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| Dupe entry: U.S. looking to Central Asia for options against Iran |
| 2007-05-21 |
| From Geostrategy Direct, subscription. I took out the BS atomic weapons speculation parts from Interfax. WASHINGTON — The United States is scouting for allies in Central Asia to prepare a military option against Iran. Diplomatic sources said the U.S. military has been bolstering its presence in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan in what could mark preparations for air strikes against Iran. The sources said the U.S. Air Force has been particularly active in the Kyrgyz base of Manas near Bishkek. "The use of Kyrgyzstan makes sense as Iraq, Turkey and the Gulf Arab states are no longer options in any strike against Iran," a diplomatic source said. "This doesn't mean that this will take place — only that Kyrgyzstan is an option." [On May 8, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reiterated that the Bush administration has not ruled out force against Iran. Rice told the Dubai-based Al Arabiya satellite channel that President Bush "will not abandon the military option and I believe that we do not want him to do so."] Iran has sought to counter the U.S. military presence in Kyrgyzstan. On May 3, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ednan Karabayev met Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Reza-Saburi and discussed expanding cooperation. Iran maintains defense cooperation with neighboring Tajikistan. Earlier this month Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Najar signed a defense memorandum of understanding with his Tajik counterpart, Sherali Khairulloyev. "During the talks on defense and military cooperation, we discussed educational, technical and engineering issues and other issues relating to the defense and military fields, as well as ways to strengthen peace, security and stability in the region," Najar said during his visit to Dushanbe. "We also discussed measures that could, God willing, help promote security and peace in the two states, as well as peace and stability in Central Asia." The Washington-based Jamestown Foundation said in a report that Iran and Russia have sought to pressure Kyrgyzstan to expel the U.S. military from Manas as well as prevent efforts to relocate to Tajikistan. The report said Kyrgyzstan has been alarmed by the U.S. military shipments to Manas and the prospect that the base could be used in an attack on Iran. Our bud, Pooty Poot, terrorism fighter of the Steppe. "Suggesting a potential threat posed to Iran from the U.S. base at Manas, even referring to far-fetched plans to attack it from Kyrgyzstan, brings yet more pressure on the U.S. military presence there," said Jamestown report, prepared by Roger McDermott. "This poses problems for U.S. planning staffs should the stay at Manas become untenable, since there are limited re-basing options within the region." |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |
| #2 IF we attack Iran, and that's a big if, it will come from multiple sources - Navy air, Tomahawk cruise missiles from ships and submarines, Air Force fighters from Iraq, Air Force bombers from several locations, and maybe even some stuff launched from US bases in the States, Guam, Hawaii, etc. A B-52 bomber has an UNREFUELED range of 10,000 miles. The range of the B-1 is only slightly less. They can be refueled as many times as needed. Use two crews, 12-on, 12-off, and you can stay in the air for a couple of days. All this blather about Kyrgyzstan and Tajikstan is just that - blather for the talking heads. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-05-21 21:23 |
| #1 I would think carrier based attacks would be a better option. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-05-21 17:58 |