The George W Bush administration plans to launch an air strike against Iran within the next two months, an informed source tells Asia Times Online, echoing other reports that have surfaced in the media in the United States recently.
Two key US senators briefed on the attack planned to go public with their opposition to the move, according to the source, but their projected New York Times op-ed piece has yet to appear.
The source, a retired US career diplomat and former assistant secretary of state still active in the foreign affairs community, speaking anonymously, said last week that that the US plans an air strike against the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The air strike would target the headquarters of the IRGC's elite Quds force. With an estimated strength of up to 90,000 fighters, the Quds' stated mission is to spread Iran's revolution of 1979 throughout the region.
It appears the Bush Administration may be seeking direct hostilities with Iran. Launching a third war so close to the end of the term would be a remarkable step. The war aim would probably be to demonstrate military power and weaken Iran's conventional military forces. It would be an extremely risky move by the United States. As has been demonstrated, wars are unpredictable, especially wars that are not thoroughly thought out or waged not for a decisive outcome.
Generally reports like this are just intended to rile up anti-war/anti-Bush activists and alarm voters. However, even as one highly critical of the media and the left-wing activists, I am hesitant to disregard such reports. I think that Bush is likely seriously considering, given the rhetoric of the apparent Democrat candidate for President, that if he does not take action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons then they will obtain them after he leaves office. If it occurs, hopefully it is a Truman moment and not an LBJ one.
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