Attacking Iran?

Does the US seek to attack Iran as Salon believes?

Current and former American military and intelligence officials said that Air Force planning groups are drawing up lists of targets, and teams of American combat troops have been ordered into Iran, under cover, to collect targeting data and to establish contact with anti-government ethnic-minority groups. The officials say that President Bush is determined to deny the Iranian regime the opportunity to begin a pilot program, planned for this spring, to enrich uranium.

Intrade will now pay more if Israel or the US launch a strike before 30 March 2007 than they would 6 weeks ago. So if you were indifferent then, and believe the Salon story, place your bets.

The Salon article analyses the likelihood of attack, the plausible form of the attack and provides pessimistic assessment of the military and strategic costs the Americans will face. Spectator argues that Iran already has missile technology that will carry nuclear warheads into Europe.

Update: The BBC report that Iran dismisses the prospect of an attack as 'psychological warfare' while the UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Staw, sees no basis for the claim. Again the BBC report President Bush dismisses as speculation that a nuclear attack on the nuclear faciities in Iran might occur. The Iranians counter that US 'news' of a possible attack is 'psychological warfare' - that if the US were going to attack it would not be pre-announced.

(Thanks Rabee for the Salon reference).