Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Report: U.S. weighing plans for Iran attack

Above: An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the "Knighthawks" of Strike Fighter Squadron 136 prepares to launch from the USS Enterprise last week. The Enterprise leads the currently the only carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf area, but reports say that it will soon be joined by strike groups headed by the USS Nimitz and the USS Truman.

A recent decision by German officials to withhold support for any new sanctions against Iran has pushed a broad spectrum of officials in Washington to develop potential scenarios for a military attack on the Islamic regime, FOX News confirmed Tuesday...

Consequently, according to a well-placed Bush administration source, "everyone in town" is now participating in a broad discussion about the costs and benefits of military action against Iran, with the likely timeframe for any such course of action being over the next eight to 10 months, after the presidential primaries have probably been decided, but well before the November 2008 elections.

The discussions are now focused on two basic options: less invasive scenarios under which the U.S. might blockade Iranian imports of gasoline or exports of oil, actions generally thought to exact too high a cost on the Iranian people but not enough on the regime in Tehran; and full-scale aerial bombardment...

Most relevant parties have concluded such a comprehensive attack plan would require at least a week of sustained bombing runs, and would at best set the Iranian nuclear program back a number of years — but not destroy it forever. Other considerations include the likelihood of Iranian reprisals against Tel Aviv and other Israeli population centers; and the effects on American troops in Iraq.

Read the rest at Fox News

Related Link:
Rice: U.S. needs to keep Iraq safe from Iran

Related Link:
Iran Revolutionary Guard Leader: 'The Revolutionary Guards have identified all the weak points of the enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan'

Related Link:
Report: USS Nimitz, Truman strike groups heading to Persian Gulf to join USS Enterprise

Related Link:
Bush on Iran: 'We will confront this danger before it is too late'

Related Link:
Analysis: U.S. strategy on Iran now based on failure in Iraq

Related Link:
UN Ambassador Khalilzad: Mideast instability could lead to world war; Says could be 10-20 years before Iraq 'in a position to stand on its own feet'

Related Link:
Rice: Saudi arms deal important to protect U.S. allies from Iran

Related Link:
Report: U.S. to designate Iranian Revolutionary Guard as terrorist organization

Related Link:
Reports: $20 billion arms sale part of 3-step plan to contain Iran; Includes U.S. bases in Iraq, doubling of Saudi, Kuwait military

Related Link:
Reports: Iran to buy 250 advanced fighter jets from Russia

Related Link:
Rice: $20 billion Arab arms sales 'will help bolster forces of moderation... to secure peace and stability in the Gulf region'

Related Link:
Report: White House seeks $20 billion arms sale for Saudis, others; Promises $30 billion in aid to mollify Israel

Related Link:
Report: Cheney pushing for air strikes against Iran

Related Link:
Bush warns Maliki on trusting Iran; Calls Iran 'dangerous'; Says 'there will be consequences' for Iranian involvement in Iraq

Related Link:
Report: Recently departed Nimitz, Stennis along with Kitty Hawk in war game excercise to practice Iran assaults

Related Link:
Enterprise arrives in Middle East as lone carrier; Nimitz, Stennis head to Pacific

Related Link:
Reports: $20 billion arms sale part of 3-step plan to contain Iran; Includes U.S. bases in Iraq, doubling of Saudi, Kuwait military

Related Link:
Amphibious strike group leaves Monday for Middle East to 'deny terrorists use of the maritime environment'

Related Link:
Report: Stealth bombers to be fitted with 'bunker buster' bombs

Related Link:
Source: Cheney convinces Bush to strike Iran before end of term

Related Link:
Reports: Navy announces deployment of Enterprise strike group to Persian Gulf; Conflicting reports on if it will join or replace Stennis or Nimitz

Related Link:
Reports: USS Enterprise strike group to join Stennis, Nimitz

Related Link:
Reports: Riots in Iran over gas rationing; Rationing due to war fears; Revolutionary Guards in Iraq

Related Link:
Report: Israeli air force training for Iran strike

Related Link:
'Senior American Military Officers': Plan for Iran strike in place; Air Force, Navy to play primary roles

Related Link:
Kuwait says it won’t allow U.S. attack on Iran from territory

Related Link:
Iran threatens U.S. Mideast bases if attacked

Related Link:
Report: Joint U.S.-Israel exercises aimed at Iran

Related Link:
Perspective: Navy Works to Keep Lines Open to Iran

Related Link:
Sources: Iran planning large-scale retaliation if U.S. attacks

Related Link:
'Sources': Cheney senior aide promoting plan to provoke Iran into military response against U.S.

Related Link:
Nine US warships with 17,000 personnel enter Gulf in show of force

Related Link:
Security Analyst to UK Lawmakers: Iran drawing up plans to strike European nuclear plants

Related Link:
Report: Fallon vetoed increased Gulf presence, opposes Bush moves on Iran

Related Link:
Cheney 'warns' Iran on visit to USS Stennis

Related Link:
Official: Kuwait has built food stockpile, taken precautionary measures in event of U.S. attack on Iran

Related Link:
Rice: Military option still open on Iran

Related Link:
USS Nimitz strike group arrives in Persian Gulf

Related Link:
U.S.: Iran Can Target Missile at U.S., Europe in Less Than 8 Years

Related Link:
Eisenhower strike group heading home

Related Link:
Source: Larijani tells Maliki Iraq 'part of the United States' and 'part of the danger' to Iran

Related Link:
U.S.: Iran world's biggest sponsor of terrorism

Related Link:
Iran's top national security official in surprise visit to Iraq for talks with leaders, Maliki

Related Link:
Bahrain: Plans ready in event of U.S. attack on Iran

Related Link:
Bahrain, U.S. hold largest mass casualty drill ever

Related Link:
Report: Kuwait preparing contingency plan for U.S. attack on Iran

Related Link:
Guided missile destroyer USS Chafee leaves for Persian Gulf to join Nimitz

Related Link:
General Holmes: U.S. has military capability for war with Iran, but attack not 'a desired military activity right now'

Related Link:
Report: U.S. offered U.K. to conduct aggressive air patrols over Iran

Related Link:
Stennis group leaves Persian Gulf for Arabian Sea

Related Link:
Israeli Military Intelligence Chief: Iran preparing for U.S. attack in Summer

Related Link:
U.S. orders 3rd carrier to Persian Gulf, says Nimitz to 'replace' Eisenhower

Related Link:
U.S. launches Persian Gulf 'war games' aimed at Iran

Related Link:
Senior Commander: U.S. rules of engagement would have called for fighting in HMS Cornwall incident

Related Link:
Perspective: Iran can harass but not block Hormuz ships-experts

Related Link:
Perspective: Analysts say Iranian military obsolete

Related Link:
Report: Israel, U.S. hold large-scale joint missile defense exercise

Related Link:
Report: Iran poised to strike in wealthy Gulf states if U.S. attacks

Related Link:
Inelligence Chief McConnell: Iran training Iraqi insurgents in I.E.D. use at sites in Lebanon, Iran

Related Link:
Gulf countries deny giving air space for Israeli attack on Iran

Related Link:
Israel to hold nationwide nuclear attack drill

Related Link:
Report: 3 Gulf states agree to Israeli overflights en route to Iran; Turkey urged to allow U.S. overflights, ground attack

Related Link:
UK Defense Sources: Widespread Pentagon opposition to attack on Iran

Related Link:
Report: Pentagon panel plans for attack on Iran with 24-hour notice; Special op teams operating between Iraq and Iran

Related Link:
Report: Israel seeks U.S. okay for Iran attack

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

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:
Report: Pentagon panel plans for attack on Iran with 24-hour notice; Special op teams operating between Iraq and Iran

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