Russia: U.S. still preparing cruise missile strike on Iran

Background
As background, read Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38-39. These Scriptures speak of the destruction of Damascus, and a major nuclear war involving Russia, Persia (Iran), and most of Islamic North Africa (with the notable exception of Iraq).

Iran and Russia have had a mutual defense treaty for some time. In March of 2006 Syria joined this treaty.

Israel has been surrounded by enemies since it’s beginning. Israel is widely believed to have around 250 nuclear weapons. Part of Israel’s military/political planning is said to be “The Sampson Option.” This doomsday option says that if Israel is about to be over-run and destroyed, or if Israel is attacked with WMD, Israel will respond with a nuclear strike against the capitals of all of it’s enemies.

Current Events
Let’s say that Israel or the US attacks Iran in an attempt to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Iran could, and probably would, invoke the mutual defense treaty. They might also attempt to respond with missile based weapons of mass destruction, possibly including nuclear weapons acquired on the black market. Russia and Syria could be forced to retaliate, quite possibly drawing in other Muslim states in the area.

This could fulfill Ezekiel 38:4-5, referring to Russia: “And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet….” The phrase “put hooks into your jaws” specifically means being compelled to do something, possibly against your immediate wishes.

If one of these states causes Israel to invoke the Sampson Option, Israel could nuke Tehran, Damascus, and other capitals. This could fulfill Isaiah 17:1 about Syria: “Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins.”

What brings this to mind now is a story on worldtribune.com:

Russia: U.S. still preparing cruise missile strike on Iran

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

MOSCOW — The United States is planning to launch a war with Iran with a salvo of cruise missiles against military and other strategic facilities, a Russian official said.

A leading Russian analyst close to the government of President Vladimir Putin said the Bush administration has been preparing a major air strike against Iran. The analyst said the Iranian release of 15 British Marines abducted in early April has hampered but not canceled U.S. attack plans.

"Preparations to strike Iran's strategic facilities continue," Col. Gen. Leonid Ivashov, president of the Academy for Geopolitical Problems, said. "Three major groups of U.S. forces are still in the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. Altogether, they have up to 450 cruise missiles on alert."

[On Tuesday, the London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat daily quoted French military sources that assessed a U.S. strike on Iran in 2007. The sources said Iran could be making a major mistake in underestimating U.S. intentions and capabilities.]

The assessment was the latest by government-financed Russian military analysts that warned of a U.S. war against Iran. Over the last two weeks, some analysts have raised the prospect of a U.S. air strike over the next few weeks.

"Combat nuclear weapons may be used for bombing," Ivashov said. "This will result in radioactive contamination of the Iranian territory, which could possibly spread to neighboring countries."

On April 8, Ivashov, who heads a government think tank, told the Interfax-AVN news agency that the U.S. Navy would be the lead service in the military campaign against Iran. He said the attack would begin with a salvo of advanced cruise missiles.

"Military operations against Teheran will begin with the launch of at least two unexpected strikes using Tomahawk cruise missiles and air power in order to disable Iran's air defense capabilities," Ivashov said.

The general said the U.S. military plans to employ up to 150 fighter-jets in the two air strikes on Iran. In the first stage, he said, the United States would destroy Iran's air defense umbrella, including the new Russian-origin TOR-M1 mobile surface-to-air missile systems.

Ivashov said the U.S. campaign would target command centers, air defense batteries, naval vessels and air bases. In the second stage, the general said, the U.S. military would target Iran's nuclear facilities.

"Nuclear facilities may be secondary targets," Ivashov said. "According to expert assessments, at least 20 such facilities need to be destroyed in order to stop Iran's nuclear program."

Ivashov said Iran could respond by firing the Shihab-3E intermediate-range missile toward Israel. He said this could result in Israeli nuclear retaliation.

"If Iran strikes back at Israel with missiles, Tel Aviv is likely to use nuclear weapons on Iran," Ivashov said. "Development of the situation would undermine stability not only in the Middle East, but also in the entire world."

This is not the first report I have read coming out of Russia about the US preparing for a strike against Iran. While one must always wonder why Putin would allow such a story to be printed, nevertheless it sounds plausible. I have also recently read that a third nuclear aircraft carrier battle group has sailed for the Persian Gulf area. Three carrier battle groups is an awesome military force.

I should point out that I thought a similar scenario might play out last summer, during the Israel/Hezbollah war. It didn't. I was wrong then, I could also be wrong now. Only God knows when Ezekiel's war will happen.

However, the timing may be right this summer. The third carrier battle group will be in position. President Bush believes that the Iranian nuclear program is a clear and present danger to the US. Allowing Iran to become a nuclear power would be catastrophic for the US and Western civilization. Mr. Bush probably also believes that none of the Democratic presidential candidates would be up to the challenge, if elected (I agree). Next year is a presidential election year, and as early as the campaign has gotten into gear this time it would be very hard to launch such an attach any later than early fall.

My guess is that this attack on Iran's nuclear facilities and military will probably happen this summer.