Well, as the pundits talk almost exclusively about the endless Primary Campaign, the Cheney Bush Administration seems determined to start it’s third war:
“…The nation’s top military officer said today that the Pentagon is planning for “potential military courses of action” against Iran, criticizing what he called the Tehran government’s “increasingly lethal and malign influence” in Iraq…”
“…Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a conflict with Iran would be “extremely stressing” but not impossible for U.S. forces, pointing specifically to reserve capabilities in the Navy and Air Force…”
There’s more…
The “reserve capabilities in the Navy & Air Force”?? Is he out of his mind? “Reserve capabilities”? Adm. Mullen & the Pentagon “pawnmeisters” have already been shuffling the military around to try to fill the ever-increasing gaps:
“…(Feb 7, 2006): WASHINGTON (CNN) — The U.S. Navy will try to lift some of the burden off U.S. Army troops in Iraq this year by increasing the number of sailors inside that country and taking on duties soldiers have been doing, according to the Navy’s top sailor…”
“…The move is designed to ease the pressure on the stressed and stretched Army in Iraq, which has soldiers doing everything from combat, medical and security duties to countless support operations…”
Though Mullen did try to soften the rhetoric a bit by adding:
“…he prefers a diplomatic solution to the tensions with Iran and does not foresee any imminent military action…”
While Mullen & Bush & Co probably believe that they have things well under control, that they can do their saber rattling and get Iran to start toeing the line-does anyone really believe that these clowns have the necessary diplomatic finesse to prevent an escalation, especially an accidental one?
In the second such incident reported since January, US Contracted Ship fires toward boats in the Gulf:
“…WASHINGTON – A cargo ship contracted by the U.S Military Sealift Command fired “a few bursts” of warning shots in the Gulf at small boats believed to be Iranian, U.S. defense officials said on Friday…”
“…Iran quickly denied the alleged confrontation…”
“…The Westward Venture, a cargo ship chartered by the U.S. Department of Defense, was traveling north in international waters in the central Gulf at around 8 a.m. local time on Thursday when the incident took place, said Commander Lydia Robertson, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet…”
“…The United States said in January Iranian boats threatened its warships on Jan. 6 along a vital route for crude oil shipments…”
Next January can’t come soon enough for me-unless the next President happens to be a 72 year old warmonger.
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US Contracted Ship Fire on Iranian Ships, or something like that. It specified Iran. Then I read the article, and in it, it said Iran denied it, and we didn’t really know for sure. It just screamed at me that “here we go again”, with media complicity. I’m glad they changed the headline.
Thanks for the full review of their plans.
are bombs and nuclear weapons.
that I still think it’s incredible that he has the balls to say of Iran:
must be made for those unaware of the significance of such a statement.
1) Military COA’s (Courses of Action) are prepared from real-time staff estimates based upon the latest data. These are briefed to commanders for a decision to act based upon predetermined criteria — whatever constraints the commander felt were important factors– and war-gamed through a seven step problem solving process.
2) Military CONPLANS on the other hand are prepared using standard configurations for units under ideal conditions. These are used to get a rough idea about what to expect.