We could commandeer and park about 75 cruiseliners here for some R&R? :)
Posted on 04/27/2008 9:26:56 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
America's top military officer has ratcheted up the pressure on Iran by issuing an unusual public warning that the Pentagon is planning for “potential military courses of action”.
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, blamed the Iranian government and Quds force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard for its “increasingly lethal and malign influence” in Iraq. He said conflict with Iran would be “extremely stressing” for America’s overstretched forces, but added: “It would be a mistake to think that we are out of combat capability.”
Mullen said he was increasingly concerned about Iran’s growing involvement in supplying munitions and training to rebel Shi’ite militias and “killing American and coalition soldiers in Iraq”.
Speaking at a Pentagon news conference late on Friday, he said recent operations in the southern port city of Basra had revealed “just how much and how far Iran is reaching into Iraq to foment instability”. A Pentagon source said the admiral’s frankness was “extremely significant” and could pave the way for some form of attack on Iran. However, Mullen said: “The solution right now still lies in using other levers of national power, including diplomatic, financial and international pressure.”
Mullen’s tough rhetoric came shortly after General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq responsible for the troop surge, briefed Congress about the “nefarious activities” of the Quds force in stirring violence in Iraq. There were a total of 923 civilian deaths in Iraq last month, the highest number since August 2007.
“We should all watch Iranian actions closely in the weeks and months ahead, as they will show the kind of relationship that Iran wishes to have with its neighbour,” Petraeus said.
Petraeus was nominated last week to take over as commander of all US forces in the Middle East from Admiral William Fallon, who resigned in March after becoming an outspoken critic of American policy towards Iran.
Petraeus has been asked to prepare a briefing on the extent of Iranian involvement in Iraq. It will include the recovery of weapons with date stamps showing that they were recently manufactured in Iran.
American officers claim that Iran is responsible for new, highly dangerous roadside bombs in Iraq and accuse Iranian-trained militants of responsibility for the deadliest rocket and mortar attacks on Baghdad’s green zone.
“The question is not if Iran is unhelpful in Iraq,” said Philip Crowley, a retired air force colonel and defence expert at the Center for American Progress in Washington. “The question is what to do about it.” Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, said last Monday that Iran is “hell-bent on acquiring nuclear weapons”. He added that war would be “disastrous” but the military option must remain on the table. However, a senior defence source said the administration regarded Iran’s nuclear programme and its interference in Iraq as separate problems, requiring different tactics and solutions.
Moqtada al-Sadr, the Iranian-backed radical Shi’ite cleric, called on his followers at Friday prayers to stop fighting Iraqi troops and unite against “the occupiers” – US troops.
I feel that at least 70% of our Iraq forces should be on extended R&R before we engage Iran.
Report: Hezbollah man says new attack on Israel is question of 'when, not if'
blah, blah, blah, Iran, blah blah blah blah.
From one of the greatest movies ever.
Clear Iranian role in Baghdad violence: military
Thanks. I just read it. Of course, we've known for years that Iran has been behind the Mehdi Army's various uprisings against the coalition and the Iraqi government.
They appear to be getting bolder about it and our lack of action may be the catalyst.
I'd love to send 15+ MOPs and daisies to Iranian targets YESTERDAY if our guys could get lifted off to, say, Kuwait or Quatar or Dubai right before we did it.
What are your thoughts?
Absolutely. We must be prepared for that with the proper anti-missile batteries. I've thought all along that Iraq would become more dangerous at least initally, in a conflict with Iran. Just like when Saddam launched all of those missiles at Kuwait when we invaded Iraq in '03.
I'd love to send 15+ MOPs and daisies to Iranian targets YESTERDAY if our guys could get lifted off to, say, Kuwait or Quatar or Dubai right before we did it.
I'm afraid all of those locations are in range. Dubai is just below Iran's southern coast and Kuwait and Qatar are also in reach from the center and south.
That being said, and coupled with the fact that I'll be returning to Iraq in a couple of months, I still support striking Iran.
Enough is enough and it appears to be the only thing the mullahs and that nutjob will understand.
Enough talk. Nuke the terrorist savages and be done with it.
We could commandeer and park about 75 cruiseliners here for some R&R? :)
Diego Garcia?
Heck, yeah...just make sure I'm on one of those cruiseliners. ;-)
Do we have a few of these left flying around anywhere?
Looks good to me!
Not a wise idea unless you want to wipe out New York City.
MOPs and daisies? Military ordnance? Got pictures?
You were going to post your odds on a strike?
> 
Pretty mops and daisies!
Oh,...nice pictures...will check back in the morning...shutting down here ...nite!
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