ATLANTIC MONTHLY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED SCENARIO ON WAR AGAINST IRAN

PanArmenian News
Nov 20 2004

20.11.2004 15:17

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Atlantic Monthly magazine for December 2004
published an extensive article on U.S. policy options regarding Iran.
As reported by the source, at a meeting of the war-game group ret.
Air Force Col. Sam Gardiner presented a war-game scenario, which
suggested using Azerbaijan for special forces and airborne attacks
against Iran, along with major thrusts from Iraq, Persian Gulf, and
additional support action from Afghanistan. It further determined
that air bases in Georgia and Azerbaijan were too small to handle
necessary traffic and suggested they be enlarged, dedicating $700
million for that purpose. These are Azerbaijan air bases in
Baku-Bina, Baku-Kala, Sumgait (Nasosny/Sitalchay), Kara Chala,
Kurdamir, Ganje, Daller, Nakhichevan, Lenkoran, Yevlakh. As it can be
seen, no territories controlled by Armenian forces are mentioned
here. The scenario further suggested: “SECDEF, in coordination with
the Secretary of State, is authorized to begin discussions with
Azerbaijan: – To preposition supplies in Azerbaijan that would
support the global war on terrorism. – To work toward expansion of
air bases in Azerbaijan to increase options for US forces in support
of the global war on terrorism. – To offer limited US assistance to
resolve the issues of Nagorno-Karabakh” Armenia did not figure in war
planning. The recommendations related to Azerbaijan and NK were part
of the initial scenario prepared by Col. Gardiner, however, as
reported by the magazine, they along with other preparations for a
potential war with Iran were turned down by the war game panel as
“detrimental to U.S. interests in Iraq.” In the end the panel
confirmed the conventional Washington wisdom that there is no
attractive military option in Iran, but that the President should
continue to threaten Iran anyway to make progress in negotiations.
The source notes that in the real world, meanwhile, U.S. remains
interested in using Azerbaijan in a potential conflict with Iran and
Azerbaijan conditions that use by America’s help against Armenians.
The original article can be found at

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress