A Close Call

[wjousts]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/06/30/wiran30.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/06/30/ixportal.html

America's military commander in Iraq ordered British troops to prepare a full-scale ground offensive against Iranian forces that had crossed the border and grabbed disputed territory, a senior officer has disclosed.

An attack would almost certainly have provoked open conflict with Iran. But the British chose instead to resolve the matter through diplomatic channels.

Richard Clarke's book had something on a similar close call:

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5372497

In a chapter entitled "That Almost War, 1996," Clarke says former U.S. President Bill Clinton almost launched a war against Iran for what Washington says its support for terrorism against the United States.

However, Clarke says Clinton chose not to attack Iran but ordered an "intelligence operation" that seemed to have worked.

"Following the intelligence operation, and perhaps because of it and the serious U.S. threats, among other reasons, Iran ceased terrorism against the U.S.," Clarke wrote. "War with Iran was averted."

Any comments?

 

[aerocontrols]

A question:

I want to know if they began preparing the offensive or not.

 

[wjousts]

Re: A question:

I want to know if they began preparing the offensive or not.

I like to know that too. There is this:

"It did look rather nasty at the time," one official said. "But we were always confident it was a mistake and could be resolved by diplomatic means. We got in touch with Baghdad and said, 'Don't do anything silly; we are talking to the Iranians.' "

Which can be interpreted in many different ways. "Don't do anything silly" might mean they were ready to go, or maybe not.

 

[wjousts]

More fun with Iran

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3854921.stm

Iran has rejected claims by eight British servicemen that they were "forcibly escorted" into its territorial waters before being taken captive.

Just what are they up to?

 

[Hutch]

Just what are they up to?

Just a little political gamesmanship, Clauzewitz-style.

They know bloody well we are in no condition to attack/invade Iran and incidents like these, spun in the home-town papers, will help the Mad Mullahs hold onto power (Look how we are defending you from the evil infidels trying to intimidate us!!).

Make no mistake, Iran plans to have major influence in the outcome of the new Iraq, and probably has more and deeper agents working toward that end than we'll everknow about.

The Persians have been playing this game of nation-state politics for several thousand years, I would caution anyone not to underestimate them.

 

[Jocko]

Re: Re: A question:

Which can be interpreted in many different ways. "Don't do anything silly" might mean they were ready to go, or maybe not.

Considering the forces on station in the Persian Gulf enforcing the no-fly zones and whatnot, I can't see it being too difficult to put something together on short notice.