Iran Says It Could Attack US Bases

[Moby]

Good ole News Max.

They could say, "Iran Says It Can Defend Itself" but fear mongering so much better
Saturday, January 26, 2008 6:00 PM

CAIRO, Egypt -- Iran's top military commander said Saturday that his forces would retaliate against American military bases in the Persian Gulf if they are involved in any possible future attack on Iran.

General Mohammad Ali Jaafari, commander of the Iran's Revolutionary Guards, told Al-Jazeera television that it is Iran's "natural right to respond" if attacked by land or air.

But he assured Arab Gulf countries _ some of whom are home to U.S. military bases _ that only American forces would come under counterattack.

"We realize that there is worry among neighboring countries _ Muslim countries whose lands host U.S. military stations," Jaafari said. He spoke in Farsi, which the network dubbed over in Arabic.

"However, if the U.S. launches a war against us, and if it uses these stations to attack Iran with missiles, then through the strength and precision of our own missiles, we are capable of targeting only the U.S. military forces who attack us," he told the station.

On a recent visit to the Gulf countries, President Bush branded Iran the leading state sponsor of terror, and said "all options" against Tehran remain on the table.

Many of the Gulf's Sunni Arab states want Washington to keep Shiite Iran's ambitions in check, but are nervous about the impact of any military confrontation.

The U.S. military has several bases in Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Yemen. Many Gulf Arabs have expressed concern that those bases make them vulnerable to attack.


© 2008 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Smurf-Herder]

They could do that five years ago, when they first started deploying Shahab-3 ballistic missiles and Sunburn anti-ship cruise missiles. In fact, I think they said that back then, too.

[Cat slave]

And anyone is surprised by this?

[Moby]

No one is surprised by this. It's just interesting the headline in News Max at this time.

[Smurf-Herder]

No one is surprised by this. It's just interesting the headline in News Max at this time.

Not really. If Iran hadn't just restated it, there wouldn't be a story.

[Yirmeyahu]

Yeah. Iran saying it will defend itself if the US attacks is only newsworthy for the reason SirMoby stated, because of the propaganda spin NewsMax puts on it in their headline.

[Smurf-Herder]

Yeah. Iran saying it will defend itself if the US attacks is only newsworthy for the reason SirMoby stated, because of the propaganda spin NewsMax puts on it in their headline.

You don't think Iran makes these periodic statements for their own propaganda?

[Moby]

You don't think Iran makes these periodic statements for their own propaganda?
Iran made the statement because oil prices are slipping again. Such a statement by them will help increase prices. They know this.

The neoconservative media can then do the same to help raise oil prices and give people something to fear other then the economy.

I think they're both working their own propaganda here.

[Smurf-Herder]

Iran made the statement because oil prices are slipping again. Such a statement by them will help increase prices. They know this.

The neoconservative media can then do the same to help raise oil prices and give people something to fear other then the economy.

I think they're both working their own propaganda here.

I think you're just paranoid.

It was an Associated Press article reprinted in multiple news outlets.

Iran Says It Could Attack US Bases

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVuUtk7cBfBpoqd0rGmdjsSbb95gD8UDRED80

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Iran's top military commander said Saturday that his forces would retaliate against American military bases in the Persian Gulf if they are involved in any possible future attack on Iran.

General Mohammad Ali Jaafari, commander of the Iran's Revolutionary Guards, told Al-Jazeera television that it is Iran's "natural right to respond" if attacked by land or air.

But he assured Arab Gulf countries — some of whom are home to U.S. military bases — that only American forces would come under counterattack.

"We realize that there is worry among neighboring countries — Muslim countries whose lands host U.S. military stations," Jaafari said. He spoke in Farsi, which the network dubbed over in Arabic.

"However, if the U.S. launches a war against us, and if it uses these stations to attack Iran with missiles, then through the strength and precision of our own missiles, we are capable of targeting only the U.S. military forces who attack us," he told the station.

On a recent visit to the Gulf countries, President Bush branded Iran the leading state sponsor of terror, and said "all options" against Tehran remain on the table.

Many of the Gulf's Sunni Arab states want Washington to keep Shiite Iran's ambitions in check, but are nervous about the impact of any military confrontation.

The U.S. military has several bases in Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Yemen. Many Gulf Arabs have expressed concern that those bases make them vulnerable to attack.

Reprinted word-for-word in the Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2008/01/26/iran_says_it_could_attack_us_bases/

... the Sanfrancisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/26/international/i143921S20.DTL&feed=rss.business

... the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7258850,00.html

... ABC News:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=4195444

It's just another story .......... yet, you are attacking the press for printing it.

[Yirmeyahu]

You don't think Iran makes these periodic statements for their own propaganda?

Why do you ask? That doesn't follow from my observation that NewsMax used the statement for their own propaganda.

That being said, what propagandistic purpose does such a statement serve for Iran? How is it propaganda to say if you attack us, we will defend ourselves and retaliate?

Iran made the statement because oil prices are slipping again. Such a statement by them will help increase prices.

How so? This is clearly a reaction to the Pentagon propaganda about the Iranian "provocation" in the Straits of Hormuz.

It's just another story .......... yet, you are attacking the press for printing it.

I can't sepak for SirMoby, but I don't perceive him as "attacking the press" for printing the story. I see him as observing the propaganda spin to the headline. So it's an AP story, not a Newsmax story. Ok. The observation is still valid.

[Smurf-Herder]

Why do you ask? That doesn't follow from my observation that NewsMax used the statement for their own propaganda.

That being said, what propagandistic purpose does such a statement serve for Iran? How is it propaganda to say if you attack us, we will defend ourselves and retaliate?



How so? This is clearly a reaction to the Pentagon propaganda about the Iranian "provocation" in the Straits of Hormuz.



I can't sepak for SirMoby, but I don't perceive him as "attacking the press" for printing the story. I see him as observing the propaganda spin to the headline. So it's an AP story, not a Newsmax story. Ok. The observation is still valid.

Whaty spin?

Everybody just reprinted a story.

You people are conspiracy nuts.

[Yirmeyahu]

Smurf-Herder, there is a very big difference between saying "We will defend ourselves!" or "We will retaliate if attacked!" and "We will attack you!"

The headline suggests Iran is being belligerent and making aggressive statements when in fact Iran is simply saying it will defend itself by whatever means necessary if attacked.

[Smurf-Herder]

Smurf-Herder, there is a very big difference between saying "We will defend ourselves!" or "We will retaliate if attacked!" and "We will attack you!"

The headline suggests Iran is being belligerent and making aggressive statements when in fact Iran is simply saying it will defend itself by whatever means necessary if attacked.

And why did they even say that now, anyway?

[Yirmeyahu]

And why did they even say that now, anyway?

Isn't it obvious? The US continually threatens Iran and hints at possible attacks against the country. And surely you didn't miss the big propaganda hype about the Iranian "provocation" in the Straits of Hormuz recently, and the US response to it, which consisted of a lot of puffing up and cowboy talk about what we're going to do to Iran if the "provoke" us again, with "all options" "on the table".

It's hardly irrational for Iran to say that if the US attacks, it will defend itself. Nor is the timing any particular mystery.

[KrisW]

Meanwhile the Iranian centrifuges continue to churn.

[Yirmeyahu]

Yes. Iran is a member of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, so it is perfectly legal for Iran to enrich uranium for use in its nuclear program. It is not enriching to weapons grade.

[Independent Harry]

you know i honestly dont get it. Everyone is so afraid of Iran getting nukes, so what, we've got 2000 of them. If Iran launched on nuke at us, we would turn that country into a pile of glass...no one would be that stupid

[Yirmeyahu]

Yes, it would be suicidal. But that's almost a moot point. Nobody wants Iran to have nukes. There is no solid evidence that Iran is working on building the bomb or has intentions with its nuclear program for anything other than producing energy. Statements to the contrary are pure speculation, unsupported by the available facts.