[lit-ideas] Iran is angry at itself
- From: Eric <mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 13:56:35 -0500
>>perhaps nothing is news.
Look at this story. It's purely political and is not news. These plans
are so old, although the target sets may be occasionally updated, that
he release of the story seems planned either to (a) create public
outrage over evil-evil Bush, or (b) add pressure on the Iranian
government to play well with others.
Which of the two contradictory impulses caused the story to be
broadcast? If we knew, that would be news. Failing that, all we have is
an alarming report.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6376639.stm
US 'Iran attack plans' revealed
US contingency plans for air strikes on Iran extend beyond nuclear sites
and include most of the country's military infrastructure, the BBC has
learned.
It is understood that any such attack - if ordered - would target
Iranian air bases, naval bases, missile facilities and
command-and-control centres.
The US insists it is not planning to attack, and is trying to persuade
Tehran to stop uranium enrichment.
The UN has urged Iran to stop the programme or face economic sanctions.
But diplomatic sources have told the BBC that as a fallback plan, senior
officials at Central Command in Florida have already selected their
target sets inside Iran.
That list includes Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Natanz. Facilities
at Isfahan, Arak and Bushehr are also on the target list, the sources say.
Two triggers
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the trigger for such an
attack reportedly includes any confirmation that Iran was developing a
nuclear weapon - which it denies.
Natanz, Iran
The Natanz plant is buried under concrete, metal and earth
Alternatively, our correspondent adds, a high-casualty attack on US
forces in neighbouring Iraq could also trigger a bombing campaign if it
were traced directly back to Tehran.
Long range B2 stealth bombers would drop so-called "bunker-busting"
bombs in an effort to penetrate the Natanz site, which is buried some
25m (27 yards) underground.
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