However, there are still problems, and my concerns are not fully laid to rest yet. I’ll try to elucidate:

1) as you point out, the decomish story has holes in it, from several angles. this alone is worrisome. it makes the possibility that SOMETHING funny is going on more possible.

Well, I’m going from old knowledge, and one of the manufacturers is just down the road from Davis-Monthan. From that, it would make more sense, but I’ll have to wait on further info about a decommissioning program at Barksdale. If such isn’t going on there, then I’m sure someone will call bullshit on the Air Force’s story.

2) the navy has made it abundantly clear they DO NOT WANT A WAR WITH IRAN, particularly with most of our carrier assets snugged right next to Iran’s massive antiship missile capabilities. This means that if Boosh wants to nuke iran, he may not be able to count on the cooperatin of the Navy.

Protection of the carriers would be foremost in the Navy’s mind–that’s why I think they would be far enough offshore in the Arabian Sea to not be troubled by Iranian antiship capability. That, in itself, would not be enough to stop them from launching an attack if ordered. The Marines air squadrons would be happy do so, even if the Navy squadrons were not.

3) the AF, OTOH, has a lot more xtianists than the navy (remember that i’m from denver and the air force academy is right down the road. all the issues there (rapes, cheating, xtianist overt propagandizing and intimidation) were front page news for us. There are perhaps AF types who would like to have us nuke iran.

I can only go by what Hersh has written in this regard, and yes, he’s written that the Air Force is hot to trot on some sort of attack on Iran, nuclear or otherwise. There are air medals and generalships to be won…. But, I’m still counting on enough sense, even in the Air Force, to prevent the subterfuge you suggest.

4) however, the AF brass may not be as cooperative as the line xtianists. therefore it may have been decided to keep the op from them. it would not have been the first time as anyone who read about vietnam is well aware.

Oh, the AF brass knew, too, then. How else to account for, say, the planning of Operation Breakfast?

5) So let’s say that chimpy has decided to do a aerial theatre yield nuclear attack on the iranian military, but he wants to do it with no warning, no leaks, and no chance for the navy or top brass to squelch it. he has the cooperation of a few pilots and some line people at the target AFB.

Kind of far-fetched. If we stay out of la-la land, and look at the logistics of that, it would mean several air crews, three ground loading crews, manifest clerks, stocking clerks, etc., all enlisted. And none of it is necessary, since those weapons, as on carriers, would have been there, anyway, for contingency plan purposes.

Now, I’m going to throw you a ringer, in this regard. Remember what an Air Depot Squadron did, in the old days? That’s right…. Where’s the biggest one in Europe? That’s right…. What’s their main stockpile right now? That’s right…. If they were told to use them, orders being orders, they probably would.

No one in the US need know what’s happening there…. There were a great many flights flown out of that host country during the “shock and awe” portion of the invasion. So, is Barksdale critical? Or just a screw-up?

yellowdog jim @ 302

nah, nah ,nah:
you choose.

Just as well that there isn’t a YouTube of “Run Straight Down… I’ll go with this — apropos of the mood tonight, but in a fun way.

well done!
(applauds)

Ctuttle @ 351
Ok but did the Israelis have the best non nuclear bunker buster bombs? Cause if they did and they didn’t stop Hezbollah from launching rockets at Israel after how many days of air attack by Israel’s airforce then by Chimp logic we would have to go nuclear or send in ground troops for the strikes on Iran to be effective.
Nukes are a quick fast and easy solution which is just the way the Chimp likes his answers. Sending ground troops after an airstrike would be costly and messy.

If theatre yield weapons are used, no troops go in period. the area is contaminated for years. There are not “neutron bombs” but dirty, nasty fission weapons designed to destroy equipment and soldiers fast and hard.

althespook @ 339

see my comments on the subject. boosh may want to sneak theatre-yield dialabombs to the BUFFS so he can cream iran without the navy preventing it.

Would that be the same Navy of Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Michael G. Mullen who is going be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when General Peter Pace stands down at the end of this friggin’ month?

And would that also be the same Navy of Admiral William J. Fallon who is Commander, Central Command, the line officer who is friggin’ already the Commander responsible for all war thingies in the Mideast including Iraq and Afghanistan?

You mean that Navy? Talk about kicking over a Hornets nest (yes, the Hornets pun was intentional for all Airedales *g*).

I mean the admiral who when asked about war with iran about a year ago said “we’re trying to put the crazies back in the box”. And from all reports, they did.

Of course, I am a retired spook, not a serviceperson and so you may know more than I. I hope so. But as yet I see no major flaws in my thesis. I would prefer to, but I don’t.

By the way, they let ME into the Republican debate tonight.

Heh, heh.

-GSD

I asked the cop on detail outside of the men’s toilet if he had “swept the restroom for pre-verts”.

He got a good laugh.

707 You’re such a patriot for enduring it in person…!!! ;-)

wangdangdoodle @ 359

Oh, and you’re some kind of spring chicken or what? :)

Bwack!!! :P

best part of MN State Fair was the poultry barn. Looking into our Feathered Friends’ eyes, was bemused by the thought that these are the closest links we have to, um, er, … oops. Maybe this isn’t a tactful line of discussion ….