"Hostile" Iran Sparks U.S. Attack Plan

CBS news ^ | April 29, 2008

[Perdogg]

A second American aircraft carrier steamed into the Persian Gulf Tuesday as the Pentagon ordered military commanders to develop new options for attacking Iran. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports that the planning is being driven by what one officer called the "increasingly hostile role" Iran is playing in Iraq - smuggling weapons into Iraq for use against American troops.

[FreeAtlanta]

We - the people of America - have been dumbed down by endless Democrat rants and ministers like Barak's. In the 50's war would be on.

That said, can you imagine what we would do if Mexico was sending invaders over our borders with weapons and toxic chemicals? Oh, well.

[El Gato]

They should park that aircraft carrier right where Brit sailors were captured. Let’s see what they are made of.

You and the Commander of the task force would have to be insane to send an aircraft carrier that close in to Angry Ayatollahs with shore to ship missiles.

Maybe send in a Destroyer or Frigate as "bait". Or something faster, like Pegasus class hydrofoil. If we hadn't cut those due to Navy budget cuts by BJ, "Slick Willy" Clinton. They made there final fligh" from Florida to Virginia in 1993, as a group. That was during the reign of the husband of Her Thighness.

They were armed with 76 mm naval guns and Harpoon Missiles, as well as

[o_zarkman44]

not fun. But we may have to bite the bullet. Iran cannot possess nukes in any way, shape or form.

Oil will take a hit no doubt. But a knock down of Iran should allow markets to stabilize since the fear factor is part of the high prices we pay for oil now.

Not drilling for oil domestically is a very costly miscalculation of national security.

[b4its2late]

‘Bout time.

[b4its2late]

Not drilling for oil domestically is a very costly miscalculation of national security.

Yep. If we started in Anwar back in 94 when it was proposed, we'd be well into the oil flowing from there. Damn democrats.

[Argus]

Not drilling for oil domestically is a very costly miscalculation of national security.

Deliberate policy of Dem and some Republican politicians who count on Saudi money to "fund" their "charitable foundations" after they leave office.

[jwparkerjr]

I learned years ago that if something unpleasant is going to happen then you’re better off to be the one that initiates the action while you can still do it on your timetable and your terms. When one side in a dispute, in this case Iran, is bound and determined to cause trouble there is nothing to be gained by delay in dealing with them. Every day you put off the inevitable is one more day your opponent has to prepare for whatever they plan.

Everything you outline is indeed the way it will most likely go. But the alternative is to put off the day of reckoning until you no longer have as much control over the outcome. We will be in no better position to weather a major disruption in our energy supplies a year or two down the road than we are right now. In fact, with the way the demand for oil is growing it would probably be in our best interest to bring this thing to a head while we still have considerable resources to bring to bear.

If we think it’s tough to deal with them now, just wait until they have a nuclear capability, or even claim they do, and oil is not available at any price.

It’s human nature to put off the unpleasant as long as possible. Not because you have any reason to believe the situation will improve with time, but simply to delay the inevitable.

We need to do something about Iran and we need to do it as soon as possible. There is nothing to be gained from delay. I would think that as the greatest nation in history we could figure out a way to bring about a regime change in that country short of the way we did it in Iraq. It’s like everyone who has anything to do with solving the problem that is Iran is asleep at the wheel.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Someone call for a Carrier Battle Group?

[mamelukesabre]

What you are talking about is a possible world wide depression. NO jobs. Mass starvation in third world countries. Civil wars. Warlords and rape gangs. Martial law and rationing in developed countries and rioting in the inner cities. Enemies of america will see this as their chance to attack while america is spread thin across the mid-east. If we go into iran, we will probably soon be required to go into syria, lebanon, and pakistan as well. There could be a draft. War protesters will have a field day...they'll be so busy they won't have time to sleep. US currency could fail. Alot of unhappy people over economic troubles, job losses, mortgage foreclosures...blame america time in overdrive. Muslim uprisings in europe will hit hyperdrive.

China and russia will be beyond boiling mad and looking for a way to punish america. They might send military aid to our enemies.

[pgkdan]

I know there are covert things we do, but man this is insane. How many more of our heroes die because we are worried what the world think?

It's not about what the world thinks. It's about the Straits of Hormuz being shut down and 30-40% of the worlds oil not making it to market and the global economic disaster that would result. It's about a nuclear response against Israel, the Gulf states, or European states. It's about 10's of thousands of Iranian terror agents being loosed on the world.

I'm not suggesting that we should stand by and let Iran continue on it's path but we really have to be smart about this or the world is going to be a very ugly and uncomfortable place for a long time.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Or the longer we put it off, the worse it will be.

Generally that is the case on such things.

[panaxanax]

You both make very good points (and scary). My question is do you think McCain could handle such a situation if it does happen?

[Stentor]

What you are talking about is a possible world wide depression. NO jobs. Mass starvation in third world countries. Civil wars. Warlords and rape gangs.

I try not to eat cheese before bedtime.

[enduserindy]

“we’ve done this before, sending a carrier to the Gulf. I know it sends a message, is that message getting diminished because it is now seen as a bluff.”

That is why we know its going there isn’t a bluff. Bush wants to do it more than we do be sure of that. We have to believe he will do what’s necessary for world stability. Notice how quiet the Russians have been on the subject lately. Guess why, I bet because they get to rebuild Iran and will get paid with Iranian cash to do it. I wouldn’t be surprised if they get something else too, say Kosovo or missile defense?

[mamelukesabre]

Mccain was born for it.

The risk is not will Mccain crack, it’s that he is too tough for the average american to comprehend or to put up with. He will lack sympathy for the whiners. He won’t even know how to FAKE sympathy to the whiners. He’ll lose his temper and insult them. I’d be more worried that he will be impeached or assassinated instead of cracking under pressure...or have a heart attack in one of his fits.

THis is all just a hunch. I don’t really know anything.

[joseph20]

"If I had more faith in Bush I would guess that it is a deliberate policy to lull the Iranians and that when the attack does come at the top of a massive visible buildup, it will be a surprise."

No, actually I think this is probably a component of the strategy. Despite the fact that we have an awesome array of firepower parked next to them, if we hit Iran they will be surprised.

And, if we hit Iran, it should be with such force that nobody can possibly question the resulting power situation in the area.

[counterpunch]

We will attack Iran after the Iraqi elections on October 1st and before the presidential election on November 4th.

[maquiladora]

The fact that the carrier overlap is only going to last for the next 2 days seems to have been missed by the media.

[flaglady47]

“We will attack Iran after the Iraqi elections on October 1st and before the presidential election on November 4th.”

No, after the November elections, not before. Bush wouldn’t want to jeopardize McCain’s getting elected. It will be between November and January when Bush leaves office, if he does it at all.

[Thrownatbirth]

Maybe send in a Destroyer or Frigate as "bait".

That was always a fun ECM watch. My hair should be perfectly white like Andy Warhol's.