CIA steps up operations in Iran

RAW STORY exclusive: Larisa Alexandrovna reports on the CIA's redoubled efforts to create a pretext for war with Iran.

Comments

[Cass]

Not to worry. The Cuban... er, Iranian people will rally to our side as soon as we set foot on the beach.

[Tyler DiPietro]

I'm actually kind of torn on this. On the one hand a war with Iran would be singularly disastrous from every perspective you can think of. But on the other hand, the fact that the War Party is willing to take such a phenomenally suicidal leap could be good in the long run. The resulting military and political quagmire could very well discredit the interventionist consensus once and for all, in much the same way the colonial empires of Europe imploded after WWII.

[swampcracker]

The resulting military and political quagmire could very well discredit the interventionist consensus once and for all ...

They are already disgraced and discredited. Let's have a bit of damage control for once. Besides, another CIA misadventure, like the one that toppled Mosedegh, would lead to an Iranian-USA emnity that would never be repaired. I would counsel patience and self-control this time around. Notwithstanding the fact that goggles, flippers and beach umbrellas are not exactly covert activities.

[NoAstronomer]

The RawStory article states that the IRGC has 100K active duty and 300K reserve members. Does anyone here know how a few surgical strikes could eliminate a armed force consisting of 400K armed soldiers who are probably spread across the breadth of Iran? Especially now they know it's coming. Even worse considering that apparently 160K armed troops of our own are unable to stop them smuggling in a few EFP's into Iraq. Anyone?

[swampcracker]

NoAstronomer, I believe you answered your own concerns. It would be a folly that than which nothing greater can be conceived.

[cfrost]

Now could someone with impeccable right-wing credentials please step up to the plate and explain to us cry-baby surrender-monkeys on the left whose stomachs are tied in knots that we have nothing to fear? Demonstrate that talk of bombing Iran is just hysterical, sky-is-falling, Bush-hater hyperventilating. Tell us how President Cheney’s serene wisdom and meticulous prudence would never allow us to punch up the Iran tar baby. Cite some evidence. Please.

[The Phantom]

Does Iran represent any threat?

What do you think the CIA should be doing?

[Cass]

The original charter for the CIA was for intelligence gathering and analysis. The times its stepped beyond that charter (such as helping to install the Shah in Iran, the Ba'ath Party in Iraq, and funding Bin Laden & co. in Afghanistan) its done far more than any foreign enemy to put us in our current sorry position. So what should they be doing now? I'd suggest something related to Iraq; something, perhaps, that doesn't involve adding to our already overwhelming list of potential enemies. Those troops aren't going to be leaving via the Baghdad airport.

[Tyler DiPietro]

"Does Iran represent any threat?"

To what? Using airy generalities about "threats" as a causus belli is what got us into the Iraq mess.

[Eric Jaffa]

The Phantom -

"Does Iran represent any threat?"

I'm not worried that Iran will launch a first-strike against the US.

I am worried about what will happen if the US launches a first-strike on Iran.

[Bushbaptist]

Hey, Hey! Stop picking on poor Georgie. He was appointed by God and he and his good men and true are doing God's work don't you know!

God told him to rid the world of all the infidels and non-believers and convert all those terrible folks out there into good pious fundamentalist christians. He's carrying out those orders!

[The Phantom]

I am not sure that Iran would not go for a first strike. They may have already had several first strikes against US forces, via their involvement with the attacks against US forces in Iraq.

I do not support bombing of Iran at this time for a number of reasons including

we have our hands full now

it is a very big country

the Iranians would rally around the government, a government much of the youth there despises. Many of the youth of Iran are very pro-American.

Bush Bush Kush Kush!

[The Phantom]

--I am not sure that Iran has not already conducted a first strike. They may have already had several first strikes against US forces, via their involvement with the attacks against US forces in Iraq.--

(sorry, typing too fast)

[togolosh]

The US has already discovered facilities for the manufacture of EFPs in Iraq, so they'll need to meet a very high standard of evidence to prove that Iran is supplying EFPs to insurgents.

I suspect that the Iranian government is smart enough to realize that a direct response to a US attack (such as sending troops into Iraq) would be folly. If they really want to deliver a kick to the groin of the US they'll target Saudi Oil facilities, which are fairly easy targets and would be hard to repair in short order. By bringing Saudi Shiites into the fray it might be possible to effectively stop oil exports from Saudi Arabia for a year or more, with very serious consequences for the USA.

[Count Zero]

the Iranians would rally around the government, a government much of the youth there despises. Many of the youth of Iran are very pro-American.

I remember talk of a certain Iraq that was fabled to have people such as that. I seem to remember that fairy tell ended very badly.