Red Horses Of The Chariot

A new piece by Seymour Hersh in the New Yorker says that President Bush is so adamant about denying Iran the ability to develop nuclear weapons that serious plans are being made to pre-emptively nuke that Persian Gulf nation.

A government consultant with close ties to the civilian leadership in the Pentagon said that Bush was "“absolutely convinced that Iran is going to get the bomb" if it is not stopped. He said that the President believes that he must do "what no Democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do,"” and "“that saving Iran is going to be his legacy."...

In recent weeks, the President has quietly initiated a series of talks on plans for Iran with a few key senators and members of Congress, including at least one Democrat. A senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, who did not take part in the meetings but has discussed their content with his colleagues, told me that there had been "“no formal briefings," because "“they're reluctant to brief the minority. They're doing the Senate, somewhat selectively."

The House member said that no one in the meetings "“is really objecting"” to the talk of war. "“The people they'’re briefing are the same ones who led the charge on Iraq. At most, questions are raised: How are you going to hit all the sites at once? How are you going to get deep enough?" (Iran is building facilities underground.) "“There'’s no pressure from Congress"” not to take military action, the House member added. "“The only political pressure is from the guys who want to do it." Speaking of President Bush, the House member said, "“The most worrisome thing is that this guy has a messianic vision."” ...

One of the military'’s initial option plans, as presented to the White House by the Pentagon this winter, calls for the use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear weapon, such as the B61-11, against underground nuclear sites...

According to a former senior intelligence official:

"These politicians don'’t have a clue, and whenever anybody tries to get it out"--—remove the nuclear option--"they're shouted down."

The attention given to the nuclear option has created serious misgivings inside the offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he added, and some officers have talked about resigning. Late this winter, the Joint Chiefs of Staff sought to remove the nuclear option from the evolving war plans for Iran--—without success, the former intelligence official said. "“The White House said, '‘Why are you challenging this? The option came from you.'"” ...

(A Pentagon advisor) also confirmed that some senior officers and officials were considering resigning over the issue. "There are very strong sentiments within the military against brandishing nuclear weapons against other countries," the adviser told me. "“This goes to high levels."”

On this blog we have been reporting heavily on the information operation against Iran for months now. Someone may be feeding Hersh material along these lines.

If not, things are gonna get hairy real soon.