Report: U.S. 'preparing the battlefield' in Iran

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration has launched a "significant escalation" of covert operations in Iran, sending U.S. commandos to spy on the country's nuclear facilities and undermine the Islamic republic's government, journalist Seymour Hersh said Sunday.

White House, CIA and State Department officials declined comment on Hersh's report, which appears in this week's issue of The New Yorker.

Hersh told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" that Congress has authorized up to $400 million to fund the secret campaign, which involves U.S. special operations troops and Iranian dissidents.

President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have rejected findings from U.S. intelligence agencies that Iran has halted a clandestine effort to build a nuclear bomb and "do not want to leave Iran in place with a nuclear program," Hersh said.

"They believe that their mission is to make sure that before they get out of office next year, either Iran is attacked or it stops its weapons program," Hersh said.

The new article, "Preparing the Battlefield," is the latest in a series of articles accusing the Bush administration of preparing for war with Iran. He based the report on accounts from current and former military, intelligence, and congressional sources.

"As usual with his quarterly pieces, we'll decline to comment," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told CNN.

"The CIA, as a rule, does not comment on allegations regarding covert operations," CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano said.

Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, denied U.S. raids were being launched from Iraq, where American commanders believe Iran is stoking sectarian warfare and fomenting attacks on U.S. troops.

"I can tell you flatly that U.S. forces are not operating across the Iraqi border into Iran, in the south or anywhere else," Crocker said.

Hersh said U.S. efforts were staged from Afghanistan, which also shares a border with Iran.

He said the program resulted in "a dramatic increase in kinetic events and chaos" inside Iran, including attacks by Kurdish separatists in the country's north and a May attack on a mosque in Shiraz that killed 13 people.

The United States has said it is trying to isolate Iran diplomatically in order to get it to come clean about its nuclear ambitions. But Bush has said "all options" are open in dealing with the issue.

Iran insists its nuclear program is aimed at providing civilian electric power, and refuses to comply with U.N. Security Council demands that it halt uranium enrichment work.

U.N. nuclear inspectors say Tehran held back critical information that could determine whether it is trying to make nuclear weapons.

Israel, which is believed to have its own nuclear arsenal, conducted a military exercise in the eastern Mediterranean in early June involving dozens of warplanes and aerial tankers.

The distance involved in the exercise was roughly the same as would be involved in a possible strike on the Iranian nuclear fuel plant at Natanz, Iran, a U.S. military official said.

In 1981, Israeli warplanes destroyed an Iraqi nuclear reactor.

Iran's parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, warned other countries against moves that would "cost them heavily." In comments that appeared in the semi-official Mehr news agency Sunday, an Iranian general said his troops were digging more than 320,000 graves to bury troops from any invading force with "the respect they deserve."

"Under the law of war and armed conflict, necessary preparations must be made for the burial of soldiers of aggressor nations," said Maj. Gen. Mirfaisal Baqerzadeh, an Iranian officer in charge of identifying soldiers missing in action.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/06/29/us.iran/index.html

quote:

"I can tell you flatly that U.S. forces are not operating across the Iraqi border into Iran, in the south or anywhere else," Crocker said.

ok Croker, its not like you havent lied before. The FSB doesnt believe you either. But hey, its only the US economy at stake if Iran is attacked, but then again you're not going to be paying the $10/gal to fill up, the taxpayers will be doing that for you.

One in a series of articles by Hersh. I didn't see any proof of his allegations, only suposition and rhetoric. Of course, this is how he makes his living.

Where is someone from Congress backing this up? After all, there are plenty of them that would keel over if this were true.

And the Iranians digging "320,000 to bury troops from the invading armies" is a hoot. Sounds like the "mother of all battles" crap from Iraq in 1990/1991.

Just when the news was starting to get better now we have to watch and listen to all this War BS again. Cambodia is looking better each day.

quote:

Originally posted by sw614:
One in a series of articles by Hersh. I didn't see any proof of his allegations, only suposition and rhetoric. Of course, this is how he makes his living.

Where is someone from Congress backing this up? After all, there are plenty of them that would keel over if this were true.

And the Iranians digging "320,000 to bury troops from the invading armies" is a hoot. Sounds like the "mother of all battles" crap from Iraq in 1990/1991.

Hirsh was dead wrong before. Back in the Summer of 2002, If you can believe this, he actually claimed that President Bush was planning to attack Iraq. Man is that guy ever a nut job.

Someone should send him an aluminum hat...

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Grachus:

quote:

Originally posted by sw614:
One in a series of articles by Hersh. I didn't see any proof of his allegations, only suposition and rhetoric. Of course, this is how he makes his living.

Where is someone from Congress backing this up? After all, there are plenty of them that would keel over if this were true.

And the Iranians digging "320,000 to bury troops from the invading armies" is a hoot. Sounds like the "mother of all battles" crap from Iraq in 1990/1991.

Hirsh was dead wrong before. Back in the Summer of 2002, If you can believe this, he actually claimed that President Bush was planning to attack Iraq. Man is that guy ever a nut job.

Someone should send him an aluminum hat...

Dave

All I would like to see is some better substantiation before I take it all as gospel.

quote:

Originally posted by sw614:

quote:

Originally posted by Grachus:

quote:

Originally posted by sw614:
One in a series of articles by Hersh. I didn't see any proof of his allegations, only suposition and rhetoric. Of course, this is how he makes his living.

Where is someone from Congress backing this up? After all, there are plenty of them that would keel over if this were true.

And the Iranians digging "320,000 to bury troops from the invading armies" is a hoot. Sounds like the "mother of all battles" crap from Iraq in 1990/1991.

Hirsh was dead wrong before. Back in the Summer of 2002, If you can believe this, he actually claimed that President Bush was planning to attack Iraq. Man is that guy ever a nut job.

Someone should send him an aluminum hat...

Dave

All I would like to see is some better substantiation before I take it all as gospel.

Heck, I don't blame you. And for that matter even IF the President IS planning an attack, doesn't mean he can't change his mind.

But MY point is that Hersh is usually right on the money. Who knows? Maybe it would be a good idea to write to the White House saying that at least for now, You think it might not be the best thing to do for America.

Dave

Another Op ed.

http://www.antiwar.com/reese/?articleid=13061

And another

http://tracypress.com/content/view/15069/2244/

There is zero positive spin on the prospect of successfully attacking Iran. If it is being planned, Bluto Blutarski and the Animal House frat gang must be doing it.

THINKING PEOPLE OF MILITARY.COM:

CONSIDER THE SOURCE OF THE LINK.

'nuff said.

Welcome to politics! Like I have said on other threads, this is the old democrat commercial from the early sixties that showed a little girl plucking a flower and you hear a count down to a missile launch and nuke detonation. It's the threaten war and insinuate that your political opponent is a "war monger", IT'S CR-P!
The only people you have to worry about, is the Israelis. It appears that they are suspicious of Mr. Obama and what his real feelings towards Israel, really are...
Respectfully, SUNLINER81

quote:

Originally posted by badmac933:
THINKING PEOPLE OF MILITARY.COM:

CONSIDER THE SOURCE OF THE LINK.

'nuff said.

yea no joke more lib propaganda...

Good ole Iron pants"We have Won" Bush leaks to the press about commando's spying in Iran and war plans are being drawn up. I wonder if we do go how many young men and women of our military will die in the early days because of this boast to the media? My guess is he and his buddy, dead eye dick are just trying to raise gas prices some more before they get out of office.

quote:

Originally posted by Duster6:
Good ole Iron pants"We have Won" Bush leaks to the press about commando's spying in Iran and war plans are being drawn up. I wonder if we do go how many young men and women of our military will die in the early days because of this boast to the media? My guess is he and his buddy, dead eye dick are just trying to raise gas prices some more before they get out of office.

"Bring it on" comes to mind.

quote:

Originally posted by Duster6:
Good ole Iron pants"We have Won" Bush leaks to the press about commando's spying in Iran and war plans are being drawn up. I wonder if we do go how many young men and women of our military will die in the early days because of this boast to the media? My guess is he and his buddy, dead eye dick are just trying to raise gas prices some more before they get out of office.

"Hyman Roth always makes money for his partners."

Once upon a time in America the intelligence community depended upon having folks in other countries to gather info & perform an occassional dirty trick. Then along came nice satellites to take neat pictures which was used in place of people. Unfortunately, pictures can't give feed back on the pulse of the population regarding various issues.

quote:

Originally posted by Duster6:

Good ole Iron pants"We have Won" Bush leaks to the press about commando's spying in Iran and war plans are being drawn up.

"..leaks to the press.."?

Like the press and Iran didn't already know this.

To me none of what was written in the article points specifically to a out and out war with Iran. In Counterinsurgency operations, it is known that the insurgent must have a safe haven to operate from. We have been expanding our operations into Pakistan, so it comes as no surprise that we are seeking out the enemy in Iran.

SF teams form Iraq and from A-Stan have been taking strolls into Iran for months. Our Jewish friends have been keeping an eye on Iran's Nuke sites also. Why do we need to prepare a battlefield? A few fighters and bombers to hit and run is all that is needed. I don't think our country can afford another war right now. Not to mention the after effects this is going to cause. Come on Mr. President. Give someone else a chance in the White House to screw up the world. Can't you take at least one day off once in awhile?

quote:

Originally posted by Grachus:

quote:

Originally posted by sw614:

quote:

Originally posted by Grachus:

quote:

Originally posted by sw614:
One in a series of articles by Hersh. I didn't see any proof of his allegations, only suposition and rhetoric. Of course, this is how he makes his living.

Where is someone from Congress backing this up? After all, there are plenty of them that would keel over if this were true.

And the Iranians digging "320,000 to bury troops from the invading armies" is a hoot. Sounds like the "mother of all battles" crap from Iraq in 1990/1991.

Hirsh was dead wrong before. Back in the Summer of 2002, If you can believe this, he actually claimed that President Bush was planning to attack Iraq. Man is that guy ever a nut job.

Someone should send him an aluminum hat...

Dave

All I would like to see is some better substantiation before I take it all as gospel.

Heck, I don't blame you. And for that matter even IF the President IS planning an attack, doesn't mean he can't change his mind.

But MY point is that Hersh is usually right on the money. Who knows? Maybe it would be a good idea to write to the White House saying that at least for now, You think it might not be the best thing to do for America.

Dave

I just hope that Bush knows that if he does encourage an attack of Iran, McCain will be the one to suffer for it and Democrats will be controlling the aftermath. Americans do not want another war right now.