CounterPunch
by Ray McGovern

08/07/05

"The exposure of these intelligence judgments is extremely well timed. It comes amid rumors that Vice President Cheney (yes, Vice President Cheney) has ordered up contingency plans for a large-scale air assault on Iran using not only conventional weapons but also tactical nuclear weapons to take out hardened underground nuclear facilities. The action would be framed as a response to a terrorist act -- whether sponsored by Iran or not -- on the United States. According to former CIA operative Philip Giraldi, senior Air Force officers involved in the planning are appalled that Iran is being set up for an unprovoked attack but, sadly, no one wants to jeopardize a career by posing objections. Sound familiar? Shades of the obeisance so prevalent among the martinet generals whom Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has promoted, or called out of retirement. These salute smartly and blindly follow the diktat of civilian officials with no military experience...

http://www.counterpunch.org/mcgovern08062005.html


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp