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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Exploring Iran's Military Options |
| 2006-01-26 |
| Given the strengths and weaknesses of the Iranian army outline above, what are the military options available for Tehran? The shortcomings of the Iranian military, especially in the air and at sea, have prompted a number some of the Islamic Republic's top military brass (including Major General Ahmad Kazemi, commander of the ground forces, who was killed last week with 8 of his aides in a plane crash near Oromieh) to oppose any military confrontation with the United States. hmm These officers recently wrote to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Guide, warning of the dangers of president Ahmadinejad's actions and statements calling for a confrontation and for wiping Israel off the map. They emphasized that Iran was in no position to enter into a war with the US. However, in spite of this, the president and some of his military advisors continue to believe that a confrontation is imminent and that it is crucial to increase military readiness and mobilize public opinion, in Iran and the Muslim world. Some of the procedures recently taken in this respect have included the creation of garrison to recruit would-be suicide bombers and train them for operations against the West, called the "Lovers of Martyrdom Garrison" Virgins her, we got your virgins here. Step right up and splode.. Volunteers from Arab and Muslim countries receive military and ideological training in camps overseen by the Revolutionary Guards. Most Iranian sources agree that economic sanctions, such as those imposed by the Security Council on Libya, Iraq and the former Yugoslavia, will not be an effective weapon against Iran because it would be the people who would suffer and a number of countries are ready to supply Iran with what it needs, even by illegal means, in order to achieve political or material gains. Analysts believe that the only weapon that can successfully hurt Iran is oil, given that the Islamic Republic currently imports 60% of its needs of refined oil and gasoline from overseas, because of the shortage of refiners and the rise in local consumption, reaching more than 60 million liters per day. A recent study by the Institute for International Energy Studies in Iran has revealed that the country's gasoline reserves would cover consumer needs for 45 days only. In case sanctions were imposed, after a three-month period, Iran would find itself paralyzed and popular demonstrations and street protests are likely to be held, mirroring that which took place in the former Yugoslavia, the Ukraine and Georgia. Only last month, during a US Senate meeting on the Iranian nuclear program, a lawmaker suggested a study should be commissioned to examine the effects of gasoline sanctions on Iran, indicating that Washington was considering this alternative. For its part, the Iranian government has taken a series of steps such as withdrawing its hard currency deposits in European banks and stockpiling huge amounts of foodstuff and medicine as preliminary and preventive measures, in case its nuclear file is referred to the U.N Security Council. However, there is still the possibility for a solution to the current crisis, through the unpublicized talks between the more sensible members of the Iranian regime, the European Union and the International Atomic Agency. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #10 "These officers recently wrote to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Guide, warning of the dangers of president Ahmadinejad's actions" ..and prez Ahm praised them as martyrs...I take that as 'don't put criticism in writing'. |
| Posted by: Inspector Clueso 2006-01-26 22:38 |
| #9 "1000 Pros in a 260K Army" - prob explains why the IRGC is planning suicide attacks and "People's War", like Kimmie and the NorKors. America and Allies hold all the mil cards, while Dubya knows the swordtip of a nuclearized Radical Iran also points at Communists-for-Fascism-for-Communism Russia-China. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-01-26 22:20 |
| #8 Major General Ahmad Kazemi, commander of the ground forces, who was killed last week with 8 of his aides in a plane crash... These officers recently wrote to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Guide, warning of the dangers of president Ahmadinejad's actions Ok. Now it's clear. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-01-26 20:04 |
| #7 I love this little Jewel here:: "Volunteers from Arab and Muslim countries receive military and ideological training in camps overseen by the Revolutionary Guards" The geniuses outright brag on what we accuse them of doing (supporting and training terrorist). And this guy is the moderate voice of reason. Those Arab volunteers being trained wouldnÂ’t be the terrorist running around all over the world naww they donÂ’t support terrorist I am sure they only train those guys for educational purposes right. Lately I have been torn, at first I thought for sure we were just going to wake up one day either late 06' or early 07' to our air campaign on Iran. But now I am starting to think that like many on the biosphere believe this if we attack "rally around the flag" crap (I donÂ’t buy it personally no more than I thought the Iraqi's were going to fight to the death in OP Iraq Freedom for Saddam). However this belief of the leadership mindset has got me thinking that mixed with Ahmadinejab's lunacy Bush and company are going to let the Iranians hit US first as a PR move. That way we are forced into defense, we blame Ahmadinejab just like the Iranian's people can when they get their a*s wiped. The world canÂ’t really say too much about it and the Dem's will depend on how things go if they support or blame Bush. The LLLÂ’s well Bushitler is Bushitler no matter what happens world peace utopia whatever. I hope I am wrong on the latter Iran can and could hit pretty damm hard if given first shot. Missile strikes possibly Chem/Bio tipped on Israel, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, ectÂ… sub and silkworm strikes on military and non-military ships in the gulf and Indian Ocean enmasse. I donÂ’t think that is worth the little PR. ehhh maybe to early to tell. |
| Posted by: C-Low 2006-01-26 19:37 |
| #6 ...it is important to note that President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad and extremist leaders in the Basij forces, the Revolutionary Guards and the security services, especially supporters of Sheikh Mohammed Taqi Mosbah Yazdi, the president's spiritual guide, support a military attack, with some even calling for pre-emptive strikes. An officer in the Jerusalem Corps said, "We should to carry out a hundred suicide operations, simultaneously, and aim a hundred missiles against Israel and the US bases in Qatar and Iraq, as well as a number of oil and economic installations in the region, prior to being attacked. In this manner, we will paralyze the American forces and their allies. If Washington were to attack us afterwards, we can incite a hundred popular uprisings in Muslim countries." That's right, shitbags: piss off everyone in sight, and give us an excuse to give you the full rabid-dog treatment. Jeez, these idiots are CRAZY. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2006-01-26 18:59 |
| #5 The way to get at a Mad Mullah's heart is through his refinery, so to speak. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-01-26 18:44 |
| #4 It would be a terrible shame if an industrial accident happened to destroy their biggest refinery in the next few weeks. This is the most uplifting article of the week. Maybe there is a way through this. |
| Posted by: Jake-the-Peg 2006-01-26 18:30 |
| #3 This is from the overview of the armed forces: The armed forces include an estimated 260,000 soldiers and officers. Most are conscripts and an estimated thousand are professional soldiers. That can't be right, can it? Only 1000 pros in a 260K army? |
| Posted by: Chinter Flarong9283 2006-01-26 18:08 |
| #2 Still have to hit the military targets, though. Awww, too bad. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-01-26 18:06 |
| #1 Shut down their domestic refining capacity (best to stop the feedstock inputs and lay off the refineries)and hit the diesel and gasoline transportation infrastructure, esp at the dock or further inland on pipeline pumping stations and electric power substations. Do that and the whole shebang comes to a fairly rapid halt---------and you have the MMs and their lackeys by the nuts. Game could be over rather quickly. Still have to hit the military targets, though. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-01-26 18:05 |