US Officials: Attack On Syria May Lead To War With Iran

US Officials: Attack On Syria May Lead To War With Iran

By: DSWright Friday September 6, 2013 11:17 am

According to the Wall Street Journal, an attack by President Obama on the Assad government in Syria will lead to a series of retaliatory strikes by Iran and affiliates on US targets. Now a war with Iran is on the table.

The U.S. has intercepted an order from Iran to militants in Iraq to attack the U.S. Embassy and other American interests in Baghdad in the event of a strike on Syria, officials said, amid an expanding array of reprisal threats across the region.

Military officials have been trying to predict the range of possible responses from Syria, Iran and their allies. U.S. officials said they are on alert for Iran’s fleet of small, fast boats in the Persian Gulf, where American warships are positioned. U.S. officials also fear Hezbollah could attack the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

Missile and air strikes would likely kill some Hezbollah militants who are allied with Iran. An Iranian retaliation for attacking the Assad government would likely lead to the US retaliating against Iran – and now we may understand AIPAC's support. A war with Syria will lead to retaliations by Syria’s allies Iran and Hezbollah which would then justify strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities the Israelis have been practically begging for.

Is that what this is all really about – opening a door to war with Iran to stop their nuclear weapons program? There is considerable evidence the Al Qaeda linked opposition in Syria has used chemical weapons, no word from the Obama Administration on that. And we know America participated in Iraq gassing Iran, so the general principle or “norm” of stopping chemical weapons since World War I is nonsense.

Is that what this is all really about – opening a door to war with Iran to stop their nuclear weapons program? There is considerable evidence the Al Qaeda linked opposition in Syria has used chemical weapons, no word from the Obama Administration on that. And we know America participated in Iraq gassing Iran, so the general principle or “norm” of stopping chemical weapons since World War I is nonsense.

While the U.S. has moved military resources in the region for a possible strike, it has other assets in the area that would be ready to respond to any reprisals by Syria, Iran or its allies.

Those deployments include a strike group of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and three destroyers in the Red Sea, and an amphibious ship, the USS San Antonio, in the Eastern Mediterranean, which would help with any evacuations.

Thinking ahead are we?

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http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/09/06/us-officials-attack-on-syria-may-lead-to-war-with-iran/