[R-G] New war brewing (Iran, Margolis)

[Anthony Fenton]

Sun, July 6, 2008
New war brewing
U.S., Israel take dangerous steps
By ERIC MARGOLIS
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Margolis_Eric/2008/07/05/6077376-sun.php


GENEVA -- The U.S., Israel and Iran are playing a very dangerous game  
of chicken that soon could result in a new Mideast war.

U.S. intelligence has concluded that Iran is not working on nuclear  
weapons. But the Bush administration and Israel, recently joined by  
France, are issuing increasingly loud threats of military action to  
frighten Iran into halting its nuclear enrichment program.

Iran insists its nuclear program is entirely for civilian use. Tehran  
is alternating between conciliatory statements and threats to  
retaliate against any attack by inflicting economic chaos on the  
global economy. Europe fears the economic damage a war against Iran  
would bring far more than Iran's nuclear program.

Senior Israeli officials are openly threatening to attack Iran's  
nuclear installations before President George W. Bush's term expires.  
Early, this month Israel staged a large, U.S.-approved exercise using  
F-15s and F-16s to rehearse an attack over 900 miles - precisely the  
distance to Iran's nuclear facilities.

The highly regarded American journalist Seymour Hersh just confirmed  
that the U.S. Congress authorized a $400-million plan to overthrow  
Iran's government and incite ethnic unrest. This column reported a  
year ago that U.S. and British special forces were operating in Iran,  
preparing for a massive air campaign. Israel's destruction of an  
alleged Syrian reactor last fall was a warning to Iran.

This week a Pentagon official claimed an Israeli attack on Iran was  
coming before year end.

Other Pentagon and CIA sources say a U.S. attack on Iran is imminent,  
with or without Israel. The Bush administration is even considering  
using small tactical nuclear weapons against deeply buried Iranian  
targets.

Senior American officers Admiral William Fallon and Air Force Chief  
Michael Mosley recently were fired for opposing war against Iran.  
According to Israel's media, President Bush even told Israel's Prime  
Minister Ehud Olmert that he could not trust America's intelligence  
community and preferred to rely on Israeli intelligence.

AIR BLITZ

Intensifying activity is evident at U.S. bases in Europe and the Gulf,  
aimed at preparing a massive air blitz that may include repeated  
attacks on 3,100 targets in Iran. Other sources say Iranian  
Revolutionary Guard installations will be barraged by cruise missiles.

In Washington, Congress, under intense pressure from the Israel lobby,  
is about to adopt a resolution calling for a naval blockade of Iran,  
an overt act of war.

Pro-Israel groups have been airing TV commercials claiming Iran is  
attacking American troops in Iraq and threatens the U.S.

The Bush administration's last desperate act, its Gotterdammerung,  
could be war with Iran. UN weapons inspectors concur with U.S.  
intelligence that there is no proof Iran is working on nuclear arms,  
but the neocon war party in Washington is determined to loosen a final  
Parthian shaft by striking Iran.

Israel asserts the right to maintain its Mideast nuclear monopoly by  
destroying all fissile-producing reactors in the region. Iran vows to  
retaliate against Israel with its inaccurate Shahab missiles, shut the  
Strait of Hormuz and mine the Gulf, producing worldwide financial  
panic, severe fuel shortages, and $400-$500 per barrel oil. Iran  
likely will attack U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait, and  
strike Saudi and Kuwaiti oil facilities. Canadians in Afghanistan  
could also become targets.

GRAVE DAMAGE

The embattled Bush administration's bunker mentality is leading to war  
that will gravely damage long-term U.S. Mideast interests. A single  
Iranian missile hit on Israel's reactor would do more damage to the  
Jewish state than all its previous wars. Besides, Israel cannot  
destroy Iran's nuclear infrastructure. A U.S. or Israeli attack on  
Iran will guarantee Tehran decides to build nuclear weapons. Israel  
and Iran have turned their regional rivalry into a confrontation that  
threatens all.

Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, not its bombastic President  
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, controls that nation's military and insists Iran  
will not produce nuclear weapons. Israel claims it faces a second  
holocaust. Iran says Israel's nuclear forces threaten its existence.

The dogs of war are being unleashed.