Steve,

Who is acting belligerently? perhaps it's the US with their force surrounding Iran (Iraq to the east, Afghanistan to the west, and the US Navy in the Persian gulf in the south and finally good old Israel the real terrorist state in the Middle East to the North)
No wonder Iran is arming itself.

Look at your own nutty policy which is driving your economy off the cliff (have you checked the $US dollar lately?)

Jean BonHacher, Ottawa, Canada

How shocking it would be if the US spent 500 billion on peaceful humanitarian measures! But they use their wealth and much vaunted education to exactly opposite purposes.

Phil, Hong Kong,

Steve,

Its clear that this is all about Israel and protecting its interests. Why is it that Israel has more than 2,000 neuclear heads and Iran is not allowed to even think about Uranium?? Why does the Americans think Israelis are saints and Iranians are lunatics!!?

Paul Rene, Tampa, FL

The United States is afraid of nuclear Iran because we have been pushing people in the Middle East around for so long.

We feel that we can tell people there what to do, how to live their lives, and whether or not they should support "Israel" as an expansionist and racist state.

The people in the Middle East are tired, tired, and angry at the United States. What is the difference between Iran and Saudi Arabia? Absolutely none, except that that Saudis are "friends" with us because we support their form of dictatorship.

I live in the United States, and I believe that our turn on the World stage is coming to an end, that is, if we do not destroy the World first. Our pathetic grab of Iraqi oil, and now our plans to grab the Iranian oil, are meant to forstall the advent of the Chinese and Indian economies. We are in the Middle East for one reason, and one reason only - oil.

The Russians, Chinese, Indians, and Europeans all know this.

Hopefully, electric cars are coming.

Bob, San Diego, Formerly Free US

Poor America, believing solely in brute force got you here, keep going you are doing well for humanity digging your own grave. Ignorance is a blessing

James, London, uk

Is this the same Air Force who "officially" made colossal mistakes -- a "bent spear" -- in the arming and transport of nuclear-tipped warheads on B52s flying over continental USA in violation of treaties (not to mention common sense and nuclear safeguards and protocols in place for 40 years...)

This Air Force, the "supreme instrument" of America's power?

Lee Franklin, Martinsburg, WV, US

Really Eric? We have no air enemies?

Russia is launching DAILY dry runs of nuclear attack bombers at the USA, UK, Norway and Canada ... even an 8000 mile air refueled blitz.

China shot down a satellite with a ground based laser.

Much of Tesla's work has made it's way to America's enemies.

Eric, I like you and your articles ... but you have to wake up to the threat.

And why is this nice lady, an Israeli, in charge of such a program? Nothing against her ... I've met some wonderful and even gorgeous Israeli women ... how did she get in that position?

Jean-Claude Anthony, St Louis, Mo., USA

"My hope is that Americans will through the warmongering Republicans out and elect Ron Paul instead.

masmanz, Boston, MA"

That's right! The problem is *the wrong republican*!

duus, Washington, DC

Steve,

I think the real issue will be what if the Iranian people rise up against the Mullah's and chose a democratic government who still rejects the edicts of the "Benign Global Hegemon", aka the USA? Will democracy be enough to satify people like yourself or will complete capitulation to the Global economy (see privatizing the Oil sector to western business interests)and the Dollar be required? Where is the freedom/sovereignty in that? What truly rules? Liberty or Economy?

Sam Lowry, Portland , USA

This is very telling: "...Dr Lani Kass, Checkmate's formidable senior civilian official, a former Israeli military officer who had somehow morphed into a senior Pentagon advisor..."

How did Israel hijack the USA? Because that is what has happened.

Ann Beeder, New York, NY

Of course, these military men are traitors to their country because they have allowed the inside job of 9/11 to go unchecked.

What happened to defending your country from enemies foreign and domestic? Have they forgotten their oaths? or are they just dupes for another country or cartel of bankers? Maybe that ex-Israeli soldier who is now holding a key position in the Pentagon can give you some insight as to what is really going on.

Susan Rodriguez, Fresno, California

The military is constantly creating and reviewing plans "for the next war". It's only prudent. Just because I review my fire insurance needs for my house doesn't mean I plan on setting it ablaze.

It is also natural for the military to reach out to members of the press who are sympathetic to the top brass agenda.

The amount of self-promotion and self -congratulation by the author in this article made me smile.

alice, Salado, US/ Texas

To bad the Pentagon, disclose information to any one on military plans..................... is not to the media (the worst USA enemy) they have not even let knock the door of the Pentagon.....
As Eric Margolis to knock lnock !! at Iran or any enemy military top group... to see if he come with a wonderful history like this one.... The only hope I have is that the top mans he interview, mislead him and they have already, Chek-Mate under the slive.

Iosef ben Abraham, Miami, USA

A secret strategic paper written in 1985 by Secretary of State Robert McFarlane made clear Iran's role. Iran is the barrier to US control of the entire Caspian Sea oil and gas areas. A copy is on my office shelf.

And oil and the security of "friendly" states in the area are essential to US national interests. (Bush senior's opening line of the National Security Directive which opened the 1991 invasion of Iraq. Have a copy of that too.

So how about really thinking outside the box? Why does American always have to have an enemy? Because the American people are so ill-informed about the world that they need to feel protected. The witch trial of the President of Iran by so called educated staff and students at Columbia university on 24th September revealed it all. Americans believe they own the world, and all who oppose will be captured or killed. If you don't believe that, then count the dead of war over the last fifty years and ask who killed them.

Peter Biddulph, Lickey, Worcestershire, England

Steve Gregg,
Iran has never threatened Israel with nuclear attacks it is just one of the many lies war-mongers make against Iran. Ahmedinejad has never denied holocaust, he just says that Palestinians were not responsible for it and they should not have to pay the price. My hope is that Americans will through the warmongering Republicans out and elect Ron Paul instead.

masmanz, Boston, MA

Sadly, the United States and her allies are already fighting Iran - in Iraq and Afganistan. Maybe the militarey would not be spread so thinly if it could concentrate its efforts on the source of the opposition. Truly, over throw of the existing aggressive regime in Iran would be preferable, but that seems unlikely. In all probability, the West will find itself in an armed conflict with Iran. Perhaps it will be less destructive sooner than later.

Barry Jacobs, M. D., Carrollton, exas, U. S. A.

The presence of Dr Lani Kass from Israel amid "checkmate" officers indicates that an attack on Iran will take place during the first and second months of 2008 short of a miracle.

The United States will not allow Iran to become the dominant power in the Middle East.

An attack on Syria and Hizballah by Israel [U.S.] will precede bombing of Iranian targets.

Eddy, Mississauga, Ontario

Mr Margolis makes some very cogent points, none more so than comparing the Airforce to the Dreadnaughts of the British navy, starting with the ubiquitous '74's which midwifed the birth of the "Empire upon which the sun never sets".
However, he rightly points to the cost. It took less than a decade of being broke to destroy the vaunted Soviet military. Already, our long range capabilities
are compromised by age, and condition. Oh, you can maintain a B-52, or a tanker, in excellent condition. You can do the same with a vintage automobile, but the costs continually rise. Also, right this moment, as we speak, the Russians, never slouches in the Research and Developement world..(remember the space race?), have created the best aircraft in the world...though it will be another decade before her Air arm can reach the personnel professionalism of the US, or the old Soviets. They will do so. Do not doubt it. It is, after all, ALL ABOUT MONEY. And we are broke. Great article!

Max Cadenhead, Oakland Park, Florida, USA

Mary,

I doubt America will attack Iran but there is a small chance that Iran will behave so belligerently that war will be the last resort left. Therefore, it is prudent to prepare for the contingency.

Perhaps, Mary, you should be more worried about your own president threatening Israel with a nuclear attack in public speeches and by doing so, implicitly threatening Iran's Muslim neighbors as well. When Ahmadinejad denies a Holocaust happenned among other inanities, it makes Americans think that Iranian nukes will be commanded by a truculent buffoon. All that money spent on nuclear weapons would be better spent on building up Iranian infrastructure.

My hope is that the Iranians will overthrow their own government and make a better, democratic one by throwing the mullahs out. It's pretty obvious the mullahs are driving your economy off a cliff with their nutty and impractical policies. I wish you good luck with that project.

Steve Gregg, Washington, DC, USA

Its a littel like the game of "risk". If you have played it you know the most difficult real estate to defend is where we live.

Hence, we need to be thinking ahead of everyone else on the planet. If we don't then we better start taking these foreign language commercials seriously.

Jerry Kinder, Phoenix, Arizona

The US airforce can have the brightest minds on earth (which is a waste of resources) think out of the box until they can't find their way back, but ultimately planes are lousy regime-changers and worthless conquerors. All they basically do, besides making a big mess, is kill people indiscriminately in a "smart" or a "dumb" way from a relatively safe distance. And killing people indiscriminately, either smart or dumb isn't much of a solution to anything. And as you can witness now it adds to the problem actually.

Oebe, Veendam, Netherlands

Love the American press.The enemy reads it every day,
for updating there intelligence!

anthony, venice,

There is proverb in persian language which say raising of big stone means they do not bit .But what bad news will come and how many casualityies will outward if USA attack Iran .
think twice before attack becouse after that it will be so late to endless war around the world and inside the Us may be ! so whole Us good citizen beware of folish act of your policy maker sach as chaney an so .

mary , teh, persia