I would guess that the escalation gamed is what posted earlier. That is Iran would us the 12 divisions closly positioned to the border take advantage of the 1) lack of an Iraqi army, 2) Widely dispursed coalition forces and 3) Iranian special force 'plants' in southern Iraq and attack into S. Iraq to gain control over Iraqi ports and oil facilities, effectively cutting off the supply lines to US and coalition forces. Southern Iraq was where the 1980 war raged since that is where there is a commonality in that both are Shiites and the Iranians had some common support from Iraqi Shiites. Probably to take it one further, Iranian naval forces would likely seize upon the opportunity to try to shut off the Persian Gulf oil tanker traffic and try to prevent US Naval forces from regaining control of the Gulf, denying the abilty to ramp up for a counter attack. Russia doesn't even need to play in this one.
You certainly know your stuff!
There is an interesting analysis over at Mutter's which includes- Pakistan entering into the conflict, and pro OBL forces (ISI) taking control of the Paki nukes.
Here's an article from the "Final Phase". Once again Iran appears to be blatantly advertising its nuclear intentions.
(IRAN-NUKES)
www.channelnewsasia.com/s...88/1/.html
VIENNA : Iran has begun converting a large amount of uranium mineral into the feedstock for enriching uranium -- a necessary stage in the nuclear fuel cycle -- a senior Iranian official told reporters.
"Some of the amount of 37 tons has been used. Tests have been successful," Iranian atomic energy chief Reza Aghazadeh said Tuesday.
He was referring to 37 tons of uranium yellowcake which Iran had previously said it would be converting into the uranium gas that is fed into centrifuges to make enriched uranium.
The UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called on Iran to suspend all parts of the nuclear fuel cycle, including conversion activities.
But Aghazadeh, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an IAEA general conference, said Iran did not recognize the validity of this IAEA demand, since uranium enrichment is allowed under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), whose safeguard rules the IAEA monitors.
Date in History for 9/27
On this day...
1290 Earthquake in Gulf of Chili China, reportedly kills 100,000
1540 Society of Jesus (Jesuits) founded by Ignatius Loyola
1777 Battle of Germantown; Washington defeated by the British
1779 John Adams negotiates Revolutionary War peace terms with Britain
Religious History
1540 Through the encyclical "Regimini militantis ecclesiae," Pope Paul III officially approved the Society of Jesus, a body of priests organized by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534 for missionary work. Today, the Jesuits constitute the largest Catholic teaching order in the United States.
1735 Birth of Robert Robinson, English clergyman and author of the hymn, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing." He was converted at age 20 under the preaching of revivalist George Whitefield.
1785 The Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S. was founded on this date, following the American Revolutionary War, when U.S. Anglicans met in Philadelphia to create a denomination independent from and autonomous of the Church of England.
1947 The Church of South India was officially formed by the merger of three denominations: the Anglicans, the Methodists and the South India United Church (a Presbyterian and Congregational union). Historically, it was the first union ever between episcopal and non-episcopal bodies.
1957 The dramatic anthology series "Crossroads" aired for the last time over ABC television. Depicting the work of various clergymen, the series had premiered in October 1955.
1601 Louis XIII king of France (1610-43)
1657 Sophia regent of Russia (1682-89)
1722 Samuel Adams revolutionary rabble rouser/(Lt Gov-Mass, 1789-94)
1772 S
ndor Kisfaludy Hungary, poet/Austrian army (1793-1801)
1783 Agust¡n I de Iturbide emperor of Mexico (1822-23)
1792 George Cruikshank England, illustrator for Charles Dickens
1817 Hiram R Revels Fayetteville NC, 1st black US senator
1840 Alfred Thayer Mahan US, naval officer (Influence of Sea Power)
1840 Thomas Nast political cartoonist of late 1800s America
1858 Giuseppe Peano Italian mathematician, founder of symbolic logic
1875 Grazia Deledda Italy, novelist (Old Man of the Mtn-Nobel 1926)
1880 Jacques Thibaud Bordeaux France, violinist (Caf Rogue)
1881 William Clothier 1st pres of tennis hall of fame
1895 George Raft NYC, actor (Each Dawn I Die, Scarface, Some Like It Hot)
1896 George Bender Cleveland, (Rep/Sen-R-Oh)
1896 Sam Ervin (D-Sen-NC), Watergate committee chairman
19-- Gail Edwards Coral Gables Fla, actress (Dot-It's a Living)
19-- John Shearin Charlotte NC, actor (Hunter, Flamingo Road)
19-- Peter Simon actor (Ed-Guiding Light)
1905 Ernest Baier Germany, figure skater (Olympic-gold-1936)
1917 Louis Auchincloss Lawrence NY, lawyer/novelist (Watchfires)
1918 Jame McCallion Glasgow Scotland, actor (Mi Taylor-National Velvet)
1918 Sir Martin Ryle Britain, radio astronomer, astronomer royal 1972-82
1919 Charles H Percy (Sen-R-Ill)
1920 William Conrad Louisville Ky, actor (Bullwinkle Show, Cannon)
1921 Mil¢s Jancs¢ V c Hungary, director (My Way Home)
1922 Arthur Penn Phila, director (Miracle Worker, Bonnie & Clyde)
1923 Mary McCarty Winfield Ks, actress/singer (Starch-Tra[pper John MD)
1926 Jayne Meadows Wu Chang China, Mrs Steve Allen, actr (Dark Delusion)
1929 Sada Thompson Des Moines Ia, actress (Family, Pursuit of Happiness)
1930 Igor Kipnis Berlin Germany, harpsichordist/professor (Fairfield)
1933 Kathleen Nolan St Louis Mo, actress (Real McCoys, Janie, Broadside)
1934 Barbara Howar Nashville, reporter (Wash Post, Entertainment Tonight)
1934 Claude Jarman Jr Nashville Tn, actor (Rio Grande, Inside Straight)
1934 Dick Schaap sportscaster/author (Joe Namath's co-writer)
1934 Greg Morris Cleveland Ohio, actor (Mission Impossible, Vega$)
1934 Wilford Brimley Salt Lake City Utah, actor (Gus-Our House, Cocoon)
1935 Jerome Shipp US, basketball (Olympic-gold-1964)
1939 Kathy Whitworth golfer (AP Woman Athlete of the Year-1966)
1941 Don Cornelius TV show host (Soul Train)
1943 Randy Bachman Winnipeg, rocker (Bachman-Turner Overdrive-Roll On)
1945 Misha Dichter Shanghai China, pianist (Tchaikowsy 2nd prize-1966)
1947 A Martinez Glendale Calif, actor (Whiz Kids, Cruz-Santa Barbara)
1947 Cheryl Tiegs Minnesota, model's figure
1947 Liz Torres Bronx NY, actress (Phyllis, All in the Family)
1947 Meatloaf aka Marvin Lee Aday, Dallas, rocker (Bat Out of Hell)
1949 Mike Schmidt 3rd baseman & HR hitter (Phillies)
1949 Robb Weller TV host (Entertainment Tonight, Home Show)
1952 Del Russel Pasadena Calif, actor (Richard-Arnie)
1952 Dumitru Prunariu 1st Romanian space traveler (on board Soyuz 40)
1958 Shaun Cassidy LA Calif, actor/singer (Hardy Boys, Breaking Away)
1959 Beth Heiden Madison Wisc, 3000m speed skater (Olympic-bronze-1980)
1963 Caren Metschuck German DR, 100m butterfly swimmer (Olympic-gold-1980)
1970 Mark Caldero vocalist (Color Me Badd-I Want to Sex You Up)