Bush administration 'secretly plans air strikes' as it seeks regime change in Iran

thepieman · Post by **thepieman** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:42 am

I guess if this article is true its no longer a secret!

Bush administration 'secretly plans air strikes' as it seeks regime change in Iran
The Bush administration has sent undercover forces into Iran, and has stepped up secret planning for a possible major air attack on the country, according to the renowned US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh.

While publicly advocating diplomacy to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon, Hersh reports in the next issue of The New Yorker magazine that "there is a growing conviction among members of the United States military, and in the international community, that President Bush's ultimate goal in the nuclear confrontation with Iran is regime change".

One former senior intelligence official is quoted as saying that Mr Bush and others in the White House have come to view Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as a potential "Adolf Hitler". According to a senior Pentagon adviser on the "war on terror", "this White House believes that the only way to solve the problem is to change the power structure in Iran, and that means war". The danger, he adds, is that "it also reinforces the belief inside Iran that the only way to defend the country is to have a nuclear capability".

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/mid ... 356679.ece

Is this getting obvious this is some type of religious crusade or what? Operation "Divine Strike" is he kidding?

The US Defence Threat Reduction Agency told The Independent on Sunday that the test, codenamed "Divine Strake", was intended "to assess the capability of computer codes" to predict the effects of the explosion. The experiment aimed to improve "warfighters' confidence in their ability to plan to defeat hardened and deeply buried targets". It did not refer to tactical nuclear weapons like the B61.

jayyy · Post by **jayyy** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:32 am

wow, let the fun begin!!

you know whats really weird? this is supposed to be about nuclear weapons, but meanwhile bush is saying he wants to give India nuclear, which breaks international treaties, and everyone knows they have beef with pakistan and could wind up using them.

another friggin war...hope all you Bush voters are happy with the choice you made.

blebs · Post by **blebs** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:43 am

This is beyond ridiculous now. After Iran, then who? Why don't we just keep making the middle east madder?

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:15 am

hehehehe

I'm just waiting for the day the US Embassy sends out a message to all US citizens in Kuwait advising us all to make way for the Kuwaiti International Airport where there will be a fleet of 747's lined up on the tarmac.

If this happens, I will not leave.

thepieman · Post by **thepieman** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:33 am

Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote:hehehehe

I'm just waiting for the day the US Embassy sends out a message to all US citizens in Kuwait advising us all to make way for the Kuwaiti International Airport where there will be a fleet of 747's lined up on the tarmac.

If this happens, I will not leave.

Thats crazy Patrick..I can't see why you would want to stay there if its unsafe.

Jamie_R · Post by **Jamie_R** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:56 am

thepieman wrote:Thats crazy Patrick..I can't see why you would want to stay there if its unsafe.

I have to agree ... we don't want to see you on one of those videotapes bro - please take care of yourself ...

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:59 am

thepieman wrote:Thats crazy Patrick..I can't see why you would want to stay there if its unsafe.

Kuwait is very safe. It's a small majority of the people that make up Islam that are not. Probably a much smaller class than say the average Joe's in the US. I worry more about the nut cases in the US then I do about the people here. But then I do worry about the missiles Iran has in it's possession. I'm only a stones throw away per say from Iran. //looks out window and at the Persian Gulf// But don't worry, we have Agesis Class Destroyers/Cruisers patrolling the Gulf and Patriot Battery's are being setup here as I type. Let duck hunting begin.

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:55 am

I linked the New Yorker article in the other Iran thread. There's more to the story, Pie.

Copy and pasted from my other post................

Here's another link to an opinion piece......

I do find some of it, pretty disturbing.

The New Yorker
THE IRAN PLANS
Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb?
by SEYMOUR M. HERSH
Issue of 2006-04-17
Posted 2006-04-10

The first part of the article explains that the Bush admin, aren't sitting on their laurels. IMHO, the military SHOULD be ready in case they are called on. We taxpayer expect no less. No matter if it's peacetime or war.... This part I agree with I suppose.

This is what bothers me if true and from what this administration expected Iraqi citizens would do, I suppose is par for the course for these nutcases...

There is a growing conviction among members of the United States military, and in the international community, that President Bush’s ultimate goal in the nuclear confrontation with Iran is regime change. Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has challenged the reality of the Holocaust and said that Israel must be “wiped off the map.” Bush and others in the White House view him as a potential Adolf Hitler, a former senior intelligence official said. “That’s the name they’re using. They say, ‘Will Iran get a strategic weapon and threaten another world war?’ ”

A government consultant with close ties to the civilian leadership in the Pentagon said that Bush was “absolutely convinced that Iran is going to get the bomb” if it is not stopped. He said that the President believes that he must do “what no Democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do,” and “that saving Iran is going to be his legacy.”

One former defense official, who still deals with sensitive issues for the Bush Administration, told me that the military planning was premised on a belief that “a sustained bombing campaign in Iran will humiliate the religious leadership and lead the public to rise up and overthrow the government.” He added, “I was shocked when I heard it, and asked myself, ‘What are they smoking?’ ”

Dunno....a couple of years ago, I remember watching Charlie Rose who had on a couple of different programs, retired high level CIA operatives who mentioned that the Bush team kept hammering on Iran, even though Iran was at that time the most helpful in giving up information on bin Laden and Al Qeada. Both also mentioned that the overall consensus on how Iranians viewed America, was with great favor.

That was before Iraq....

Scary stuff...

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/a ... 417fa_fact

knightmare · Post by **knightmare** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:08 am

knightmare · Post by **knightmare** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:10 am

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - The chief of Russia's General Staff said Monday he could neither confirm nor deny reports that Ukraine had sold 250 nuclear warheads to Iran.

"Russia's General Staff has no information about whether Ukraine has given 250 nuclear warheads to Iran or not," General Yury Baluyevsky, also deputy defense minister, said in response to an article in Novaya Gazeta newspaper Monday. "I do not comment on unsubstantiated reports."

The newspaper said that Ukraine had failed to return 250 warheads to Russia in the 1990s when the former Soviet republic declared itself a nuclear-free zone. The paper suggested the warheads could have been sold to a third country, including Iran.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060403/45107320.html

thepieman · Post by **thepieman** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:20 am

I think this was in the plans well before Iran even had this President.

loop2kil · Post by **loop2kil** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 11:21 am

thepieman wrote:I guess if this article is true its no longer a secret!

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/mid ... 356679.ece
Is this getting obvious this is some type of religious crusade or what? Operation "Divine Strike" is he kidding?

http://www.teamliberty.net/id209.html

I've referenced this link a couple of times...came out in january and mentions our interest in Iran....spooky

jz82 · Post by **jz82** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:27 pm

Is this getting obvious this is some type of religious crusade or what? Operation "Divine Strike" is he kidding?

It's not a religious war (at least for the U.S.), but rather an economic one. Call it economic colonialism if you wish.

Of course the public needs something a little more juicy than economics to get behind a war where thousands of U.S. soldiers will be killed. We saw this in Iraq, where words like "liberation" and "freedom" were heavily used, as if it was a selfless act.

It wouldn't surprise me if the administration tracked demographics of those who continue to support the Iraq war and found religious people to be among the strongest supporters. As they're a large group, tend to be easily manipulated and fairly bloodthirsty, it wouldn't surprise me to see religious undertones in future conflicts.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:05 pm

I love our news companies.. lets just tell them when we will hit and what we will hit them with!!

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:57 pm

Sava700 wrote:I love our news companies.. lets just tell them when we will hit and what we will hit them with!!

Why? Was it a secret to begin with?

Don't blame the news companies, Blame Bush. He's already started his chest thumping and warning Iran.

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:20 pm

downhill wrote:Why? Was it a secret to begin with?

Don't blame the news companies, Blame Bush. He's already started his chest thumping and warning Iran.

If Iran goes down they will take with them another country for sure,Izrael,Kuwait? Who knows.I'm pretty sure they do have nukes already.And as for the gulf,only one ship can get through at a time they can wipe out all the ships what are there.How do i know? My co worker is from Iran like i said before and he also said once they will hit his country all the familys including his (meaning males) will go back and defend their country at all cost.He also told me there are many people in usa, and if they do attack they will bring the same thing what us government brought to them (suicide bombings and so on).Its very very sad amd scary !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

vc_wannabe · Post by **vc_wannabe** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:50 pm

War with Iran will be just like the gulf war of 91' with Iraq.

They have no choice but to back down. If they choose war it will be very costly for them.

People tend to forget we are not setup cold war style anymore, our millitary is designed to fight in mulitple major theaters of war at the same time.

thepieman · Post by **thepieman** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:20 pm

vc_wannabe wrote:War with Iran will be just like the gulf war of 91' with Iraq.

They have no choice but to back down. If they choose war it will be very costly for them.

People tend to forget we are not setup cold war style anymore, our millitary is designed to fight in mulitple major theaters of war at the same time.

I dunno VC I don't think it will be as easy and economically it will hurt us if the Straits of Hormuz are in any way impeded. I dont know if you have seen the terrain of Iran but its not flatlands as Iraq is. Lots of green mountainous areas. I also don't think they have been sitting on their butts this whole time that Iraq has been attacked. I would think they have been preparing for what they knew was going to come.

Loonatic · Post by **Loonatic** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:24 am

Sorry, we arent going to war.

We're sending in Dick Cheney and Chuck Norris. Trust me, it will be over before you can say Walker, Texas Ranger

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:27 am

Loonatic wrote:Sorry, we arent going to war.

We're sending in Dick Cheney and Chuck Norris. Trust me, it will be over before you can say Walker, Texas Ranger

Cheney? He's a poor shot.....

Roody · Post by **Roody** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:11 am

I seriously doubt any person who voted for Bush in either election and in 2000 I was one of them did so realizing that the President was going to pull this kind of crap.

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:34 pm

I think peeps knew he was a fundamentalist - was part of his 'moral clarity' appeal. Downside is he can never back down or he loses that appeal.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:45 pm

Roody wrote:I seriously doubt any person who voted for Bush in either election and in 2000 I was one of them did so realizing that the President was going to pull this kind of crap.

What crap? You mean trying to hang onto our own country just a little longer

There are things coming soon that scare me a heck of a lot more!

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:31 pm

bigmo66 wrote:What crap? You mean trying to hang onto our own country just a little longer

I think nuking Iran would work counter to 'holding onto our country just a little longer'

thepieman · Post by **thepieman** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:46 pm

bigmo66 wrote:What crap? You mean trying to hang onto our own country just a little longer

There are things coming soon that scare me a heck of a lot more!

Are you implying that someone is going to try to take this country away? That Bush is saving us from them? If anything, by attacking another country for the wrong reasons YES he is going to be attracting people that will try to take this country. 100%

Don't know if you heard yet, but London bombings....NOT AL QUEDA, they were Independently driven individuals.

Don't believe the hype.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:52 pm

"I'm" not implying anything and NO, I don't believe Bush is or will save us from our enemies. I do believe however that this nation is crumbling and no government is going to save it.

jayyy · Post by **jayyy** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:59 pm

Loonatic wrote:Sorry, we arent going to war.

We're sending in Dick Cheney and Chuck Norris. Trust me, it will be over before you can say Walker, Texas Ranger

yeah, but you said the same type of thing before this war in Iraq...and look how that turned out.

anyone who thinks chucking a nuclear bomb on Iraq is the answer to solving this dispute is crazy. The US will lose all remaining respect from the rest of the world, pretty much forever.

Iran actually DOES want to negotiate. they really DO want a nuclear power plant, and theyre pissed that the US is trying to tell them what they can and cant have.

then Bush turns around and gives nuclear tech to India..its a ridiculous double-standard.

This diplomatic dispute is NOT unresolveable. But bush's solution...chuck a nuclear bomb on them?

that breaks a fifty year tabboo. Itll change the world forever, and you're crazy if you think itll be for the better.

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:05 pm

I hope we nuke Iran to ashes.

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:06 pm

bigmo66 wrote:What crap? You mean trying to hang onto our own country just a little longer

There are things coming soon that scare me a heck of a lot more!

Exactly

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:06 pm

Brent wrote:I hope we nuke Iran to ashes.

Turn that cross around..

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:12 pm

Someone tries to kill me I'll kill em right back.

We need to take out Iran and then N. Korea, do it now before some pansy liberal president is voted in next.

Prey521 · Post by **Prey521** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:15 pm

Brent wrote:Someone tries to kill me I'll kill em right back.

We need to take out Iran and then N. Korea, do it now before some pansy liberal president is voted in next.

You kill me dude!

jayyy · Post by **jayyy** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:19 pm

Brent, they're not trying to kill you. Its an arab country that wants a nuclear power plant.

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:21 pm

Brent wrote:Someone tries to kill me I'll kill em right back.

We need to take out Iran and then N. Korea, do it now before some pansy liberal president is voted in next.

Uh huh....so when you joining up?

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:26 pm

For the record, Bush stated today, that it's all talk about planning a military attack on Iran. Don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger.

That said............Bush has bigger problems. It seems that he and Cheney might both be implicated in outing Plame. Even if not, he's possibly looking at charges for obstruction.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:36 pm

George Orwell

War is peace
Freedom is slavery
Ignorance is strength

thepieman · Post by **thepieman** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:47 am

bigmo66 wrote:"I'm" not implying anything and NO, I don't believe Bush is or will save us from our enemies. I do believe however that this nation is crumbling and no government is going to save it.

Why should any government try to save us when you have idiots here in the US screaming to nuke Iran to ashes? Whats to keep them from thinking maybe they could be next? I wouldn't help save a country 1/3 full of retards either. I say we take the 1/3 and pepper them from about 25000 feet over Iran instead as a show of good faith and diplomacy.

jayyy · Post by **jayyy** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:52 am

bigmo66 wrote:"I'm" not implying anything and NO, I don't believe Bush is or will save us from our enemies. I do believe however that this nation is crumbling and no government is going to save it.

So lets get this straight...no government can save the USA at this point, Bush can't do anything to save you...

So your answer is to let him nuke Iran? What do you want to do, take as many people with you as you can?

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 1:15 am

Iran must be taken out, sooner rather than later.

David · Post by **David** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:00 am

bigmo66 wrote:"I'm" not implying anything and NO, I don't believe Bush is or will save us from our enemies. I do believe however that this nation is crumbling and no government is going to save it.

I agree to an extent. Regardless who is elected, they will be complicit with said downfall. It becomes a matter of choosing your poison. I sense we are wobbling like a whipped wrestler, awaiting an economic, environmental or social body slam.