Iran Claims To Have Shot Down More Drones Than Previously Reported

RQ-11 Raven. Wikipedia

Iran Claims Shooting Down 2 U.S.-Made RQ-11 Drones -- Defense News

TEHRAN — Iran on Jan. 2 said it had shot down two U.S.-made RQ-11 reconnaissance drones in the past 15 months, adding to a ScanEagle drone and RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft it already claims to have captured.

“The army’s air defense shot down two... RQ-11 drones,” Rear Admiral Amir Rastegari told state television and Fars news agency, adding that the army was carrying out “research” on the downed unmanned aircraft. He said the first had been brought down in Shahrivar 1390 (August-September 2011) and the second in Aban 1391 (October-November 2012), but gave no details of their location.

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More News On Iranian Claims That They Have Shot Down More U.S. Drones Than Reported

Iran Navy downs two RQ-11 drones in last 2 years: Iran cmdr. -- Press TV (Iran)
Iran claims it captured 2 small RQ-11 US drones in past missions -- Washington Post/AP
Iran claims shooting down two US-made RQ-11 drones -- The Australian/AFP
Iran says captures 2 US-made miniature surveillance drones -- Reuters

My Comment: The RQ-11 has an effective operational radius of approximately 10 km .... so the Raven's operators must have been very close to Iranian forces when these drones were shot down.

Did The United States Just Set A March Deadline For War With Iran?

Final Countdown -- Foreign Policy

Did the United States just set a March deadline for war with Iran?

If you have followed the covert and diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon over the past five years, you know that new or noteworthy movements from Tehran, Tel Aviv, or Washington are few and far between. Iran makes fantastic claims about advances in its civilian nuclear program, many of which are subsequently confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Israel threatens to attack Iran in a thinly veiled effort to impel the P5+1 negotiating group (China, Russia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany) to increase economic and diplomatic sanctions; and American officials repeatedly pledge to prevent a nuclear Iran, while the U.S. military gradually strengthens its capabilities in theater and deepens its cooperation with Gulf states in order to contain Iran.

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My Comment: I see very little U.S. military movement in the next few months that will give substance to claims that the U.S. is preparing for war. Put 3-4 carrier groups in the Arabian Sea, B-2 bombers at Diego Garcia, and heightened defenses and security at U.S. installations in and around the Persian Gulf .... backed with a number of squadrons from the U.S. .... coupled with real sanctions, hurried diplomatic conferences, speeches at the UN and Congress, continuous media coverage and White House warnings .... and that is when I will know that the U.S. is serious about war. But for the moment .... all that I am seeing is a US diplomat and his boss 'talking tough'.

Did Iran Capture A U.S. Drone?

The ScanEagle weighs 40 pounds (18 kilograms) and has a 10-foot (3-meter) wingspan. The system carries cameras and is used “individually or in groups to loiter over trouble spots and provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data,” according to Boeing’s website. Source: Boeing Co.

Drone in Iran Appears to Be U.S.-Made, Pentagon Says -- Bloomberg Businessweek

The drone Iran says it captured appears to be a U.S.-made ScanEagle, Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

While Iran said it extracted valuable data from the unmanned aerial vehicle, Little told reporters today that it was “highly improbable” that useful intelligence could be gained from the relatively unsophisticated drone. He said it couldn’t be determined if the drone was operated by the U.S.

The ScanEagle, made by Boeing Co. (BA), is used by a number of countries and is less advanced than other unmanned aircraft employed by the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency, such as the Global Hawk and Predator.

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Update #1: Iran Tells U.S. To ‘Recount’ Drones -- Defense News/AFP
Update #2: Iran pulling data from captured drone -- UPI
Update #3: Iran says extracts data from U.S. spy drone -- Reuters

My Comment: The U.S. Navy is still sticking to their story that it does not belong to them.

Iran Claims To Have Captured A U.S. Drone. The U.S. Denies That It Has Lost Any Drones

Iran: We Captured Another U.S. Drone -- Danger Room

Iran has captured another U.S. drone, the country’s state-run Fars news agency reported overnight.

Ali Fadavi, commander of the naval branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, told Press TV (another state-run outlet) that the Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle was conducting a reconnaissance flight over the Persian Gulf when it entered Iranian air space and was captured.

Fadavi’s claim, and the Iranian footage, could be bunk. Even if the captured robot is real, it’s not clear whether it crashed or was somehow forced down. Cmdr. Jason Salata, a Navy spokesman, told the AP that all U.S. drones were “fully accounted for.” However, he did say that some Scan Eagles have been lost at sea in the past.

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More News On Iranian Claims (And U.S. Denials) That Another U.S. Drone Has Been Captured

Iran Claims It Captured U.S. Drone -- Wall Street Journal
Iran Claims It Captured US Drone -- Voice of America
Iran claims capture of US drone -- The Guardian
Iran: US ScanEagle drone 'captured over Gulf' -- BBC
Iranian TV Shows Captured US Drone -- Business Insider
Iran’s Claim of Drone Capture Is Denied by U.S. -- New York Times
U.S. denies Iran's reports of captured drone -- Reuters
No US Drones Missing After Iran Claim -- Time/AP
US Denies Report That Iran Downed Drone -- ABC News
US 5th Fleet has not lost any drones: spokesman -- AFP
Did Iran just down a US drone by 'spoofing'? (+video) -- Christian Science Monitor

My Comment: The U.S. Navy has lost this type of drone in the Persian Gulf in the past. With this info I therefore suspect that this is a U.S. drone in Iranian hands .... it sure looks like an American ScanEagle drone .... and that somehow (and somewhere) The Iranians were able to get their hands on one.

Speaking Candidly Of The Threat Of War With Iran

"If they sunk a tanker, that could shut the Strait for a couple of days or a week," Rear Admiral Shoemaker said adding "A massive mine-laying effort, though, would take a while to clear." Credits: theiranproject.com

Rear Admiral Shoemaker Speaks Candidly Of The Threat Of War With Iran -- The Examiner

In an article published today in the United Kingdom, Rear Admiral Mike Shoemaker, the commander of Carrier Task force 9 spoke candidly of the threat of war with Iran.

"Could there be a threat?" asked Rear Admiral Mike Shoemaker, the man who would command any mission to force open the sea lanes. "Yes is the answer. Is it manageable? Also yes."

“Admiral Shoemaker, runs through the likely threats: anti-ship cruise missiles; midget submarines; speedboats on suicide missions. Iran's conventional air force and navy are clapped out and no match for the US Navy, but they had years of practicing mine-laying”, he said.

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My Comment: He sounds very confident that they can counter any Iranian threat .... hmmmm .... I hope he is right.

Iran Accuses U.S. Of 'Illegal And Provocative Acts' In The Persian Gulf

Iran's U.N. Ambassador Mohammad Khazaei. Press TV

Iran Accuses U.S. Of 'Illegal And Provocative Acts' In Gulf And Warns Of 'Adverse Consequences' -- Daily Mail

Iran yesterday accused the U.S. Navy of carrying out 'illegal and provocative acts' in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman.

In letters to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council, Iran's UN ambassador Mohammad Khazaee said the Navy repeatedly violated the country's airspace.

He mentioned flights over the coastal areas of Bushehr on seven occasions in October, and most recently a U.S. drone flight on November 1 which ignored radio warnings and penetrated Iranian airspace.

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More News On Iran Accusing The U.S. Of 'Illegal And Provocative Acts' In The Persian Gulf

Iran accuses US Navy of ‘illegal and provocative acts’ in Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman -- Washington Post/AP
Iran accuses U.S. Navy of 'illegal and provocative acts' -- The Hill
Tehran Accuses U.S. Navy Of 'Illegal' Acts In Persian Gulf -- Radio Free Europe
Iran accuses US Navy of ‘illegal acts’ in Gulf -- RT
Iran Urges UN To Warn US Against ‘Illegal Acts’ In Persian Gulf -- International Business Times
Iran complains to UN over ‘illegal’ US acts -- Press TV (Iran)

One Way That The U.S. Can Get Iran's Attention Is To Remove All U.S. Carriers Out Of The Persian Gulf

The US Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise (Reuters/Aladin Abdel Naby

Remove The Carriers From the Persian Gulf -- Michael Rubin, Commentary

Several months ago, I asked a retired admiral what sign the United States could give that its patience had truly worn thin with Iran. “Remove the carriers from the Persian Gulf,” he responded. At first, that struck me as dumb: The Iranians would depict the American withdrawal as another sign that the United States was weak and in retreat. “Don’t worry,” he assured me. “Any Revolutionary Guardsmen worth his weight would understand.”

The Persian Gulf is shallow and the international shipping lanes relatively narrow. The Iranian navy has long drilled swarming American vessels with small boats. Even if Iran can’t sink an aircraft carrier, if it manages even to disable one, it will receive a huge propaganda boost. If the Pentagon kept its carriers outside the Persian Gulf in the deeper and open waters of the Sea of Oman, however, they would retain the same strike capabilities but could maintain greater maneuverability and remain outside the reach of the Iranian navy

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My Comment: I concur with this analysis .... it is also one of my red flags that tells me if the U.S. is becoming serious on striking Iran.

As to what are my other red flags ....

(1) B-2 Bombers stationed at Diego Garcia in great numbers.
(2) 3 (maybe 4) carrier strike groups near Iran
(3) U.S. squadrons stationed in greater numbers among our Gulf allies.
(4) Enhanced security at U.S. installations in Afghanistan.
(4) Positioning additional assets in Europe and Afghanistan

Iran Warns U.S. To Stop Drone Incursions

Iran Warns U.S. Over Drone Incident -- Washington Times

Iran issued a bellicose warning to the U.S. over the weekend, after American officials disclosed last week that the Islamic republic had tried to shoot down a U.S. drone in international airspace near the Iranian coast on Nov. 1.

“Yes, we opened fire, and it was with warning shots. If they do it again, they can expect an even stronger response,” said Gen. Amir-Ali Hadjizadeh, adding that the drone entered Iranian airspace and “had to turn around because of the immediate reaction by fighters of the Revolutionary Guards.”

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My Comment: The Iranians are probably right on this point.


Update: Iran believes U.S. drone was spying on oil tankers: report -- Reuters

3 Pressing Questions On The Recent U.S. - Iran Drone Skirmish

An MQ-1B Predator from the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron takes off from Balad Air Base in Iraq, in this June 2008 file photograph. (Courtesy of U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julianne Showalter/Reuters/File)

Iran Fires At US Drone: The Top 3 Pressing Questions -- Christian Science Monitor

Iranian military forces fired at a US Predator drone for the first time ever earlier this month, the Pentagon acknowledged this week. It’s a revelation that has raised a host of questions for the US military. Here are the top three.

1. Why did the White House wait so long to acknowledge Iran's actions?

Iranian jets fired at a US Predator drone on Nov. 1 – an occurrence the Obama administration didn’t acknowledge until one week later, on Nov. 8.

The more cynical critics on the blogosphere wondered aloud whether the delay had anything to do with the presidential election on Nov. 6 – speculation that Pentagon officials vehemently deny.

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My Comment: The question that is not asked but I would like to have answered is .... what exactly was the US drone looking at that would make the Iranians respond in the manner that they did. In short .... what did the drone see (or try to see) that the Iranians do not want anyone else to see.

Why Didn't The Iranian Pilots Down The U.S. Predator?

Wikimedia Commons

Watch The Drone: Why Didn't The Iranian Pilots Down The U.S. Predator? -- John Reed, Foreign Policy

So how is it that the pilots of those Iranian Su-25 attack jets failed to score any hits on the U.S. MQ-1 Predator drone that they shot at with 30 mm cannon last week?

Well, it can be difficult for a supersonic fighter to engage a super-slow prop plane -- which a Predator is. That's why the United States uses Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopters with snipers aboard to defend the airspace around Washington, D.C. (locals can see the orange Coastie helos tooling around DC's skies every day) against slow moving targets, like errant Cessnas.

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My Comment: Good question .... are Iranian pilots bad shots .... or did they miss on purpose?

Iran Confirms Shooting At U.S. Drone

 

Tehran Responds To Pentagon Claim Iran Warplanes Opened Fire On U.S. Drone -- CNN 

Update: An Iranian military official described the encounter as "decisive" action by Iran: "Iran will use all its capabilities, including the relevant international agencies, to follow up on this case," Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said Friday, according to Iran's semi-official news agency ISNA. Original story: Iran said Friday it would confront any effort to transgress its airspace, responding for the first time to accusations that two of its warplanes opened fire on a U.S. Air Force drone over international waters,

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 More News On Iran Confirming That They Shot At A US Drone Last Week 

 After attack on U.S. drone, Iran backs right to defend territory -- CNN
Iran says U.S. drone violated Iranian airspace -- Haaretz/AP
Iran Confirms Attack on US Drone -- Voice of America
Iran acknowledges firing at U.S. drone -- Washington Post
Iran confirms clash with US drone, claims it was in Iranian airspace (+video) -- Christian Science Monitor Iran, Saying Aircraft Trespassed, Confirms Drone Shooting Episode -- New York Times  Iran confirms firing at U.S. drone over Persian Gulf -- Tehran Times
Iran vows to confront violation of airspace: commander -- Xinhuanet
What to make of Iranian planes shooting at a US drone -- Natasha Lennard, Salon

U.S. Drone Attacked By Two Iranian Jet Fighters (Updated)

Iran Fired On Military Drone in First Such Attack, U.S. Says -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — Iranian warplanes shot at an American military surveillance drone flying over the Persian Gulf near Iran last week, Pentagon officials disclosed Thursday. They said that the aircraft, a Predator drone, was flying in international airspace and was not hit and that the episode had prompted a strong protest to the Iranian government.

The shooting, which involved two Russian-made Su-25 jets known as Frogfoots, occurred on Nov. 1 and was the first known instance of Iranian warplanes firing on an American surveillance drone. George Little, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said the Defense Department’s weeklong silence about the episode was a result of restrictions on the discussion of classified surveillance missions. He answered questions about it during a Pentagon news conference on Thursday only after it had been reported by news organizations earlier in the day.

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More News On U.S. Drone Attacked By Two Iranian Jet Fighters

Iran fired on U.S. drone over Gulf: Pentagon -- Reuters
Iran fired at unarmed US drone, Pentagon says -- FOX News
Iran Fired on U.S. Drone Before Vote -- Wall Street Journal
Iran fires twice at US drone aircraft, misses -- Christian Science Monitor
US Confirms Iran Fired on Drone -- Voice of America
Iran warplane fired at U.S. drone in early November -- Washington Post
Iranian jets 'fired on US drone' -- BBC
Iranian Fighter Jets Fire on US Predator Drone -- ABC News
Iran Fired on U.S. Predator Drone in Gulf, Pentagon Says -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Iranian fighter jets fired on US drone, Pentagon confirms -- The Guardian
CNN claims Iran shot at a US drone, revealing the news network's mindset -- Glen Greenwald, The Guardian

Update: Map: Where was the drone that Iran tried to shoot down? -- Washington Post

Pentagon: Iran Fighter Jets Fired On U.S. Drone In The Persian Gulf

Iranian Jets Fire On U.S. Drone -- Barbara Starr, CNN

Two Iranian Su-25 fighter jets fired on an unarmed U.S. Air Force Predator drone in the Persian Gulf last week, CNN has learned.

The incident raises fresh concerns within the Obama administration about Iranian military aggression in crucial Gulf oil shipping lanes.

The drone was in international airspace east of Kuwait, U.S. officials said, adding it was engaged in routine maritime surveillance.

Although the drone was not hit, the Pentagon is concerned.

Two U.S. officials explained the jets were part of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps force, which has been more confrontational than regular Iranian military forces.

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Update: Iran fired at unarmed US drone, Pentagon says -- FOX News

My Comment: This happened last week before the election .... and we are only learning about it now!!!!

Does Iran Want To Attack The U.S.?

Why Iran Wants To Attack The United States -- Matthew Levitt, Foreign Policy

The Islamic Republic's terror plots may look bumbling today, but what about tomorrow?

An Iranian-American used car salesman pleaded guilty this month to conspiring with Iranian agents to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States. Mansour Arbabsiar's guilty plea would appear to be the end of this story, but in truth it raises more questions than it answers.

The facts were never really in dispute. U.S. officials learned of the plot early on and built an airtight case. The assassin Arbabsiar tried to hire was in fact a DEA informant. Once arrested, Arbabsiar confessed. At the direction of law enforcement, he then called his cousin and Quds Force handler, Gholam Shakuri. With agents listening, Shakuri insisted Arbabsiar go ahead with the plot. "Just do it quickly. It's late."

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My Comment: A rather convincing argument from Matthew Levitt on why Iran is now focused on U.S. targets. Unfortunately .... Europe is not convinced.

Britain Refuses US Requests To Use UK Military Bases For Build-Up Of Forces In Gulf (Update)

British Officials 'Snub US Requests To Use UK Military Bases For Build-Up Of Forces In Gulf' As Fears Grow Over Iran's Nuclear Plans -- Daily Mail

* US officials have 'also asked UK diplomats for use of British bases in Cyprus'
* They want to 'fly from US bases on British territories in Atlantic and Indian Oceans'
* UK notes Attorney General advice saying Iran isn't 'clear and present threat'
* Helping forces in a pre-emptive strike would be 'breaking international law'

British officials have rejected US requests to use UK military bases for the growth of forces in the Gulf - as fears continue to grow over Iran’s nuclear capabilities, it was reported last night.

The Americans are also said to have asked to use British bases in Cyprus - and fly from US bases on the British territories of Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

But British ministers have referenced legal advice from the Attorney General, insisting Iran - which is still denying any plans for nuclear weapon development - does not pose ‘a clear and present threat’.

Read more ....

More News On Britain Refusing U.S. Requests To Use UK Military Bases Build-Up Of Forces In Gulf

Britain views pre-emptive strike on Iran nuclear facilities as illegal -- The Telegraph
Britain rejects US request to use UK bases in nuclear standoff with Iran -- The Guardian
Britain Rejects US Request To Use UK Bases In Nuclear Standoff With Iran -- Business Insider
Britain rejects U.S. request to use bases -- UPI
UK 'blocking US troop build-up requests' -- Defence Management
Report: UK says won't aid US strike on Iran -- YNet News
UK: Contingency planning with the US isn’t aimed at readying an imminent strike on Iran -- Washington Post/AP
UK Holds Talks With US on Possible Iran Scenarios -- ABC News/AP
UK refuses to ‘violate international law’ and aid US in Iran strike prep? -- RT
Britain is in no rush to tangle with Iran -- Julian Borger, The Guardian

Britain Refuses US Requests To Use UK Military Bases For Build-Up Of Forces In Gulf (Update)

British Officials 'Snub US Requests To Use UK Military Bases For Build-Up Of Forces In Gulf' As Fears Grow Over Iran's Nuclear Plans -- Daily Mail

* US officials have 'also asked UK diplomats for use of British bases in Cyprus'
* They want to 'fly from US bases on British territories in Atlantic and Indian Oceans'
* UK notes Attorney General advice saying Iran isn't 'clear and present threat'
* Helping forces in a pre-emptive strike would be 'breaking international law'

British officials have rejected US requests to use UK military bases for the growth of forces in the Gulf - as fears continue to grow over Iran’s nuclear capabilities, it was reported last night.

The Americans are also said to have asked to use British bases in Cyprus - and fly from US bases on the British territories of Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

But British ministers have referenced legal advice from the Attorney General, insisting Iran - which is still denying any plans for nuclear weapon development - does not pose ‘a clear and present threat’.

Read more ....

More News On Britain Refusing U.S. Requests To Use UK Military Bases Build-Up Of Forces In Gulf

Britain views pre-emptive strike on Iran nuclear facilities as illegal -- The Telegraph
Britain rejects US request to use UK bases in nuclear standoff with Iran -- The Guardian
Britain Rejects US Request To Use UK Bases In Nuclear Standoff With Iran -- Business Insider
Britain rejects U.S. request to use bases -- UPI
UK 'blocking US troop build-up requests' -- Defence Management
Report: UK says won't aid US strike on Iran -- YNet News
UK: Contingency planning with the US isn’t aimed at readying an imminent strike on Iran -- Washington Post/AP
UK Holds Talks With US on Possible Iran Scenarios -- ABC News/AP
UK refuses to ‘violate international law’ and aid US in Iran strike prep? -- RT
Britain is in no rush to tangle with Iran -- Julian Borger, The Guardian

Britain Refuses US Requests To Use UK Military Bases For Build-Up Of Forces In Gulf (Update)

British Officials 'Snub US Requests To Use UK Military Bases For Build-Up Of Forces In Gulf' As Fears Grow Over Iran's Nuclear Plans -- Daily Mail

* US officials have 'also asked UK diplomats for use of British bases in Cyprus'
* They want to 'fly from US bases on British territories in Atlantic and Indian Oceans'
* UK notes Attorney General advice saying Iran isn't 'clear and present threat'
* Helping forces in a pre-emptive strike would be 'breaking international law'

British officials have rejected US requests to use UK military bases for the growth of forces in the Gulf - as fears continue to grow over Iran’s nuclear capabilities, it was reported last night.

The Americans are also said to have asked to use British bases in Cyprus - and fly from US bases on the British territories of Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

But British ministers have referenced legal advice from the Attorney General, insisting Iran - which is still denying any plans for nuclear weapon development - does not pose ‘a clear and present threat’.

Read more ....

More News On Britain Refusing U.S. Requests To Use UK Military Bases Build-Up Of Forces In Gulf

Britain views pre-emptive strike on Iran nuclear facilities as illegal -- The Telegraph
Britain rejects US request to use UK bases in nuclear standoff with Iran -- The Guardian
Britain Rejects US Request To Use UK Bases In Nuclear Standoff With Iran -- Business Insider
Britain rejects U.S. request to use bases -- UPI
UK 'blocking US troop build-up requests' -- Defence Management
Report: UK says won't aid US strike on Iran -- YNet News
UK: Contingency planning with the US isn’t aimed at readying an imminent strike on Iran -- Washington Post/AP
UK Holds Talks With US on Possible Iran Scenarios -- ABC News/AP
UK refuses to ‘violate international law’ and aid US in Iran strike prep? -- RT
Britain is in no rush to tangle with Iran -- Julian Borger, The Guardian

An Iran Military Strike Would Be Difficult

Photo: Adm. Gary Roughead. Wikipedia

Pressuring Persia: Former CNO: Iran Military Strike Would Be Difficult -- Washington Free Beacon

The former chief of naval operations said a United States military strike against Iran would be difficult because of the size of the country and the distances to targets.

Retired Adm. Gary Roughead, who stepped down a year ago as the top Navy officer, expressed concerns about the consequences of a U.S. or Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“I think a military strike into Iran would set off a whole set of events,” he said when asked about a possible Israeli or U.S. strike against Iran in the coming years.

Roughead made the comments following a speech to a conference at the Hoover Institution in Stanford, Calif.

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My Comment: He is very blunt in his assessment, and deeply concerned that such a military strike will quickly escalate into a war that we are not prepared to fight.

Iranian Renews Cyberattacks Against U.S. Banks

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta speaks about the Defense Department’s responsibility in cybersecurity during the Business Executives for National Security meeting in New York, Oct. 11, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Iran Renews Internet Attacks on U.S. Banks -- Wall Street Journal

Officials Blame Tehran for Sophisticated Disruptions of Capital One and BB&T Websites; More Strikes Planned Thursday

WASHINGTON—Iranian hackers renewed a campaign of cyberattacks against U.S. banks this week, targeting Capital One Financial Corp. and BB&T Corp. and openly defying U.S. warnings to halt, U.S. officials and others involved in the investigation into the attacks said.

The attacks, which disrupted the banks' websites, showed the ability of the Iranian group to sustain its cyberassault on the nation's largest banks for a fifth week, even as it announced its plans to attack in advance.

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My Comment: These cyberattack reports are following on the heels of last week's comments from the Pentagon that the U.S. will respond to any organized cyberattack against the U.S.

Hmmmmm ..... makes you wonder if the Iranians (or someone else) is testing our limits and commitment.

Is Oil Dependence Undermining America's Effort To Stop The Iranian Bomb

Energy Insecurity: How Oil Dependence Undermines America's Effort To Stop The Iranian Bomb -- John Hannah, Shadow Government/Foreign Policy

Energy issues have figured prominently in Governor Romney's campaign. Achieving "North American energy independence" has been a central pillar of the 5-point economic plan that he's been touting -- including at last week's first presidential debate. A bit surprising, then, that in the governor's October 8th foreign policy speech, with its heavy emphasis on the Middle East, energy didn't even merit a mention.

Let's face it. Ensuring the free flow of oil has been the main driver of American strategy in the Middle East for decades. Our nation's economic wellbeing depends on a well-supplied global oil market, and countries in the Middle East account for a significant portion of the world's production. The cartel they dominate, OPEC, today controls between 30 and 40 percent of the international market while possessing the vast majority of the world's proven reserves.

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My Comment: This is partly true .... oil has (and is) always on the minds of U.S. policy makers. But .... when it comes to Iran there is a far more greater concern than the flow of oil .... it is the possibility of an armed conflict that can quickly spiral out of control.