I can’t tell you how many versions of this story I’ve seen over the past three or four years. Anyway, here’s the latest:
Despite the opposition of his own generals and widespread scepticism that America is ready to risk the military, political and economic consequences of an airborne strike on Iran, the president has given an “amber light” to an Israeli plan to attack Iran’s main nuclear sites with long-range bombing sorties, the official told The Sunday Times.
“Amber means get on with your preparations, stand by for immediate attack and tell us when you’re ready,” the official said. But the Israelis have also been told that they can expect no help from American forces and will not be able to use US military bases in Iraq for logistical support.
I can’t imagine that Bush would believe that limiting overt support to Israel would allow us to escape any of the resulting fallout. Israel and America will not be viewed as independent operators regardless of the circumstances. There are still a few other wrinkles in all of the attack plans that have to be addressed anyway:
The one thing that all sides agree on is that any strike by either Iran or Israel would trigger a catastrophic round of retaliation that would rock global oil markets, send the price of petrol soaring and wreck the progress of the US military effort in Iraq.
The upside to all of this chatter is that it likely has moderate (or at least somewhat pragmatic) forces in Iran freaked out. If they have their say, or if the hardliners are smart enough, we’ll see the Iranians ratchet it down a bit – at least until after the election. All bets are off if this continues on it’s current track.
One Response
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July 13th, 2008 at 3:29 am
The supposed lack of participation of the U.S. in this barbaric plan will vaporize at the first retaliation against Israel (as Bush has promised to protect them even if they initiate the hostility!!). Either these fools are incapable of grasping the immensity of the repercussions from this madness or they are intentionally planning to destroy the U.S. as a nation (to be replaced with fiefdoms and warlords?).
If you have any intention of surviving this mess, you’d better make your plans now…as you probably read, they expect the Mid-east to be “re-made” within 3 months. The clock is running, get a move on!