Informationclearinghouse just republished three articles about the US preparations for the upcoming war on Iran:
US Special Forces Pave the Way for a Military Strike on Iran
By Giles Whittell and Michael Evans
Such plans “are always going to be under serious consideration,” Anthony Cordesman, of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said, “because you are dealing with a serious threat”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25543.htm
http://www.
General Petraeus’s Secret Ops
By Robert Dreyfuss
If President Obama knew about this, authorized it and still supports it, then Obama has crossed a red line, and the president will stand revealed as an aggressive, militaristic liberal interventionist who bears a closer resemblance to the president he succeeded than to the ephemeral reformer that he pretended to be in 2008, when he ran for office.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25544.htm
http://www.
Iran, Brazil, Turkey and the Ghost of Lord Palmerston
By Conn Hallinan
If the U.S. thinks the Russians are going to have a falling out with the Turks over the Iran sanctions, then delusion is the order of the day in Washington.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25545.htm
http://www.
Saker,
I know a few years ago you wrote up a great assessment of what a US war with Iran would look like.
It would be great if you could someday, when you have extra time. Plan out a US attack as if you were the US commander and an Iranian defense as if you were the IRGC/Military chief.
Its a lot to ask and if you have other pressing matters, we totally understand. But if you can do it it would be great. Because it seems the US will be steered to war, even if it doesn’t want to fight.
@Lysander: the piece you are referring to is here:
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2007/07/irans-asymmetrical-response-options.html
Granted, this was written almost three years ago so it has some dated aspects. Still, I think that the basic rationale is still sound. The main change since 2007 is the political situation in Iraq in which the Shia have gained MORE power. And Muqtada al-Sadr went to Qom to study theology. In Afghanistan, the Taliban are also far more powerful than they were in 2007. Of course, the Taliban and Iran hate each other just as much as they did in 2007, but the Taliban would probably not miss the opportunity to strike at US/NATO forces if Iran was attacked.
Hezbollah is also stonger and has probably learned lessons from the “Divine Victory” war in how to better prevent the Israelis from getting to their longer ranged missiles.
The big difference is in Israel. In 2007 Israel still attempted to present a semi-civilized face to the rest of mankind but that is now long gone. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that as soon as Iran is attacked the IDF will strike out at Gaza and the West Bank and engage in mass-murder in a desperate attempt to crush the Palestinians once and for all. And will all the corporate media busy with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, the level of atrocities will far exceed what the world witnessed in Gaza.
As for the situation in the USA, it got even worse than in 2007. The Congress and the corporate media are now 100% under Zionist control and they will act as a block to totally support Israel both for an attack on Iran and a bloodbath in Palestine. You can expect every single major US politician with the exception of Kucinich, Paul, Nader and a few others standing up and saluting the flag (both the US and Israeli – they stand for the same class of people).
Lastly, I consider that the rish of a nuclear attack by Israel is far higher than it was in 2007. The shameful debacle in Lebanon has not been in any way obscured by the bloody massacre in Gaza and the Israelis know that their deterrent credibility is in shambles. In their crazed and racist minds, using a nuke on Iran might well appear as a good way to restoring Israel’s deterrent capability. The minor fact that threatening Shias with death is inherently idiotic will not prevent them from trying it.
That’s about it. As for the details, they really depend on the scenario chosen by the US and Israeli planners.
And with serious tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the collapsing world econonmy I say that 2010 might well be one hell of a nasty year.
That’s sort of my general feeling. Now if you have a more precise question, I can give it a try and see if I can answer it with more details, ok?
Thanks, Saker. I think that covers it. I’ll review your 2007 essay and maybe think of more questions.
Since you mentioned North Korea, do you have any thoughts on the Cheonan incident? Could it be a false flag, or maybe the ship strayed too close to a vital NoKo installation?
While I always am cautious about the war mongers, my impression is that the US wants no part of a war with North Korea and will bend over backwards to avoid one.
@Lysander: do you have any thoughts on the Cheonan incident? Could it be a false flag
You know, the thought did cross my mind because I really don’t understand what the DPRK would decide to sink a ROK ship and then deny it. But then, I am not a Korea specialist and I have no basis to dismiss the widely held view that the DPRK leadership are basically lunatics. There is so many indirect signs of the complete insanity of the North Koreans that I cannot simply dismiss it all.
A false flag op? But who would benefit from it? I don’t see what the ROK or the USA would get from this. The same goes for all the other nations I can think of.
No, I really don’t get this thing at all.
Recently, I saw this:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25549.htm
Not much, but I cannot do better.
Any other ideas? Sources? Pointers?
Alan Hart, a retired BBC correspondent and outspoken critic of Israel and American foreign policy thinks there will be a war – a big one at that – and that Israel will push for a final ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. You can hear his interview on Truth Jihad radio by clicking below:
Everything you know about Israel is probably wrong
May 25, 2010
Kevin Barrett speaks with Alan Hart, the author of the brand new book Zionism: The Real Enemy of the Jews, Vol. 3: Conflict without End? Alan Hart has been engaged with events in the Middle East and their global consequences and terrifying implications – the possibility of a Clash of Civilisations, Judeo-Christian v Islamic, and, along the way, another great turning against the Jews – for nearly 40 years.
@Nationalist: thanks a lot for this link. I never heard about Truth Jihad radio or Kevin Barrett and I will listen to this (and the other) interviews with great interest!
The Saker