Tuesday, February 20, 2007

UK Military Sources: Massive attack on Iran could come 'any day'

Tehran, capital of Iran

American military operations for a major conventional war with Iran could be implemented any day. They extend far beyond targeting suspect WMD facilities and will enable President Bush to destroy Iran's military, political and economic infrastructure overnight using conventional weapons.

British military sources told the New Statesman, on condition of anonymity, that "the US military switched its whole focus to Iran" as soon as Saddam Hussein was kicked out of Baghdad. It continued this strategy, even though it had American infantry bogged down in fighting the insurgency in Iraq.

The US army, navy, air force and marines have all prepared battle plans and spent four years building bases and training for "Operation Iranian Freedom". Admiral Fallon, the new head of US Central Command, has inherited computerised plans under the name TIRANNT (Theatre Iran Near Term).

The Bush administration has made much of sending a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf. But it is a tiny part of the preparations. Post 9/11, the US navy can put six carriers into battle at a month's notice. Two carriers in the region, the USS John C Stennis and the USS Dwight D Eisenhower, could quickly be joined by three more now at sea: USS Ronald Reagan, USS Harry S Truman and USS Theodore Roosevelt, as well as by USS Nimitz. Each carrier force includes hundreds of cruise missiles.

Read the rest at the New Statesman

Related Link:
Navy Commander Walsh: US Gulf buildup result of Iranian 'provocations'

Related Link:
USS Stennis joins Eisenhower in Gulf as 'warning' to Iran

Related Link:
Report: U.S. attack plans for Iran include destroying naval, air bases, most of 'military' infrastructure

Related Link:
Officials: Iranian patrol boats probe Iraqi waters

Related Link:
Iran's Elite Guard to Hold 'Asymmetrical ' War Games

Related Link:
Sources: US in advanced stages of planning for attack on Iran; Able, ready to strike in the Spring

Related Link:
Iran's Top Authority: Iran will target U.S. interests world-wide if attacked

Related Link:
U.S. strike group transits Suez on way to buildup in Persian Gulf

Related Link:
Analysis: U.S. and Iran on the precipice

Related Link:
'Senior Pentagon Officials': Air force preparing for aggressive tactics against Iranians in Iraq

Related Link:
Analysis: Surging towards Iran

Related Link:
Another carrier strike group headed to Gulf

Related Link:
Pentagon considers Navy buildup in Gulf