U.S. Probably Attacks Iran till April 2007
The Unites States will probably attack Iran till April 2007, mass media of Kuwait reported referring to the sources familiar with the situation. The attack will be launched from the sea and backed up by Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. This scenario will pose no threat to the ground infantry troops, enabling to contain the possible response from any state of the Persian Gulf.
According to the source, U.S. President George W. Bush has recently met with Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, State Secretary Condoleezza Rice and a raft of military advisers to discuss and shape in detail the scenario of the possible military attack on Iran.
By attacking Iran from the sea, the United States won’t expose to danger its regional allies, including Saudi Arabia or Iraq that it has occupied. The key targets of the attack will be nuclear and oil facilities of the country. The United States will take every precaution to prevent the environmental disaster in the region that may happen during another military campaign there.
To get ready for this attack, perhaps, the United States increases the strength of the war ships in the Persian Gulf. In late December, it was announced that Pentagon would step up to two the number of aircraft carriers patrolling Iran’s coast. So, the U.S. Navy will have two aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf first time from the end of the first war in Iraq.
The second aircraft carrier is expected to reach the Persian Gulf before late January. The strength of the U.S. troops in Iraq will go up by 21,500 at the same time.
More likely than not, Tehran is well aware of the military preparations of the United States, at least it has taken two steps justifying this assumption. On January 16, Iran received 29 TOR-M1 new anti-aircraft missile systems of Russia’s make. Today, it has invited representatives of emerging nations (authorized as the IAEA inspectors) to visit its nuclear facilities.
The response of the United State to deliveries of TOR-M1s was the easily foreseen disappointment. The United States doesn’t think this signal appropriate for the government of Iran, particularly in light of the U.N. sanctions imposed against it for the attempts to develop nuclear weapons, State Department spokesman Tom Casey made clear to reporters. www.kommersant.com
star-traveller
quote:
American Aircraft Carrier Deployed to the Persian Gulf
The US naval command announced yesterday that a fleet of American warships, including the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, have been deployed to the Persian Gulf. Washington is making no secret of the fact that the amount of American military might that is being concentrated in the region is intended to bring pressure to bear on Iran, which the Bush administration blames for the failure of its mission in Iraq. The prevailing opinion in the region is that the United States is planning to strike Iran within the next few months.
The deployment of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, which left the naval base at Bremerton, Washington on Tuesday, was confirmed by Commander Kevin Aandahl of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The nuclear-powered Nimitz-class Stennis is accompanied by eight escort ships. The carrier, which is crewed by more than 3,000 sailors, will stop off at the naval base in San Diego to pick up an 80-plane air wing before charting a course for the Persian Gulf.
This is the second aircraft carrier that the US has sent to the Persian Gulf since the beginning of the military operations in Iraq in 2003 (the first was the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which is still deployed there). Military experts point out that the arrival of the Stennis in the gulf will approximately double the American naval strength in the region.
According to US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the buildup of American military power in the Persian Gulf is intended to get Iran's attention. "By all appearances, the Iranians believe that we are bogged down in Iraq and that they possess the initiative giving them the ability to pressure us in various ways," said the chief of the Pentagon. In his assertion that the United States intends to deprive Iran of the levers that it uses to exert pressure on the Americans in Iraq, Mr. Gates was effectively parroting the White House, which has laid out its position on the matter in President Bush's new Iran doctrine and in recent statements by representatives of the president's team. "The US is only responding to the growing restlessness of Iran, which is now trying not only to destabilize the situation in Iraq, as was the case earlier, but also threatening our forces in that country.," said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week as she departed for a grand tour of the Near East aimed at creating a broad anti-Iran coalition with moderate Arab regimes. Ms. Rice also noted at the time that the pressure in question is political in nature and that the US is not planning a military strike against Iran. By all appearances, that announcement was intended to pacify members of Congress who grilled representatives of the Bush administration during recent hearings on Iraq about whether the White House would decide to attack Iran and Syria and whether it would do so without approval from Congress. The administration's representatives replied that diplomacy would be given priority in the resolution of the Iran problem, but they tellingly refused to completely rule out a military operation.
Meanwhile, the deployment of the carrier Stennis has provoked much commentary in the region. The conclusion has been drawn by some that the American display of muscle power is more than just for show: that it is a preparation for a use of force that will be launched from the water. The timeframe for the strike is estimated as spring of this year. In the opinion of experts, America's main targets will be Iranian nuclear and oil facilities, and an attack from the sea will allow the US to avoid putting its allies in the region, such as Saudi Arabia or Iraq, in danger.
Experts are paying a great deal of attention to one last crucial circumstance that, in their opinion, could shed some light on Washington's plans: the stockpiling of Patriot anti-ballistic missile systems in the region. These interceptor systems are intended to protect American installations on the ground and American allies in the region from Iranian missiles.
Sergei Tamilin
www.kommersant.com
star-traveller
Video of TOR-M1 air-defense system that Russia supplied to Iran.
star-traveller
quote:
Russian defense minister confirms sale of Tor-M1 air defense missiles to Iran
Russia's defense minister said Tuesday that Moscow has sent air defense missiles to Iran, the first high-level confirmation that their delivery took place despite U.S. complaints.
Sergei Ivanov did not specify how many missile systems had been delivered, but a ministry official speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject said not all the systems contracted for had been delivered.
"We have delivered short-range Tor-M1 missiles to Iran in accordance with the contract," Ivanov told reporters.
Ivanov's comments were the first official confirmation of the sale; previous reports had cited unnamed officials reporting the sale.
Ministry officials have previously said Moscow would supply 29 of the sophisticated missile systems to Iran under a US$700 million (€540 million) contract signed in December 2005, according to Russian media reports
"If the Iranian leadership has a desire to purchase more defensive weapons, we would do that," Ivanov said, without elaborating.
The United States called on all countries last year to stop all arms exports to Iran, as well as ending all nuclear cooperation with it to put pressure on Tehran to halt uranium enrichment activities. Israel, too, has severely criticized arms deals with Iran.
Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the United States and its allies suspect Iran is trying to develop weapons.
The U.N. Security Council, where Russia is a veto-wielding permanent member, is currently stalemated on the severity of sanctions that should be imposed on Iran for defying its demand to cease uranium enrichment.
Russian officials say that the missiles are purely defensive weapons with a limited range and argue that the Tor-M1 deal, involving conventional weapons, does not violate any international agreements.
"We are developing the military-technical cooperation with Iran based on the international law," he said.
The Tor-M1 system can identify up to 48 targets and fire at two targets simultaneously at a height of up to 6,000 meters (20,000 feet).
Russian media have reported previously that Moscow had conducted talks on selling even more powerful long-range S-300 air defense missiles, but Russian officials have denied that, reports AP.
Moscow already has a lucrative, US$1 billion (€770 million) contract to build Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, Iran's first. The plant is nearly complete.
Russia strongly supports Iran's right to nuclear energy but has joined the United States and Europe in demanding it halt enrichment to ease concerns.
Don't believe everything the Russian media says :cool:
Omega_M
quote:
Originally posted by star-traveller
Video of TOR-M1 air-defense system that Russia supplied to Iran.
:eyes: The way in which the missile pops out of the vehicle, gets oriented in the right direction and fires away is awesome to watch.
hardcore trancer
I cant wait to see what kind of bull excuse this admin is going sell to the world to attack Iran.:rolleyes:
Why is the U.S bitching about Iran building up it is military?are they suppose to just sit back and get attacked?:whip:
Dopey
quote:
Originally posted by hardcore trancer
I cant wait to see what kind of bull excuse this admin is going sell to the world to attack Iran.:rolleyes:
Why is the U.S bitching about Iran building up it is military?are they suppose to just sit back and get attacked?:whip:
I heard crying on internet forums helps
:stongue: :stongue: :stongue:
seriously tho, hardcore trancer dude, the CIA/FBI is watching you after the you have posted
Sunsnail
"U.S. Probably Attacks Iran till April 2007" doesnt even make sense
ogvh5150
February 1st
3:1
First week of February
10:1
First ten days of February
20:1
No purchase necessary. Limit one per customer. Contest valid for US residents in the contiguous states. US government employees not eligible to play. Have a gambling problem? Then call 1800GAMBLER.
Cyrus King
quote:
Originally posted by Dopey
I heard crying on internet forums helps
:stongue: :stongue: :stongue:
seriously tho, hardcore trancer dude, the CIA/FBI is watching you after the you have posted
youre a in loser
were all shaking in our pants
jonSun
quote:
Originally posted by Dopey
I heard crying on internet forums helps
:stongue: :stongue: :stongue:
seriously tho, hardcore trancer dude, the CIA/FBI is watching you after the you have posted
