas.

[neodad]

The bombing begins in 5 minutes.

[Dog Gone]

What does a retired State Department guy know about Pentagon military plans?

They don't send those plans over to Foggy Bottom.

[muawiyah]

Hmm ~ State Department ~ CIA liaison ~ and just what did you think we used our embassies for anyway?

[Jumper]

Don't Ask, Don't Tell:)

[Dog Gone]

I'm confused. What does the CIA have to do with the Pentagon?

[TADSLOS]

State Department technocrat weenies. I hate 'em.

[Eccl 10:2]

"U.S. contingency planning

I'm sure the US also has a contingency plan for invading the Bahamas."

I once had a brother-in-law in Marine intel - a Turkish translator. After we invaded Grenada, I jokingly asked him if we had plans to invade anyone else, and he looked at me steely-eyed and said:

"We have plans to invade EVERYbody."

[54skylark]

I think the war has already started w/Iran via the Saudis and pumping more oil. I think they will take out the Iranians economy.

[elhombrelibre]

Well, if it's to be done, I'd I believe it must be to preclude Iran from becoming a nuclear power who will have hegemony over most of the world's oil supply, will accelerate its aggressive support for terror and likely will attempt to annihilate Israel, then it must be a war that defangs Iran so that it cannot effectively strike back and so that it cannot only be delayed in its quest for nuclear weapons. Mr. White, however, deserves the Sandy Berger Partisanship Award, which should be given to those who put loyalty to the Democratic Party above the law, the interests of the US, and honor.

[Prost1]

"I hope all of this is understated."

Beat me to it!

Let lose the "dogs of war!"

Let Amadjinkapoop and the imans see what hell looks like.

[elhombrelibre]

You're joking, right?

[elhombrelibre]

Ping

[JerseyJohn61]

Obviously, a Clinton supporter who is just looking to
injure Bush some more. Of course there are contingency
plans of all sorts. For the past few years, I been
hoping that there is a good plan for elite forces to
capture and hold Pakistani nuke sights. This in the
event of an Islamo insurrection....JJ61

[freepersup]

It's really quite simple; mess with the bull, get the horns. What's so hard to understand about that concept (speaking to anyone surprised by such a response?) Freepers being the exception, aren't surprised by such logic/tactics. Doing the work Democrats and their RINO counterparts refuse to do. George Bush (fingers crossed) will leave this legacy. Even if George Bush is deemed a total failure on the porous border/illegal alien invasion, he can redeem himself dramatically in my eyes, and others too, I'm sure, by the implementation and execution of America's right to self defense and (novel) post 9-11 strategy of right to strike first. GET SOME!

[rbookward]

"We have plans to invade EVERYbody."

And those plans need to be updated as the world situation changes, which is constantly. Why do you think they need so many people over at the Pentagon?! (The largest office building in the world!)