What the FUCK?
Apr. 9th, 2006 12:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forsythSy Hersh in the New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060417fa_fact
A government consultant with close ties to the civilian leadership in the Pentagon said that Bush was "absolutely convinced that Iran is going to get the bomb" if it is not stopped. He said that the President believes that he must do “what no Democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do," and “that saving Iran is going to be his legacy."
Some operations, apparently aimed in part at intimidating Iran, are already under way. American Naval tactical aircraft, operating from carriers in the Arabian Sea, have been flying simulated nuclear-weapons delivery missions—rapid ascending maneuvers known as "over the shoulder" bombing—since last summer, the former official said, within range of Iranian coastal radars.
Wait, hang on, did that say what I think it said?
One of the military’s initial option plans, as presented to the White House by the Pentagon this winter, calls for the use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear weapon, such as the B61-11, against underground nuclear sites.
!!!????!!!
The lack of reliable intelligence leaves military planners, given the goal of totally destroying the sites, little choice but to consider the use of tactical nuclear weapons. "Every other option, in the view of the nuclear weaponeers, would leave a gap," the former senior intelligence official said. " 'Decisive' is the key word of the Air Force’s planning. It’s a tough decision. But we made it in Japan."
He went on, "Nuclear planners go through extensive training and learn the technical details of damage and fallout—we’re talking about mushroom clouds, radiation, mass casualties, and contamination over years. This is not an underground nuclear test, where all you see is the earth raised a little bit. These politicians don’t have a clue, and whenever anybody tries to get it out"—remove the nuclear option—"they’re shouted down."
????!!!!!!!????!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY hope Sy Hersh is wrong. Because seriously, WHAT THE FUCK? These people want to NUKE IRAN? Are they REALLY that mad? Possibly. Do they have ANY idea what that would cause? Probably not. Do they really think if we NUKED the fucking country, that the citizens would rise up and overthrow their government, instead of, oh, I don't know, retaliating against the people that NUKED them? Have they learned nothing from Iraq? Probably not.
I can think of no better way to radicalize the entire middle east and destroy our standing with the entire world than by using NUKES on another country. And probably bring about something pretty darn close to the end of the world.
Sweet monkeys. Nuke Iran. Our leaders have gone stark raving mad.
But I never figured the United States of America would be torturing prisoners in the 21st century, either.
A government consultant with close ties to the civilian leadership in the Pentagon said that Bush was "absolutely convinced that Iran is going to get the bomb" if it is not stopped. He said that the President believes that he must do “what no Democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do," and “that saving Iran is going to be his legacy."
Some operations, apparently aimed in part at intimidating Iran, are already under way. American Naval tactical aircraft, operating from carriers in the Arabian Sea, have been flying simulated nuclear-weapons delivery missions—rapid ascending maneuvers known as "over the shoulder" bombing—since last summer, the former official said, within range of Iranian coastal radars.
Wait, hang on, did that say what I think it said?
One of the military’s initial option plans, as presented to the White House by the Pentagon this winter, calls for the use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear weapon, such as the B61-11, against underground nuclear sites.
!!!????!!!
The lack of reliable intelligence leaves military planners, given the goal of totally destroying the sites, little choice but to consider the use of tactical nuclear weapons. "Every other option, in the view of the nuclear weaponeers, would leave a gap," the former senior intelligence official said. " 'Decisive' is the key word of the Air Force’s planning. It’s a tough decision. But we made it in Japan."
He went on, "Nuclear planners go through extensive training and learn the technical details of damage and fallout—we’re talking about mushroom clouds, radiation, mass casualties, and contamination over years. This is not an underground nuclear test, where all you see is the earth raised a little bit. These politicians don’t have a clue, and whenever anybody tries to get it out"—remove the nuclear option—"they’re shouted down."
????!!!!!!!????!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY hope Sy Hersh is wrong. Because seriously, WHAT THE FUCK? These people want to NUKE IRAN? Are they REALLY that mad? Possibly. Do they have ANY idea what that would cause? Probably not. Do they really think if we NUKED the fucking country, that the citizens would rise up and overthrow their government, instead of, oh, I don't know, retaliating against the people that NUKED them? Have they learned nothing from Iraq? Probably not.
I can think of no better way to radicalize the entire middle east and destroy our standing with the entire world than by using NUKES on another country. And probably bring about something pretty darn close to the end of the world.
Sweet monkeys. Nuke Iran. Our leaders have gone stark raving mad.
But I never figured the United States of America would be torturing prisoners in the 21st century, either.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-04-09 12:08 pm (UTC)Beyond that, nobody is thinking about what the responses from Moscow and Beijing would be if America dropped nukes anywhere--but especially Iran (within their spheres of influence).
no subject
Date: 2006-04-10 12:40 am (UTC)It's also careful to invade countries it thinks can't put up a fight.
At some point, it's going to make the mistake of invading somewhere that has bigger teeth than expected, and be badly savaged.
If I was Iran, for example, I'd be quietly buying all the suitcase nukes, long-range portable Metalstorm rigs, and high-altitude minimissile swarms I could lay my hands on. Not to mention anti-battleship missiles and some nasty surprises based at strategic locations in the US itself. But then, I'm not known for subtlety.
US: HAHA WE INVADE YOU N00BS
IRAN: *nuke* *nuke* *nuke* *nuke*
US: OMG
* US has lost unit Army
US: HAX! HAX!
IRAN: *metalstorm* *high-alt missile*
* US has lost unit Air Force
US: WFTBBQ!!!
IRAN: *antidestroyer missile swarm*
* US has lost unit Navy
US: Mein leben!
IRAN: Sorry, didn't notice you there, we were conducting totally coincidental tests WITHIN OUR OWN BORDERS.
US: ...my ded iz pastede on.
IRAN: PS, we have all your major military installations targetted with mid-range missiles hidden in your politicially unstable counties. Or not. Care to send in the FBI to turn the place upside down?
US: You lie!
IRAN: *launch*
* US has lost unit Cheyenne Mountain
* US has lost unit Pentagon
* US has lost unit Nuclear Missile Site
* US has lost unit Random Air Force Base
* US has lost unit Camp David
IRAN: We can also annoy you a lot. *launch*
* Unit LAX has been painted pink
* Unit New York is knee-deep in clowns
* Unit White House has the President's underwear flying on the flagpole
US: If I had a girlfriend, she'd kill me!