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

toomuchtime_

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Britain's armed forces are stepping up their contingency planning for potential military action against Iran amid mounting concern about 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 campaign.

They also believe the US would ask permission to launch attacks from Diego Garcia, the British Indian ocean territory, which the Americans have used previously for conflicts in the Middle East.

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.

UK military steps up plans for Iran attack amid fresh nuclear fears | World news | The Guardian

With Obama, the decision whether or not to strike Iran's nuclear facilities will be a political calculation. If he does, he will alienate much of his base, but if he doesn't and credible evidence that Iran is or is on the verge of becoming a nuclear power comes out before the election he might not even be able to get a job as an analyst at Fox in 2012. He will, of course, choose what is best for Obama, not what is best for America.
 
UK military steps up plans for Iran attack amid fresh nuclear fears | World news | The Guardian

With Obama, the decision whether or not to strike Iran's nuclear facilities will be a political calculation. If he does, he will alienate much of his base, but if he doesn't and credible evidence that Iran is or is on the verge of becoming a nuclear power comes out before the election he might not even be able to get a job as an analyst at Fox in 2012. He will, of course, choose what is best for Obama, not what is best for America.


He hasn't done anything and you're already attacking him? WTF.

And shouldn't you be worried about the possibility that there could be another drawn out war costing billions and putting the whole region into chaos? Can America not get involved if Israel decides to go forward with this plan? What are the benefits and fallouts for America? Can Americans bear the costs again? What do you think is best for America?

Discuss the issue, a very important one, instead of making everything into partisan crap before it even happens.
 
It is the height of arrogance to suggest that WE are capable hands to hold nuclear weapons, but that others are not. Either allow them, or get rid of ALL of them, including our own.



Flame on.
 
Military planners...making plans. Ahhh, well, that's kind of what they do. It doesn't mean anything is any more likely to happen now.

I agree with the OP that whatever Obama does will be decided with his best political interests in mind.

@KevinKohler:

A couple of points...

Would you rather trust a nuclear weapon in the hands of a crazy man...or a sane man.

The genie is out of the bottle...you can't force it back in. Just as you can't "get rid of ALL of them".
 
It is the height of arrogance to suggest that WE are capable hands to hold nuclear weapons, but that others are not. Either allow them, or get rid of ALL of them, including our own.

Flame on.

We ARE getting rid of our own - it was big news the other day with the dismantlement of the largest one we had.
 
UK military steps up plans for Iran attack amid fresh nuclear fears | World news | The Guardian

With Obama, the decision whether or not to strike Iran's nuclear facilities will be a political calculation. If he does, he will alienate much of his base, but if he doesn't and credible evidence that Iran is or is on the verge of becoming a nuclear power comes out before the election he might not even be able to get a job as an analyst at Fox in 2012. He will, of course, choose what is best for Obama, not what is best for America.

Right.

If a Democrat does something, it's always for political glory.

If a Republican does the same thing, it's always for the greater good of our nation.

Please be more partisan. I would like to see if it's possible.
 
It is the height of arrogance to suggest that WE are capable hands to hold nuclear weapons, but that others are not. Either allow them, or get rid of ALL of them, including our own.

The thing is the U.S. is capable of being responsible with our nuclear weapons. The fact that World War III hasn't happened is proof of that.
 
It is the height of arrogance to suggest that WE are capable hands to hold nuclear weapons, but that others are not. Either allow them, or get rid of ALL of them, including our own.



Flame on.

It's also the height of common sense.
 
Its just plans, it saves time and money to plan this stuff ahead of time in case anything goes down! British army had an occupation plan for Iraq years before the conflict started, its just the smart thing to do!
 
Right.

If a Democrat does something, it's always for political glory.

If a Republican does the same thing, it's always for the greater good of our nation.

Please be more partisan. I would like to see if it's possible.

I don't think the OP mentioned Democrats or Republicans...only Obama.

Who's partisan?
 
Military planners...making plans. Ahhh, well, that's kind of what they do. It doesn't mean anything is any more likely to happen now.

Exactly. I read the article earlier and thought, here we go, this is the diversion from Greece is it? They do say that it is only because we always follow whoever wants war first or in this instance are getting ready to back up the US if it decides to attack Iran.

Much reading later
One official said: "I think that it is fair to say that the MoD is constantly making plans for all manner of international situations. Some areas are of more concern than others. "It is not beyond the realms of possibility that people at the MoD are thinking about what we might do should something happen on Iran. It is quite likely that there will be people in the building who have thought about what we would do if commanders came to us and asked us if we could support the US. The context for that is straightforward contingency planning."

UK military steps up plans for Iran attack amid fresh nuclear fears | World news | The Guardian

If the economic situation gets too bad maybe. I am getting so tired of perpetual war ...but after reading the full article I realised it was not breaking news, just war games.
 
You are.

1

Ummm...

Partisan against Obama...you bet.

Partisan against Democrats...some.

Partisan against Republicans...some.


But I don't go around trying to raise partisanship where it's not warranted. Neither toomuchtime_ nor the linked article referenced Republicans or Democrats...only Obama.
 
Ummm...

Partisan against Obama...you bet.

Partisan against Democrats...some.

Partisan against Republicans...some.


But I don't go around trying to raise partisanship where it's not warranted. Neither toomuchtime_ nor the linked article referenced Republicans or Democrats...only Obama.

It's warranted now. I didn't vote for Obama. He wasn't qualified to be president... and still isn't. But you don't see me foaming at the mouth about something that he hasn't even done... and telepathically stating as gospel what motivations his decision will be based upon. This is partisian manure at its finest.
 
UK military steps up plans for Iran attack amid fresh nuclear fears | World news | The Guardian

With Obama, the decision whether or not to strike Iran's nuclear facilities will be a political calculation. If he does, he will alienate much of his base, but if he doesn't and credible evidence that Iran is or is on the verge of becoming a nuclear power comes out before the election he might not even be able to get a job as an analyst at Fox in 2012. He will, of course, choose what is best for Obama, not what is best for America.

Can Iran hit the US with it's "nukes" (50 States proper)?
 
It's warranted now. I didn't vote for Obama. He wasn't qualified to be president... and still isn't. But you don't see me foaming at the mouth about something that he hasn't even done... and telepathically stating as gospel what motivations his decision will be based upon. This is partisian manure at its finest.

LOL!!

You are displaying quite a hyperbolic reaction.

I'm not foaming at the mouth. I simply and calmly agreed with the OP's opinion on the motivations for Obama's decisions. No telepathy involved...just projections based on his past decisions.

Besides...the partisanship expressed by samsmart was directed toward Republican and Democrat...not Obama.

DiAnna, try to remain focused, eh?
 
Can Iran hit the US with it's "nukes" (50 States proper)?

Don't think so...but they could really mess up the oil supply to us and our allies.
 
Don't think so...but they could really mess up the oil supply to us and our allies.

Meh, worse things than having to become oil independent I suppose. If they can't hit us, ain't none of my concern.
 
UK military steps up plans for Iran attack amid fresh nuclear fears | World news | The Guardian

With Obama, the decision whether or not to strike Iran's nuclear facilities will be a political calculation. If he does, he will alienate much of his base, but if he doesn't and credible evidence that Iran is or is on the verge of becoming a nuclear power comes out before the election he might not even be able to get a job as an analyst at Fox in 2012. He will, of course, choose what is best for Obama, not what is best for America.

Actually it won't be a political calculation. If Iran is attacked, it could have very negative economic effects (7 Potential Economic Effects Of A War With Iran) as well as negative political effects (Striking Iran Is Unwarranted, and It Would Mean Disaster - Marc Lynch - International - The Atlantic). An attack on Iran is not a good idea at this time, especially due to the fact that the US military is already overstretched.
 
An attack on Iran is not a good idea at this time, especially due to the fact that the US military is already overstretched.

Hmmmm.....how the hell did that happen....oh wait.
 
Actually it won't be a political calculation. If Iran is attacked, it could have very negative economic effects (7 Potential Economic Effects Of A War With Iran) as well as negative political effects (Striking Iran Is Unwarranted, and It Would Mean Disaster - Marc Lynch - International - The Atlantic). An attack on Iran is not a good idea at this time, especially due to the fact that the US military is already overstretched.

But that analysis isn't one that demonizes Obama, and so is totally invalid.
 
LOL!!

You are displaying quite a hyperbolic reaction.

I'm not foaming at the mouth. I simply and calmly agreed with the OP's opinion on the motivations for Obama's decisions. No telepathy involved...just projections based on his past decisions.

Besides...the partisanship expressed by samsmart was directed toward Republican and Democrat...not Obama.

DiAnna, try to remain focused, eh?

You were referring to the OP in the post I quoted. I was referring to the OP as well.

And I am always focused. You just didn't happen to like what I was focused on. :)
 
Iran is the only missing link at this point in the construction of the middle eastern oil pipeline, courtesy of NATO (but mainly the U.S.)

It will be attacked soon but likely at grave cost.
 
Everyone who is surprised to learn that Iran will soon be attacked by Israel and then by the UK/UK or by the UK/US please raise your hands. It's inevitable and has been for a while now as the smack talk is ratcheted upward.

"We must attack Iran to make the world safe." Yada, yada, yada <making chicken choking hand movement>.
 
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