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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
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 Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:20 am Report: U.S. planning for possible attack on Iran |
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CNN.com
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Journalist: U.S. planning for possible attack on Iran
White House says report is 'riddled with inaccuracies'
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration has been carrying out secret reconnaissance missions to learn about nuclear, chemical and missile sites in Iran in preparation for possible airstrikes there, journalist Seymour Hersh said Sunday.
The effort has been under way at least since last summer, Hersh said on CNN's "Late Edition."
In an interview on the same program, White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett said the story was "riddled with inaccuracies."
"I don't believe that some of the conclusions he's drawing are based on fact," Bartlett said.
Iran has refused to dismantle its nuclear program, which it insists is legal and is intended solely for civilian purposes. (Full story)
Hersh said U.S. officials were involved in "extensive planning" for a possible attack -- "much more than we know."
"The goal is to identify and isolate three dozen, and perhaps more, such targets that could be destroyed by precision strikes and short-term commando raids," he wrote in "The New Yorker" magazine, which published his article in editions that will be on newsstands Monday.
Hersh is a veteran journalist who was the first to write about many details of the abuses of prisoners Abu Ghraib in Baghdad.
He said his information on Iran came from "inside" sources who divulged it in the hope that publicity would force the administration to reconsider.
"I think that's one of the reasons some of the people on the inside talk to me," he said.
Hersh said the government did not answer his request for a response before the story's publication, and that his sources include people in government whose information has been reliable in the past.
Hersh said Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld view Bush's re-election as "a mandate to continue the war on terrorism," despite problems with the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
Last week, the effort to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq -- the Bush administration's stated primary rationale for the war -- was halted after having come up empty.
The secret missions in Iran, Hersh said, have been authorized in order to prevent similar embarrassment in the event of military action there. (Full story)
"The planning for Iran is going ahead even though Iraq is a mess," Hersh said. "I think they really think there's a chance to do something in Iran, perhaps by summer, to get the intelligence on the sites."
He added, "The guys on the inside really want to do this."
Hersh identified those inside people as the "neoconservative" civilian leadership in the Pentagon. That includes Rumsfeld, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Undersecretary of Defense Doug Feith -- "the sort of war hawks that we talk about in connection with the war in Iraq."
And he said the preparation goes beyond contingency planning and includes detailed plans for air attacks:
"The next step is Iran. It's definitely there. They're definitely planning ... But they need the intelligence first."
Emphasizing 'diplomatic initiatives'
Bartlett said the United States is working with its European allies to help persuade Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons.
Asked if military action is an option should diplomacy fail, Bartlett said, "No president at any juncture in history has ever taken military options off the table."
But Bush "has shown that he believes we can emphasize the diplomatic initiatives that are under way right now," he said.
Hersh said U.S. officials believe that a U.S. attack on Iran might provoke an uprising by Iranians against the hard-line religious leaders who run the government. Similar arguments were made ahead of the invasion of Iraq, when administration officials predicted U.S. troops would be welcomed as liberators.
And Hersh said administration officials have chosen not to include conflicting points of view in their deliberations -- such as predictions that any U.S. attack would provoke a wave of nationalism that would unite Iranians against the United States.
"As people say to me, when it comes to meetings about this issue, if you don't drink the Kool-Aid, you can't go to meetings," he said. "That isn't a message anybody wants to hear."
The plans are not limited to Iran, he said.
"The president assigned a series of findings and executive orders authorizing secret commando groups and other special forces units to conduct covert operations against suspected terrorist targets in as many as 10 nations in the Middle East and South Asia," he wrote.
Under the secret plans, the war on terrorism would be led by the Pentagon, and the power of the CIA would be reduced, Hersh wrote in his article.
"It's sort of a great victory for Donald Rumsfeld, a bureaucratic victory," Hersh told CNN.
He said: "Since the summer of 2002, he's been advocating, 'Let me run this war, not the CIA. We can do it better. We'll send our boys in. We don't have to tell their local military commanders. We don't have to tell the ambassadors. We don't have to tell the CIA station chiefs in various countries. Let's go in and work with the bad guys and see what we can find out.'"
Hersh added that the administration has chipped away at the CIA's power and that newly appointed CIA Director Porter Goss has overseen a purge of the old order.
"He's been committing sort-of ordered executions'" Hersh said. "He's been -- you know, people have been fired, they've been resigning."
The target of the housecleaning at the CIA, he said, has been intelligence analysts, some of whom are seen as "apostates -- as opposed to being true believers." (Full story)
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:24 am |
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Yeah, I saw this coming months and months ago. The public I think would be 10 times more in favor to not go to war this time. Bush should let it go, and feel lucky that he didnt have too many nay sayers at Iraq.
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Perfect Anomaly
Ensign
Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 58
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:39 am |
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They should finish up in one country first, before starting in another. 
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:59 am |
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Yes, there is such a thing as spreading your forces too thin. We will lose so many more people that way.
Are you going into the army when you turn 18 RM?
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Alucard
Vampire
Joined: 06 Nov 2004
Posts: 2780
Location: Caaaaaanada
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:22 am |
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I think it's stupid, I know Bush is trying to help... but jeez man, ever think of giving your men a break?
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:42 am |
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No. He needs to give America a break from this game of fear. He needs to give our soldiers a break from constant service. If he goes to war with Iran, its the draft to be sure.
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Perfect Anomaly
Ensign
Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 58
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:57 am |
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| Defiant wrote: | | Are you going into the army when you turn 18 RM? |
ROFL, that would be something.
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:59 am |
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Eh. Anyways, I would serve my country, if forced to. Sure as hell not voluntarily though. Im not dumb. Call me what you will, but im not going anywhere unless I choose to.
And since they dont recruit college students, I would try for sooooooooooo many masters degrees. I would start learning every major. 
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Alucard
Vampire
Joined: 06 Nov 2004
Posts: 2780
Location: Caaaaaanada
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 9:55 am |
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I might go into Military, but not as infantry or anything that fights, I'm more likely to go into Intelligence and stuff like that. I don't want to die. lol
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:05 am |
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You know Defiant how do you know the soldiers need a break and how do you know how they feel? I know Charlie is proud to be an American soldier even to fight for your butt!
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:09 am |
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Well they do need a break. The majority of them go ever there for a year at a time and come home, then practically are sent right back over there. We need to reduce the number who are now in service so that we can rotate them in shorter intervals, and so that they have more time to rest at home with their families.
I think the only reason anyone was saying that our soldliers need a break is because they feel bad for them and their families because they are never home anymore...at least that is how I feel.
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:39 am |
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| Rbgirl wrote: | | You know Defiant how do you know the soldiers need a break and how do you know how they feel? I know Charlie is proud to be an American soldier even to fight for your butt! |
Thats not the issue. Its like the soldier refusing to go back post. If he isnt proud to be a soldier, he would be marked a coward and unpatriotic. Hes forced to be proud. Even though I know Charlie is proud no matter what.
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:10 am |
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No one can force someone to be proud.
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Alucard
Vampire
Joined: 06 Nov 2004
Posts: 2780
Location: Caaaaaanada
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:11 am |
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True, True this seems to be an endless argument lol
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:13 am |
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You wouldnt think so, but it happens. You cant possibly not be proud of being a soldier, or you are endlessly assaulted and hounded. You are being forced to be proud.
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:55 pm |
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No, noone can force noone to be proud. If you feel forced to be proud then that person better take a look at him/herself. Cause noone can not force anyone to be proud. The person must be not proud already.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:56 pm |
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I don't think I would agree with a war with Iran--at least not at this time. We're not ready to go into there yet.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:06 pm |
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| Defiant wrote: | | Are you going into the army when you turn 18 RM? |
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:12 pm |
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| Defiant wrote: | | Defiant wrote: | | Are you going into the army when you turn 18 RM? |
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No. I want to focus on my education for Business School. I want to start and run my own computer software and construction business, like a Microsoft and Dell combo.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:27 pm |
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Just interested, thats all.
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:29 pm |
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Just cause everybody ratting and raving about being soldiers. Ha I am going to get into it. just kidding thats Charlie's job. I am brave but I am more of a house wife. Ok need a little humor to lighten this topic up
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:04 pm |
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Wrong discussion.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:27 pm |
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U know u need to chill out . U dont have a sense of humor. But whatever. It suits this . Just trying lighten things up . Cause this crap is going around in circles
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:30 pm |
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| Rbgirl wrote: | | U know u need to chill out . U dont have a sense of humor. But whatever. It suits this . Just trying lighten things up . Cause this crap is going around in circles |
If you're talking to me, I put something for another topic in here, and that's what the "Wrong discussion." post was for
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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MJ
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Posts: 266
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| Tue Jan 18, 2005 3:33 am |
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| Republican_Man wrote: | | Defiant wrote: | | Defiant wrote: | | Are you going into the army when you turn 18 RM? |
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No. I want to focus on my education for Business School. I want to start and run my own computer software and construction business, like a Microsoft and Dell combo. |
I never knew dell did construction, 
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