Posted on 08/18/2004 12:42:01 PM PDT by HAL9000
Iran Warns Of Preemptive Strike To Prevent Attack On Nuclear Sites
DOHA, Aug 18 (AFP) - Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani warned Wednesday that Iran might launch a preemptive strike against US forces in the region to prevent an attack on its nuclear facilities.
"We will not sit (with arms folded) to wait for what others will do to us. Some military commanders in Iran are convinced that preventive operations which the Americans talk about are not their monopoly," Shamkhani told Al-Jazeera TV when asked if Iran would respond to an American attack on its nuclear facilities.
"America is not the only one present in the region. We are also present, from Khost to Kandahar in Afghanistan; we are present in the Gulf and we can be present in Iraq," said Shamkhani, speaking in Farsi to the Arabic-language news channel through an interpreter.
"The US military presence (in Iraq) will not become an element of strength (for Washington) at our expense. The opposite is true, because their forces would turn into a hostage" in Iranian hands in the event of an attack, he said.
Shamkhani, who was asked about the possibility of an American or Israeli strike against Iran`s atomic power plant in Bushehr, added: "We will consider any strike against our nuclear installations as an attack on Iran as a whole, and we will retaliate with all our strength.
"Where Israel is concerned, we have no doubt that it is an evil entity, and it will not be able to launch any military operation without an American green light. You cannot separate the two."
A commander of Iran`s elite Revolutionary Guards was quoted in the Iranian press earlier Wednesday as saying that Tehran would strike the Israeli reactor at Dimona if Israel attacks the Islamic republic`s own burgeoning nuclear facilities.
"If Israel fires one missile at Bushehr atomic power plant, it should permanently forget about Dimona nuclear center, where it produces and keeps its nuclear weapons, and Israel would be responsible for the terrifying consequence of this move," General Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr warned.
Iran`s controversial bid to generate nuclear power at its plant being built at Bushehr is seen by arch-enemies Israel and the United States as a cover for nuclear weapons development.
The latest comments mark an escalation in an exchange of threats between Israel and Iran in recent weeks, leading to speculation that there may be a repeat of Israel`s strike against Iraqi nuclear facilities at Osirak in 1981.
Iran insists that its nuclear intentions are peaceful, while pointing at its enemy`s alleged nuclear arsenal, which Israel neither confirms nor denies possessing.
Dimona, in the Negev desert, is allegedly where Israel produces weapons-grade plutonium for its estimated 200 nuclear warheads.
I think the CIA and MI5 need to get together and have an "accident" happen --one that will cause the Iran bomb factory to blow up big time. Too bad, the Iranians were not following safety protocals, the core just melted down. So sorry? We could send them aid to clean up the mess. No fuss, no muss. OR We could have some "Crazy" American pilot, one dying of cancer maybe, take off and on his own crash his F-18 into the Bomb factory. Pilot dead--a single mad man. So sorry. (we could use a remote controled jet to do the deed). Maybe an accidental launch of a rocket. So sorry.
The President should give them an ultimatum --Get rid of the Bomb making plant in 48 hours or the threats and actions in Iraq will be considered an act of war. The bombings and invasion will start on the 52nd hour. See that that will do to the "Arab Street".
I think they will be, having obtained a little wisdom during the Cuban Crisis. They are not suicidal and will make certain that the U.S. knows absolutely they will not be complicit in any Iranian action. Russia knows our strength and resolve on the nuclear battlefield -- something they would be well-advised to impart to the Iranians.
Apparently not. But I was referring to the timing of the joint defense agreement between Russia and Iran. Right after 9-11.
Stop hyperventilating. The mullahs are not omnicient. Neither is the Iranian military. A 'pre-emtive' strike by Iran would be what? Some rockets of dubious reliability? The much vaunted rising of the Shia? WMD?
The mullahs are making a public statement to try and shape a US response that is more to their liking than what they are recieving through the chain-jerking their boy Moqtada is getting. The Iraqi Shia have already thrown in their lot with us.
In essence, the mullahs are threatening to make more trouble in A'stan and Iraq if we keep to our hardline concerning their nuclear plans.
Can they back up their threat? Yes, somewhat. Will it bring down a rain of hellfire on their heads? Yes, somewhat.
The mullahs are in no position to take on the US militarily. They are just playing politics. Just like the RATS.
When you hear the news that a few more carrier groups are heading to the gulf then you can figure game's on.
How could they accomplish that?
I think the threat of pre-emption WAS an act of war. Pins and needles time for Iran. What an absolutely stoopid thing for them to say.
Using nukes on religious fanatics has one great virtue--it provides mass mental health care that often disabuses them of their fanaticism. In WWII the Japs were prepared to fight to the bitter end and beyond until the shock therapy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused them to rethink their basic concepts of nationhood.
Methinks it is coming to be time to do this to the Mohamedians. After a few appropriate places are turned into glass they might realize they're worshiping a false god or, at least, go back into their filth smeared hovels for the next few hundred years.
It's my understanding that they have rebuilt their bunkers too far under ground for us to be able to penetrate them.
More evidence of superficial understanding. What bunkers? Storage of nuclear weapons? Research and development? Command and control? In all those cases, severing the access to ventilation, communication and access renders them useless. How long do you think they could function deaf, dumb, blind and hungry?
Using their nuclear arsenal.
Yes, no way they match up with us. A-10's vs T-70 tanks... lol
The regular revolutionary guard doesn't have many openings.
""Russia and Iran in practice, and not in words, are fighting this plague of the century (terrorism)," Ivanov said."
Iran is fighting terrorism...
...it's just that they are fighting on the wrong side. :)
That's been true since the Carter Admin. hostage crisis. The thing that astonishes me is that we've allowed this cancer to metastasize through three interim presidencies. There are three other nuclear powers with interests in the region that worry the hell out of me: North Korea, Russia and France.
Oh, please, please, please do. Please give us a clear-cut, unambiguous reason to plow your horrible, pissant, seventh-century excuse for a regime under with our smart bombs and tanks. Please attack our guys with your pitiful 1950s weapons so that we'll have all the justification we need to flush your and you towelheaded buddies down the toilet of history to where you rightfully belong.
Bring it on, Ali.
In addition, every nation on the face of the earth that hates the US, or wishes it ill, would find a way to aid the Iranians and the Iraqi sh'ia "insurrection". Especially China, N. Korea, and even Russia and France. If Russia is selling the Iranians nuclear power plants that can be (mis)used to make nuclear bombs, they certainly won't balk at selling them excellent Russian anti-tank munitions, anti-air missiles and the like (if they haven't already).
My point is not to underestimate the danger if the Iranians decided to attack. We have been surprised before, mostly through contempt for our adversaries' capabilities, or belief that particular opponents wouldn't dare to attack us. After all, the US was caught with its pants down at Pearl Harbor, the Yalu River in N. Korea (250,000 Chinese troops attacked the US/UN forces), The Battle of the Bulge (where 500,000 German soldiers achieved almost complete surprise in launching their offensive) and in the Tet Offensive in Vietnam (yes, I know that the US won that battle decisively, but the sense of military disarray the media presented had severe political repurcussions).
Would the Iranians have to be crazy to attack us? Would it give us a perfect pretext to oust the most terrorist-friendly government on earth? Draw your own conclusions. But imagine the shock our nation would face if we were suddenly involved in a major land war, with our troops and capabilites already stretched thin. I am aware of the superior capabilities of our troops and weapons systems, but I still can't wish for an Iranian attack upon US forces, even if it seems that we must come to grips with them eventually.
I'm sure the CENTCOM planners are as ready if they can be if this Iranians actually back up their blather.
Another wildcard is Iran's perception of how an attack might impact the US presidential election. Would Bush look foolish if an Iranian attack and Sh'ia uprising caused heavy US casualties a few weeks before the election? Would many voters blame Bush for choosing to make war upon Iraq, drawing us into a wider war? Don't underestimate the public's war-weariness, especially if they are not clear on why the US attacked Iraq in the first place. About half of them already have serious doubts about the invasion in the first place.
"Oh, please, please, please do. Please give us a clear-cut, unambiguous reason to plow your horrible, pissant, seventh-century excuse for a regime under with our smart bombs and tanks. Please attack our guys with your pitiful 1950s weapons so that we'll have all the justification we need to flush your and you towelheaded buddies down the toilet of history to where you rightfully belong."
The Iranians have a domestically made fighter now.... too bad it's based on the F-4.
Heh.
Eagles up!
This is the scum that our "allies" want to help arm!!. Lunacy. But, peaceful Iran must have reactors for the day, about a million years from now, when their oil supply is gone.These Islamic nutcases are a boil on the butt of humanity and must be lanced. They are too dangerous to have the toys that they want to play with!!. They should be made aware that our new ambassador, Miss Daisy Cutter, will handle any future negotiations.
Hello Mullah,
Hello Fatwah,
Here I am at
Camp Osama.
Camp is very
Entertaining,
And they say we'll have some fun in basic training.
I went bombing
With Mohammed.
He blew up like
Halley's comet.
No use going
To the surgeons,
There were parts of him enough for sixty virgins.
All the Sunnis
Hate the Saudis,
And the innies
Hate the outies,
But there's one thing
We agree on:
All the beds are awful hard to get to sleep on.
Camp looks nothing
Like the pictures
They showed us at
The recruiter's.
And the food is
Pretty rotten.
Guess it looks like I've been lied to by bin Laden.
Take me home,
Oh Mullah, Fatwah!
Take me home,
I hate Osama.
Don't leave me
Out in Afghanistan
To find my ashes in a can.
Take me home,
I promise I won't
Pierce my ears
Or look at girls like
Britney Spears.
Oh, please don't make me stay,
I've been here one whole day.
I hear airplanes,
They're approaching. . . .
All our bases
Are exploding!
There's no hiding
From a bomber--
Must close quick now 'cause I'm leaving Camp Osama. . . .
Sixty maidens,
And they're virgin,
But a slightly
Different version:
They all look like
Janet Reno!
Mullah, Fatwah, this is hell but how did we know?
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