by Mark H Gaffney,
'The real issue is the fact that Iran has upgraded its medium
range conventionally-armed missiles with GPS technology, making its
missiles much more accurate. This
means Iran can now target Israel’s own nuclear, bio and chemical
weapons stockpiles, located inside Israel, as well as the Dimona nuclear
reactor. '
Recently, President Obama imposed new sanctions on Iran which
according to reports have been very effective, causing a sudden major
devaluation of Iran’s currency. The Iranians correctly understand that
they are under attack, and have threatened to respond by closing the
strait of Hormuz, through which a large percentage of oil from the
Mideast flows to the global economy. If the crisis deepens and Iran
makes good on its threat to close Hormuz, there is little doubt that the
US will intervene to reopen the strait. This will lead to a shooting
war for which Iran will be blamed, even though the recent US sanctions were tantamount to overt aggression.
Ed Note: George Galloway vs. the warmonger parrot who is very similar to US Republican right wing zealots including Presidential contenders:
I believe the US will exploit the situation to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. But, even more importantly, the US will target Iran’s conventional missiles. Indeed,
I believe this is the real reason for US sanctions in the first place,
and for the buildup of tensions in recent days. Despite public
perceptions, and all the rhetoric about nukes, the present crisis has
nothing to do with Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program. In my
opinion, that is just a cover story.
The real issue is the fact that Iran has upgraded its medium
range conventionally-armed missiles with GPS technology, making its
missiles much more accurate. This
means Iran can now target Israel’s own nuclear, bio and chemical
weapons stockpiles, located inside Israel, as well as the Dimona nuclear
reactor.
In short, Iran has achieved a conventional deterrent to Israel. Therefore, statements by Iranian officials that Iran has no nuclear weapons program are in my view probably correct. Presently, Iran does not need nukes to deter Israel. It can do so with its GPS-guided medium range missiles. The
Israelis are no doubt gnashing their teeth over this, because they now
find themselves threatened by their own WMD stockpiles, and by their own
nuclear reactors, especially Dimona, all of which have become targets.
A few direct hits by Iran could cause a toxic plume, killing
thousands of Israelis. A worst case might signal the end of the Jewish
state.
It
is important to realize that Iran would never launch a pre-emptive
strike on Israel because the Iranians know that the US/Israeli response
would be devastating. However, if Iran comes clickunder
attack first, all bets are off. Iran will defend itself. A counter
attack on Israel cannot be ruled out because Iranian leaders understand
clearly (even if the American people do not) that the crisis has been
manufactured, on Israel’s behalf.
From the Israeli standpoint, the present Iranian deterrent (though
conventional) is simply unacceptable. Israel’s military strategists have
always insisted on total freedom of movement. This is why
Israel refused a US offer many years ago to sign a defense pact with the
US. Such a treaty would have limited Israel’s freedom of movement, and
this was unacceptable. Israel’s leaders preferred to remain independent.
Israel has always insisted on the “freedom” to intimidate its
neighbors, whenever and howsoever it chooses. Iran’s conventional
missiles now curtail that “freedom.” Israeli officials probably worry,
for example, that Iran’s conventional missiles would limit its freedom
to attack Hezbollah in Lebanon, in a future conflict. Hezbollah is
closely allied with Tehran.
I
believe the present crisis has been manufactured to create the pretext
for a US air campaign to take out Iran’s conventional missile sites. The US will also target Iran’s nuclear facilities, but the
primary target will be Iran’s conventional missiles. The US will be
doing Israel’s bidding. The Zionist tail will be wagging the servile US
dog.
Obviously, you can’t generate public support for such a
bombing campaign, on Israel’s behalf. Hence the cover story about nukes
and the alleged Iranian threat to wipe Israel off the map, all of which
is untrue but very effective propaganda nonetheless.
The problem for the US is that depriving Iran of its conventional
deterrent will not be easy to accomplish. Indeed, it will be even more
difficult than taking out all of Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran’s
conventional missiles are probably dispersed widely. If they come under attack, the purpose of the air campaign will be transparently obvious to the Iranian leadership. Faced
with the prospect of losing their deterrent, the Mullahs may well
decide to fire their conventional missiles. If they do and manage some
direct hits on Israel’s nuclear-bio-and chemical weapons stockpiles, the
ensuing disaster will prompt an Israeli response. Israel may even
resort to the Samson Option, and attack Iran with nukes. Words cannot
describe the horrific scale of such an outcome. Unfortunately, it is all
too possible.
Early in the war, US naval forces in the Gulf will also come under
attack. No mistake, Iran has enough anti-ship cruise missiles to pose a
grave threat to the US naval presence in the Gulf. Thousands of US sailors are now in harm’s way, and at risk.
We must rally to prevent such a war. Peace activists must now
marshal every asset for peace that we possess. The American people need
to know the truth. This is a phony crisis. Yet the danger is very real.
Now is the time to speak out with all of our strength. Tomorrow could
come too late.
Mark H. Gaffney is an environmentalist, peace activist, researcher, and the author of The First Tree of the Day; Gnostic Secrets of the Naassenes and Dimona, the Third Temple? His articles and essays have appeared in numerous journals, magazines, and newspapers. He lives in Chiloquin, Oregon.
Ed Note: For more on the current US/Iran/Israel crisis, click here to listen to Omar Nashabi, Philip Giraldi and Mark Dankof offer their insights in a recently conducted Press TV interview :
‘US, Israeli covert ops targeting Iran’
Editing: Debbie Menon
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2012/01/06/behind-the-deepening-crisis-with-iran-the-real-story-versus-the-cover-story/
0 Comments