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| Fifth Column |
| Scott Ritter al-Jazeera Rant |
| 2005-06-22 |
| (edited for lunacy) ...The reality is that the US war with Iran has already begun. As we speak, American over flights of Iranian soil are taking place, using pilotless drones and other, more sophisticated, capabilities. The violation of a sovereign nation's airspace is an act of war in and of itself. But the war with Iran has gone far beyond the intelligence-gathering phase. President Bush has taken advantage of the sweeping powers granted to him in the aftermath of 11 September 2001, to wage a global war against terror and to initiate several covert offensive operations inside Iran. The most visible of these is the CIA-backed actions recently undertaken by the Mujahadeen el-Khalq, or MEK, an Iranian opposition group, once run by Saddam Hussein's dreaded intelligence services, but now working exclusively for the CIA's Directorate of Operations... But the CIA-backed campaign of MEK terror bombings in Iran are not the only action ongoing against Iran. To the north, in neighbouring Azerbaijan, the US military is preparing a base of operations for a massive military presence that will foretell a major land-based campaign designed to capture Tehran. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld's interest in Azerbaijan may have escaped the blinkered Western media, but Russia and the Caucasus nations understand only too well that the die has been cast regarding Azerbaijan's role in the upcoming war with Iran. The ethnic links between the Azeri of northern Iran and Azerbaijan were long exploited by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and this vehicle for internal manipulation has been seized upon by CIA paramilitary operatives and US Special Operations units who are training with Azerbaijan forces to form special units capable of operating inside Iran for the purpose of intelligence gathering, direct action, and mobilising indigenous opposition to the Mullahs in Tehran. But this is only one use the US has planned for Azerbaijan. American military aircraft, operating from forward bases in Azerbaijan, will have a much shorter distance to fly when striking targets in and around Tehran. In fact, US air power should be able to maintain a nearly 24-hour a day presence over Tehran airspace once military hostilities commence. No longer will the United States need to consider employment of Cold War-dated plans which called for moving on Tehran from the Arab Gulf cities of Chah Bahar and Bandar Abbas. US Marine Corps units will be able to secure these towns in order to protect the vital Straits of Hormuz, but the need to advance inland has been eliminated. A much shorter route to Tehran now exists - the coastal highway running along the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan to Tehran. US military planners have already begun war games calling for the deployment of multi-divisional forces into Azerbaijan. Logistical planning is well advanced concerning the basing of US air and ground power in Azerbaijan. Given the fact that the bulk of the logistical support and command and control capability required to wage a war with Iran is already forward deployed in the region thanks to the massive US presence in Iraq, the build-up time for a war with Iran will be significantly reduced compared to even the accelerated time tables witnessed with Iraq in 2002-2003... He could have done a lot better. For example, he utterly neglects US forces in Afghanistan that could make a devastating pincher movement on Tehran, efforts in Baluchistan in the SE, Khuzestan in the SW, the Kurds in the West and NW and the Turkmen in the North. And three naval fronts, not just the Persian Gulf/Gulf of Oman/Arabian Sea, but also the Caspian Sea. Geez, at this point I would seriously consider just encircling the Iranian military and ordering them to disarm. It is worse than a chess game where the other side only has pawns and a king, and you have everything. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #10 I'm sure there's a memo someplace that proves Bush has already decided to invade. Hey! Mebbe Scotty "found" it? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-06-22 20:54 |
| #9 Why Azerbajan? That doesn't make sense. Everything going into Azerbajan would pretty much have to go by air, the same problem as staging through Afghanistan. The only place you could stage via sealift instead of airlift that we could use is Iraq. (Something that makes my blood pressure rise whenever I listen to the late night conspiracy people talking about how "I wish Bush had done something about Iran instead of Iraq..." What did they expect us to do, stage an amphibious invasion? |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2005-06-22 20:42 |
| #8 I've always wondered what this idiots problem is, you know besides the pedophile thing. I suspect a lot of it is ego. He didn't get the attention, the credit, he thinks he deserives, so he's doing something about it. No doubt he considers the "setup" that ended with his arrest as part of the conspiracy against him, not to mention the accusations that he made his "film" with Saddam's money. People with overly large egos can get quite wrapped up in their paranoia. Look at the Democrats. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-06-22 19:19 |
| #7 I propose that Ritter be handed over to his former service members, and, umm, let what happens naturally just happen. I'd rahter not be ritter if ANY US Marine is around. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-06-22 18:41 |
| #6 For an anti-american, Scott's column sure is cheery. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-06-22 15:55 |
| #5 using pilotless drones Okay, sounds like a setup for a Polish AirForce joke. /I love and admire Poles beyond all peoples except Mongols. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-22 15:40 |
| #4 I've always wondered what this idiots problem is, you know besides the pedophile thing. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2005-06-22 14:49 |
| #3 he says it like it's a bad thing. Whatsa matter Scott, worried the Mullahs will cut off your supply of 12 year old brides? |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-06-22 14:12 |
| #2 Now Scottie, let's not get excited. I'm sure all this maneuvering and positioning of forces is pure coincidence. Everyone knows our beloved Commander-in-Chimp(tm) is a clueless bufoon, barely able to get elected, much less escape from the self-induced quagmires of Afghanistan and Iraq. I'm sure there is no long-range plan to depose the leaders who have sworn to do us harm and free their people from tyranny. Pure coincidence. Pay no attention. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2005-06-22 13:45 |
| #1 Hey, Scotty! How ya been! Maybe you can buy one of them pilotless drones surplus and use it to scope out the talent at the local elementary school. Sound good? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-06-22 12:17 |