If the order were to be given for an attack, the American combat troops now operating in Iran would be in position to mark the critical targets with laser beams, to insure bombing accuracy and to minimize civilian casualties. As of early winter, I was told by the government consultant with close ties to civilians in the Pentagon, the units were also working with minority groups in Iran, including the Azeris, in the north, the Baluchis, in the southeast, and the Kurds, in the northeast. The troops ìare studying the terrain, and giving away walking-around money to ethnic tribes, and recruiting scouts from local tribes and shepherds,î the consultant said. One goal is to get ìeyes on the groundîóquoting a line from ìOthello,î he said, ìGive me the ocular proof.îIs it just me, or does quoting Othello on questions of evidence and positive outcomes just seem wildly off base?
The Iran Plans/ Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb? [seymour hersh, newyorker.com]
new yorker magazine database | posted by greg at April 8, 2006 4:02 AM