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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Debka: Moscow Says US Attacks Iran Apr 06 - 0040 hrs
2007-03-28
DEBKAfileÂ’s military sources note that the exercise was launched March 27 the day before the Arab League summit opens in Riyadh, to demonstrate the Bush administrationÂ’s determination not to let Iran block the Strait of Hormuz to oil exports from the Persian Gulf, or continue its nuclear program.

Taking part are the USS Stennis and USS Eisenhower strike forces.

With IranÂ’s Revolutionary Guards one week into their marine maneuvers, military tensions in the Gulf region are skyrocketing and boosting world oil prices.

Intelligence sources in Moscow claim to have information that a US strike against Iranian nuclear installations has been scheduled for April 6 at 0040 hours. The Russian sources say the US operation, code-named "Bite," will last no more than 12 hours and consist of missile and aerial strikes devastating enough to set TehranÂ’s nuclear program several years back.

The maneuver also occurs four days after 14 British seamen and one crew-woman were seized by an Iranian Revolutionary Guards warship, with no sign that their release is imminent.

London insists its marines were on routine patrol on the Iraqi side of the Shatt al Arb on behalf of the Iraqi government. Tony Blair has threatened "a new phase" in the crisis if the captured personnel are not speedily released.

The warplanes are flying simulated attack maneuvers on enemy shipping with aircraft and ships, hunting enemy submarines and seeking mines, off the coast of Iran.

US Navy Cmdr Kevin Aandahl declined to say when the maneuver was planned or how long it would last. He said US warships would stay out of Iranian territorial waters up to 12 miles from the Iranian coast. Tehran does not recognize this limit and claims a deeper stretch of water.

Our military sources explain the presence of the French naval strike group led by the nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle which joined the two US carriers last Friday: The group will carry out security missions in the Arabian Sea and its warplanes fly in support of NATO in Afghanistan.
Posted by:Anonymoose

#40  The USA is and has gone to shit. No leadership, cowards running the country. Afraid to set things right. It's so frustrating watching what bushy does...which is nothing. Bushy doesn't matter anymore. I should have voted for Kerry, at least all the BS would be over. Some real attacks on US soil would happen again and more US citizens die and nothing will be done about it except for the most important thing, trying to understand why they hate us. Let's just let it happen again, buy a Muslim a gun. Let's start helping their cause. I can start beating my wife for no good reason and do any chicks I want...and if they don't like the way I do them I can beat them to. Let's just give up and let them have their way. Give the left what they want.
Posted by: Saveababykillademocrat   2007-03-28 23:13  

#39  It hasn't been clarified whether the "0040" hours is actually 12:40 am or 4am, whatever; it is probable an 'intentional leak' or messaged on an 'code broken' secured transmission for propaganda points. So it has to be seen if the US will 'alter' it's spring 'surprise offensive'!!
Posted by: smn   2007-03-28 21:29  

#38  Joe... That was awesome
Posted by: TomAnon   2007-03-28 21:09  

#37  Hezb'allah are known to be in the US, slipped tracking and went underground. I imagine they could pull off a couple atrocities CONUS.

And do you think for one moment that the Iranians could possibly refrain from boastfully taking credit for those same atrocities? Their hatred of America and admission of guilt would just as soon spell their doom. Were Iran to perpetrate a series of 9-11 magnitude atrocities on US soil, I would have no problem advocating that their entire nation be exterminated with nuclear fire. I doubt many other Americans would feel any different. Iran's morbid fascination with brinksmanship will be their death knell.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-03-28 14:58  

#36  Intrinsicpilot, they don't believe we'll attack. Think about it, they fought Iraq for eight years in the 80's and it ended in a stalemate. Then remember it took our forces a few weeks to totally conquer Iraq, so there are no tricks. They are piss ants. It's just the legacy of leaders like Jimmuh Carter and Bill Clinton and the current braying of the kennedy/kerry/pelosi/murtha types that has convinced the Mad Mullahs that we are pussies. That is the danger of the donk approach and it is what makes leaders like carter, clinton and chirac so dangerous. Piss ants like the Iranians think they can get away with all kinds of crap. It has to stop somewhere and diplomacy has failed. Bush needs to take action while he still can and let kennedy/kerry/pelosi/murtha bray.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2007-03-28 14:53  

#35  They learned it from what they have observed. They say they want to fight then back down once the US really climbs in the ring. Repeat over and over to wear the US down, exploit the military budget/resources and drive up gas prices to piss evryone off. Then they watch the US news to see the libs dare GB to get involved in another fight. The Hostages will be released soon and they dont even get a wrist slap.
Posted by: johnniebartlett   2007-03-28 14:49  

#34  The dreaded 12th Immam will pop out of his well and sweep across the entire world, laying waste to infidels and their cursed infrastructure, but not harming any virgins.
Posted by: Bobby   2007-03-28 14:48  

#33  Hezb'allah are known to be in the US, slipped tracking and went underground. I imagine they could pull off a couple atrocities CONUS.
Posted by: Wheating Angereper3174   2007-03-28 14:46  

#32  I've always felt Iran has a trick or two up their sleeve if we attack. They have been BEGGING us to attack for a couple of years. Any thoughts on what they might try to do?
Posted by: Intrinsicpilot   2007-03-28 13:52  

#31  I feel we've missed the obvious choice ...

Operation Flying Pig
Posted by: doc   2007-03-28 12:55  

#30  Operation "Thor's Hammer", launched at 0400, April 1, 2007, with three US Carrier Air groups, everything we have in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus whatever we can fly up from Diego Garcia (plus whatever sub- and ship-launched Tomahawks are available). Hit the nuke sites with nukes, everything else with conventional weapons and napalm, Burn Khark Island to the ground, destroy the refineries in Abadan, totally level Bandar Abbas, and hit every airfield, naval shipyard, army barracks, and any other militarily significant target. Use napalm on the anti-ship missile platforms - it'll cook 'em off even if it doesn't destroy them. Have US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan on high alert for the attacks. Step back and tell Iran "This is the first step. We'll ratchet up the attacks until you surrender." Then follow through. I don't remember who said it, but it fits this situation to a "T": "It's always easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission". Bush should make the attack, then go on national television and say what he's done, and why, going all the way back to 1979. The American people will support him, and the Donkeys will have to seethe in private.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2007-03-28 12:50  

#29  trailing wife----ya beat me to it on the April 1st date. But that is because I am 4 time zones behind ye.

I read Joe M's massive missive last night before bed. It was like reading a telegram, but it made sense, in its wordy way. Good post, Joe!
Posted by: Alaska Paul at Homer, Alaska   2007-03-28 12:16  

#28  I'd like to see Joe on The View debating Rosie.

But, hey, if the Mad Mullahs think we're gonna do it on April 6 we should do it sooner so they don't have time to evacuate Qom.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2007-03-28 11:35  

#27  Operation More Cowbell.
Posted by: Anon4021   2007-03-28 11:22  

#26  To me it sounds like we intentionally leaked fake attack timing through Moscow as a warning to the Iranian leadership that we aren't bluffing and that real action WILL take place if they don't back down. The military exercise is another such warning. It seems likely there will be a few more such signals, both public and secret, before the actual event, giving the Iranians jangly nerves and showing them that we control the flow of the events, not them. So far, they've been sending hardline signals back (e.g. the Brit sailors) but there is the possibility they might crack because even people as irrational as some of the hardline mullahs can see the complete disparity of forces and also be mindful of Saddam's fate in the end.
Posted by: odysseus   2007-03-28 11:20  

#25  I thought it was scheduled for 3:30. Darn now we have to reset the nuke timers.
Posted by: Icerigger   2007-03-28 10:09  

#24  Operation Alexander Indus
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy   2007-03-28 09:52  

#23  Operation We Got Yer Mahdi Right Here, Pal.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-03-28 09:46  

#22  "All those weird names like Pave Low simply lack marketing pizzaz."

The US used "Pave" as a prefix for all sorts of systems, Paveway being the family of laser guided bombs, for example. "Have" was another system prefix, used chiefly (but not exclusively) on various countrmeasures and defense suppression devices.
My favorite was an IR countermeasure called "Have Charcoal." It worked by super-heating little ceramic bricks and ejecting them overboard as decoys.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy   2007-03-28 09:37  

#21  I think April 1st would be a lovely day. Not only is it April Fools Day in America, but it's my father's birthday. Destroying the Mullahs would be such a lovely birthday present for him -- he worked in Persia as translator for the British Army during the war, apparently.
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-03-28 09:30  

#20  I'm betting 0400 hrs on April 3rd -- right after the new moon. That would make it a Passover strike too -- seems appropriate.
Posted by: Darrell   2007-03-28 09:05  

#19  If I were me, I'd do it on April 1st just for the humor value. And the name would be Operation Bite Me. All those weird names like Pave Low simply lack marketing pizzaz.
Posted by: SteveS   2007-03-28 09:05  

#18  They've had it coming to them since 1979. April 6th isn't soon enough. 28 years is not a good response time for a behavior modification program.
Posted by: Darrell   2007-03-28 08:59  

#17  Now is the time for W to declare himself the 12th Imam, demand all Shiites convert to Christianity and let loose the dogs.
Posted by: Excalibur   2007-03-28 08:55  

#16  HAHA! Fooled You! We leaked the wrong date to the Russians. The actual attack is on April 5th.
NAh-nah-nah!
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-03-28 08:23  

#15  LOL AC.
Posted by: Shipman   2007-03-28 07:06  

#14  likely Russians leaked

Yup, like I wrote, this comes from russia-centered rightwingers.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2007-03-28 05:23  

#13  Oh, okay, so it translates loosely to "Up yours". Would be a good name as any. ;-)

Still, seems to me that what circulates in Froggistan has the same source (likely Russians leaked, but the ultimate origin may be obscured) as similar disinfo appearing in other periodicals/sites.

In my view, the earliest any action would be taken is 3 weeks from now. But likely it will take more time.

OTOH, supplying "interim" dates may be a good way to go. In fact, I would release "sure" dates every 10-14 days, for a period of 2-3 months. Can't imagine anything more demoralizing to the enemy readiness.
Posted by: twobyfour   2007-03-28 05:21  

#12  This 6 april date has been circulated in french rightwing online circles too (especially those who do have more than a fondness for russia and poot-poot, and a dislike of the americano-zionist/US-rael Empire).

Btw, on a light side, note that "operation bite" in english mean "opération bite", or operation c*ck or d*ck, in french.

Clearly, this is meant to Humiliate™ the Ummah by conveying the idea the MM are going to be heavily butt-raped, prison-style. When will the Humiliation™ cease, I ask you?!
Posted by: anonymous5089   2007-03-28 04:24  

#11  I'd rather have an Operation, period. Whether 2 words or 3, don't care.

However, at the place (heh) and time of our choosing.

As for Debka's predictions, it never failed me to have 2 buckets of salt handy. In 2003, they were off by some 14+ days as the start of Iraq war was concerned, while I was 3 days off (a shaker worth of salt ;-) ).
Posted by: twobyfour   2007-03-28 03:03  

#10  I'd rather have an Operation in two words than Simmons' three.
Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever)   2007-03-28 02:47  

#9  Maybe the correct name for the operation is: (Mahmoud) "Bite This"
Posted by: Lone Ranger   2007-03-28 02:09  

#8  WHILE WAR IS HORRIBLE, NO AMER SHOULD BE AFRAID OF WAR, CONVENTIONAL OR NUCLEAR, WHEN IT IS REALIZED ENEMIES INTEND TO DESTROY AMERICA ANYWAY NO MATTER WHAT IS DONE VIA APPEASEMENT = COMPROMISE. There are things in life and human behavior that only war = strength = force can resolve. * CHURCHILL [paraphrased]

Absolutely spot on, Joe. I wish your content was always this lucid clear.

why is it that the concepts of OWG + National-Global Socialism, etc. CANNOT BE DISCUSSED OPENLY AMONGST MAINSTREAM AMER ON ITS OWN MERITS, WHY MUST DEMOLEFTIES DISGUISE THEIR AGENDAS WHEN REPUBS ARE IN POWER, WHY MUST AMERICA FIRST BE DEGRADED + HUMILIATED, IFF NOT DESTROYED, IN ORDER TO DISCUSS THESE CONCEPTS!?

Some right fine questions, Joe. The left knows damn well that much of what they seek absolutely will not play in Peoria. Fortunately, sites like Rantburg (PBUF) [Peace Be Upon Fred] and others are busily ripping the mask from the left's agenda. Liberal self-loathing and anti-Americanism is quite simply writ in script far too large for anyone more sane than them to ignore.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-03-28 02:09  

#7  Oops, shouldn't have included that one. Opsec, you know. Hey it was just a joke.
Yeah, that's the ticket.
Just
A
joke.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy   2007-03-28 01:51  

#6  
Intelligence sources in Moscow claim to have information that a US strike against Iranian nuclear installations has been scheduled for April 6 at 0040 hours.

This is an outrage! How dare these upstart Russkies sell us out before our own media have a chance to do it!

RIA Novosti had this story a couple of days ago. Operation Bite: April 6 Attack by US Forces Against Iran Planned, Russian Military Sources Warn (Link is to an English translation.)
They put zero-hour at 0400, which would be more sensible. Btw, the code-names of US operations have had two words since about the mid-80s, Desert Storm for the '91 offensive, Iraqi Freedom in 2003, Hippie Roast for the upcoming attack on Berkeley.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy   2007-03-28 01:50  

#5  maybe they are just seeing where the leaks are.
Posted by: Fester Jomons8988   2007-03-28 01:50  

#4  Many Netters swear by DEBKA so it may be premature to automant discount 'em - it is clear that Dubya wants Moud to know Radical Iran "as is" will not be allowed to have nuclear weapons, nor to continue to support International Terror, nor to control/dominate the ME. As said times before, [IMO] Dubya is in "Fortress ME" mode - THE BALL IS IN MOUD'S CORNER AS TO HOW IRAN = RADICAL ISLAM WILL RESPOND TO US-LED/INDUCED LOCAL-REGIONAL-GLOBAL ISOLATIONISM + MILPOL CONTAINMENT. Osama & Co. have made it clear that any means will be considered = employed to cause or induce the PER SE defeat and destruction of the USA-West - WHILE WAR IS HORRIBLE, NO AMER SHOULD BE AFRAID OF WAR, CONVENTIONAL OR NUCLEAR, WHEN IT IS REALIZED ENEMIES INTEND TO DESTROY AMERICA ANYWAY NO MATTER WHAT IS DONE VIA APPEASEMENT = COMPROMISE. There are things in life and human behavior that only war = strength = force can resolve. * CHURCHILL [paraphrased] > "Nations or Societies that choose to die fighting will one day rise again, Nations or Societies that do not will not rise again and may be doomed to permanent oblivion andor irrelevance", or words to these effects. AS ALSO SAID TIMES BEFORE, ASSUMING THAT NEW 9-11's/AMER HISROSHIMAS OCCUR ANYWAY, WHICH DO ORDINARY AMERICANS PREFER - THAT AMER RESPOND = RETALIATE FROM A POSITION OF GEOPOL-NATIONAL STRENGTH, or vis-a-vis WEAKNESS; THAT AMER MILFORS BE "OVER THERE" NEAR, ON, OR INSIDE ENEMY BORDERS; VERSUS ENEMY MILFORS BEING "OVER HERE", i.e. BEING NEAR, ON, OR INSIDE OUR OWN + IN OUR CITIES AND BACKYARDS! In the Land of America, not Amerika - the USA, not USSA - why is it that the concepts of OWG + National-Global Socialism, etc. CANNOT BE DISCUSSED OPENLY AMONGST MAINSTREAM AMER ON ITS OWN MERITS, WHY MUST DEMOLEFTIES DISGUISE THEIR AGENDAS WHEN REPUBS ARE IN POWER, WHY MUST AMERICA FIRST BE DEGRADED + HUMILIATED, IFF NOT DESTROYED, IN ORDER TO DISCUSS THESE CONCEPTS!? DOES GOVT SERVE THE PEOPLE, OR PEOPLE SERVE THE GOVT??? Remember, WOT > LEFT > may be about OWG + Communism-Socialism, among other reasons/
premises, BUT THE LEFT HAS NOT SAID SOCIALIST AMERIKA WILL BE THE ONE TO CONTROL OR DOMINATE SAID FUTURE OWG AND FUTURE SWO-CWO. LEFT > USA must LOSE, NOT WIN, the WOT, unilaterally/
voluntarily = forcibly.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-03-28 01:11  

#3  Isn't the 12th imam supposed to emerge from occultation right about then? What a treat it would be for Iran to get a hefty dose of whup-ass right at the time they're supposed to receive divine assistance. I hope against hope that our military planners truly comprehend the sort of double whammy this would be in terms of a propaganda grand slam. As in: "Your God has abandoned y'all, ya buncha worthless fuckwits!"

What better way to discredit Ahmadinejad than by simultaneously blitzing their much vaunted nuclear program and kicking Iran's military ass without the slightest intervention by their precious 12th imam? Trust me, I already know there'll be a huge number of Iranian clerics who will declare this to be a sign that their people were not Islamic enough. But you still gotta love the idea.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-03-28 00:41  

#2  Ah, Debka, with its wild predictions. I think they just do this to keep everyone off-balance. They have other material that is spot-on analysis.
Posted by: gromky   2007-03-28 00:29  

#1  So I guess we can be pretty sure it isn't going to happen at that time, if at all.
Posted by: crosspatch   2007-03-28 00:20  

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