Secret US air force team plan for Iran strike

[TomClash]

Source: Times Of London

THE United States Air Force has set up a highly confidential strategic planning group tasked with “fighting the next war” as tensions rise with Iran.

Project Checkmate, a successor to the group that planned the 1991 Gulf War’s air campaign, was quietly reestablished at the Pentagon in June.

It reports directly to General Michael Moseley, the US Air Force chief, and consists of 20-30 top air force officers and defence and cyberspace experts with ready access to the White House, the CIA and other intelligence agencies.

SNIP

The US president faces strong opposition to military action, however, within his own joint chiefs of staff. “None of them think it is a good idea, but they will do it if they are told to,” said a senior defence source.

General John Abizaid, the former Centcom commander, said last week: “Every effort should be made to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but failing that, the world could live with a nuclear-armed Iran.”

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Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2512097.ece

[xchrom]

1. of course the pentagon will do it if told.

but this nuclear iran issue exemplifies why the right has to be resisted and turned back.

we are thinking of evrything in terms of war -- or for opportunity for war -- seeing threat underneath every third rate power around.

not to mention the collusion of monied interests tied SO deeply to the expanding military enterprizes.

[TomClash]

2. No question about it

All capitalists love war.

It is the internal opposition to the war that interested me. Will the military obey if starting a war threatens the viability of the institution itself? Probably, because the air force has been used sporadically in Iraq and would have the lion's share of the mission in Iran.

[xchrom]

6. i'm torn about that -- when you have a military as expensive as ours

there is an immediate need to continuously try out new technology, tactics, etc.

and forgetting iran -- the military has a continuous need to show muscle to countries who pose bigger threats -- i.e. china and russia.

also to show the e.u. that we are still capable of carrying the lion's share of defending them

there are tendrils here that weave out all over the place.

[alfredo]

13. Will they obey if ordered to use nukes against Iran?

[bemildred]

3. Dang, I guess it's not "secret" any more. nt

[ohio2007]

4. Sure it's a secret., the article headline wouldn't lie about it nt

[bemildred]

5. But won't the Iranians know now?

I've heard some of them can read English real good. We will have lost the element of surprise. In fact, it's probably treason to even publish this story.

[habitual]

9. agreed. The US is a failure at keeping secrets

unless we really really want the secret to get out i guess...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. "You keep using that word'secret.' I'm not sure you know what it means."

-Inigo Montoya

[cobalt1999]

7. The Military is always planning or up dating plans for many situations

I'd be disappointed in them if they didn't have multiple plans.

However, there is a huge difference between making plans and actually executing them.

[dmosh42]

8. Hopefully, there's none who think Bushco aren't serious about this......

The day they put an Admiral in charge of that military region, shows that serious plans have been made. I believe this recent 'whatever' foray into Syria by Israel was to test the waters of public opinion, which is not showing much resentment. Time is running on this gang in DC, but they have their group in the Senate to block any attempts at interference by the Dems. And in the best interests of AIPAC, we have the complete wacko in charge at the WH. So, standby!

[amandabeech]

12. Are you referring to Admiral Fallows?

I believe that he is in charge of the Persian Gulf region now.

[Maribelle]

10. I would bet that miltary strategic plans focus on more than Iran.

Plans B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, ...

[DrDan]

14. this is why junior wants to veto SCHIP - he needs

the $35B for this war

[HuffleClaw]

15. "None of them think it is a good idea"

i expect the military has talked bush down off the ledge of ordering a war with iran on several occasions thus far. hopefully they can continue to do so.

[TheWraith]

16. Just posted in Iran-bombing-Israel thread: Having a plan to bomb someone means absolutely nothing.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Whether it's the Iranians planning to bomb Israel, or the US planning to bomb Iran, anything--theoretical military planning means nothing in terms of actual intent. It means that your military brass is simply thinking of what they would do if the word ever came down to hit so and so. To interpret having a plan as an aggressive stance is nonsense.