Tough to know who’s behind the leaks and why. But here you go:
Iran’s nuclear program goes beyond limited strikes and would effectively unleash a war against the country, a former U.S. intelligence analyst said on Friday. “I’ve seen some of the planning … You’re not talking about a surgical strike,” said Wayne White, who was a top Middle East analyst for the State Department’s bureau of intelligence and research until March 2005. “You’re talking about a war against Iran” that likely would destabilize the Middle East for years, White told the Middle East Policy Council, a Washington think tank.
The “destabilize the Middle East for years” part makes it sound like your typical, anti-Administration State Department leak (hey, that would be a first!) But this could also be an Administration leak to turn up the pressure on Iran. Either way, it’s nonsense – the US simply does not have the boots to launch a full scale war against Iran.
Bonus: the bottom of the article discusses the centrality of oil – and of oil prices – to the rudimentary Iranian economy. If Saudi Arabia really does what they’ve been threatening – amp up production and crash oil prices – then things could get quite interesting indeed.
Previously: Turns Out, Iran Won’t Stop Developing The Nukes That They Really, Really Want, Iran Sanctions Blah Blah Blah, OneJerusalem.org Conference Call with Senator Rick Santorum
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