UK military steps up plans for Iran attack amid fresh nuclear fears

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/02/uk-military-iran-attack-nuclear

Britain's armed forces are stepping up their contingency planning for potential military action against Iran amid mounting concern over Tehran's nuclear enrichment programme, the Guardian has learned.

The Ministry of Defence believes the US may decide to fast-forward plans for targeted missile strikes at some key Iranian facilities. British officials say that if Washington presses ahead it will seek, and receive, UK military help for any mission, despite some deep reservations within the coalition government.

In anticipation of a potential attack, British military planners are examining where best to deploy Royal Navy ships and submarines equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles over the coming months as part of what would be an air- and sea-launched campaign.

The Guardian has spoken to a number of Whitehall and defence officials over recent weeks who said Iran was once again becoming the focus of diplomatic concern after the revolution in Libya.

[joeybee12]

1. I always assumed there would never be a WWIII...but there just might be...

and we will have started it.

[bananas]

7. targeted missile strikes are not WWIII - Iran has been violating its IAEA agreements

Economic sanctions haven't stopped them,
Sabotaging their nuclear weapons facilities hasn't stopped them,
Assassinating their nuclear weapons scientists hasn't stopped them,
not too many options left.
Iran is provoking this.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[teddy51]

9. There will definately be a WW111 if this attack takes place. I am surprised that

the UK is becoming involved though. We are on the verge of a very nasty situation if this goes forward.

[leveymg]

11. Sure, bananas. Not WWIII, not right away. But, what about when Iran starts firing missiles back?

at every tanker and warship in the Persian Gulf? And then targets its longer range missiles at Israeli nuclear plants, which would be a perfectly proportional response? What then, bananas? What then? And, then starts assassinating our scientists and public figures, wherever they might be in the world. That could go on for years. I know what I might call it. Clusterf-ck.

No thanks. We're not buying that ticket to Hell.

[bananas]

12. Clinton bombed Iran every week for eight years, and that was considered peace and prosperity.

If Iran starts firing missiles back, what do you think Obama will do?
Dimona is protected by anti-missile missiles.

[StandingInLeftField]

2. Oh well, here we go again.

Why am I not surprised?

[Leopolds Ghost]

3. Who was it who said a Dem president would be willing to do this?

[TheWraith]

4. Won't happen.

Just like it didn't happen the last 432 times we had this article run somewhere.

[qb]

5. Fucking shell game. Now it's England's turn to start a war & recruit a coalition of the willing.

:nuke:

[teddy51]

10. They have a Conservative Government in the UK, need I say more? n/t

[redqueen]

6. We can always count on the UK to provide cover for the MIC. (nt)