U.S. Plans Iran Attack This Summer?

June 9, 7:56 PMProgressive Politics ExaminerJay McDonough

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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert emerged from his meeting with US President George W. Bush Wednesday saying he had "fewer questions" regarding the country's path, determination and timeframe for dealing with Iran, which was the central issue discussed.

Olmert declined to give further details, but said that "every day we are making real strides towards dealing with this problem more effectively."

"[It's] very important for the world to take the Iranian threat seriously, which the United States does," Bush said. "Iran is an existential threat to peace."

His language reflected the terminology Israel uses, referring to an Iranian nuclear weapon as an existential issue. Some Israeli officials have worried that the international community does not view the Iranian threat in such stark terms, and is seeking to make sure the US is on the same page on the issue.

"The international community has a duty and responsibility to clarify to Iran, through drastic measures, that the repercussions of their continued pursuit of nuclear weapons will be devastating," he said, noting the close coordination of Israel and the US on efforts to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

"Israel will not tolerate the possibility of a nuclear Iran, and neither should any other country in the free world."

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 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.

(Iran) could step up support for insurgents in Iraq and for its allies throughout the Middle East. Iran aids both Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Israel's Occupied Territories. It is also widely suspected of assisting Taliban rebels in Afghanistan.

Iran could also choose direct confrontation with the US in Iraq and/or Afghanistan, with which Iran shares a long, porous border. Iran has a fighting force of more than 500,000. Iran is also believed to have missiles capable of reaching US allies in the Gulf region.

Iran could also declare a complete or selective oil embargo on US allies. Iran is the second-largest oil exporter in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and fourth-largest overall. About 70% of its oil exports go to Asia. The US has barred oil imports from Iran since 1995 and restricts US companies from investing there.

China is Iran's biggest customer for oil, and Iran buys weapons from China. Trade between the two countries hit US$20B last year and continues to expand. China's reaction to an attack on Iran is also a troubling unknown for the US