US 'loses' war games

[cal04]

US 'loses' war games
US spy agencies have played out "war games" to consider possible pre-emptive strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, and concluded that strikes would not resolve Washington's standoff with Tehran, Newsweek magazine reported on Sunday. "The war games were unsuccessful at preventing the conflict from escalating," an unnamed air force source told the magazine in its latest issue. The central intelligence and the defence intelligence agency played out the possible results US strikes, the magazine reported.

Hawks within President George W Bush's administration have advocated for regime change in Tehran - through covert operations or force if needed, Newsweek said. But with US-led forces facing almost daily attacks in Iraq, no one in Bush's cabinet has taken up the cause, the report said. The United States believes Iran is using a civilian nuclear programme to mask a weapons development effort.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is strictly aimed at generating electricity, despite suspicions it is seeking to develop the capability to build nuclear weapons.

Uranium is enriched through centrifuges to make what can be fuel for civilian nuclear reactors but also the explosive material for atomic bombs.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1591895,00.html

The U.S. weighs the price of a pre-emptive strike
NEWSWEEK has learned that the CIA and DIA have war-gamed the likely consequences of a U.S. pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. No one liked the outcome. As an Air Force source tells it, "The war games were unsuccessful at preventing the conflict from escalating."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6039135/site/newsweek/

[mhr]

1. Proof Positive Mothers That * Plans To Murder Thousands Of Your Sons Soon

eom

[unblock]

2. how about a nice game of chess?

[jayfish]

4. Later...

Let's play... global... thermo... nuclear war.


Jay

[sidpleasant]

12. "The choice is yours..."

"... obey and live, or disobey and die."

I can't remember whether that line is from Colossus: The Forbin Project or Dick Cheney's most recent campaign speech.

[proud patriot]

3. We lost the pre - Iraq war games too .. bush still went ahead with

the losing plan .

[HawkerHurricane]

5. Ah, but we aren't losing the way the wargames said we'd lose...

The important thing about wargames is not winning or losing, but LEARNING.

Aparently, Bush can't learn.

During the 2nd World War, the Japanese Navy gamed out thier Midway operation. In it, the 'US' side launched a surprise attack with 2 carriers, sinking 2 Japanese carriers... but the umpire overuled the simulation, and said only one carrier was sunk, the other damaged, and the Japanese side went on to win the game... and then, for the next (simulated) operation (against Port Moresby), the umpire allowed the sunken and damaged carrier to participate...

Alas for the Japanese, during the actual battle the US launched a surprise attack with 3 carriers, sinking 4 Japanese carriers while losing only one of thier own... and there was no umpire able to overrule the results...

[jayfish]

Strange Isn't It.

I am of the opinion that power of the United States' military comes not from it's budget, but from the lessons it has learned on the battlefield in its' short 228 year existence. Those lessons (even the most recent) seem to be slipping from our memory.

Jay

EDIT FOR TYPO

[Oilwellian]

6. This is stunning

How can the neocons believe they can attack ANOTHER sovereign ME country and do it unilaterally? If you look at a map, you'll see Iraq and 130,000 American troops are surrounded by Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and pissed off Turkey. Russia's not looking good and you never know about China.

We can't even handle Iraq. WTF are they thinking???

Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

7. If the U.S. attacked Iran I don't think Britain will be there

If Blair tried to get in on this one, the Labour Party would throw him out for sure.

[Tommy_Douglas]

16. Blair wouldn't be there at all...

He can't publically admit how he was duped. That'd be suicide, but he supported Iraq under the belief and word of George Bush that the United States would support the Palestine/Israel peace talks. And we all know how that's played itself out.

So no British support for Iran. I think the United States would be pressed to find any country to really contribute anything to an Iran endeavor.

Honestly though I really hope the Bush Administration never gets the chance. They need to be booted. I even saw Pat Buchanan on the Daily Show say as much.

[psychopomp]

8. Full disclosure on the part of Israel and Iran would be a good start

UN inspections and monitors for the both of them.

[Cronus Protagonist]

9. They should play this war game instead

Assassin Death Match
http://assassindeathmatch.com

[Ganja Ninja]

10. If you think gas prices are bad now wait until this crap hits the fan.

I guess that's the idea though. Gas at $5.00 + per gallon in '05, Mission Accomplished!

[colonel odis]

11. the u.s. is losing in lots of ways.

we are a nation in decline in just about every way imaginable.

[bluedeminredstate]

13. Bush will declare the games a catastrophic success

and pronounce it as an opportunity to spread freedom and the march of democracy.

[natrat]

14. these guys are bumbling

idiots

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. (nt)

[KeepItReal]

17. Precisely.

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