Letters to the Editor
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@ casual observer, war in iran
Here is what I think it going on. A big fight. And I don't mean in Iraq.
Hersh was absolutely correct on the evidence. At one point America had half, half, its navy in the Persian Gulf! Then there was the steady drumbeat of rather clumsy propaganda about EFP's, some of it denied by General Pace even at the time.
Then we heard from Adm. Fallon who said, "not on my watch". I have observed that senior serving officers rarely take the time to deny things that aren't on the table. (Fallon now denies saying this now) I think Fallon took the wind from their sails. For a time.
Since then it's been a pretty steady rain, of Iran this, Iran that. Then came the NIE that said there was no program. It was a huge message to Bush from saner elements in the intelligence community and the Pentagon. Unfortunately, Bush and Chtheny simply routed around the damage, saying that they did not believe it and started bloviating about "capacity". The Israelis of course chimed in with what they said was their own assessment -- that in fact there was a program.
And so it goes. It's clear to me that there are elements who wish to attack (for whatever reason - pick your theory) and those who don't. For a while, the "holy shit and attack on Iran is freaking nuts" crowd had the upper hand and perhaps still do. However the intent of the PNAC crowd has not changed one iota. America must control the middle east. They must. Iran is in the way. Iran must be destroyed.
As for the US lacking the military capability, the Air Force and the Navy are essentially unaffected by Iraq, and their capacity to destroy is undiminished.
See CONPLAN 8022, http://tinyurl.com/d3k8s
America now has detailed operational plans to destroy upwards of 10,000 targets - from the air, anywhere in the world, in just a few hours. It is also worth noting that the Bush administration has reclassified nuclear weapons so that theatre commanders may use them at their discretion. That fact alone is utterly terrifying.
I think that they want to take one last roll of the dice. Dubya or nothing! A war in Iran has many advantages, the most notable being Obama swept away in the tide of fear and loathing that will ensue. And if nukes are used, the hope is that the ultimate "shock and awe" will finally break the will of the Muslim "enemy". It won't, but that is how these stupid vicious monkeys think.