Air Force general: Consider bombing Iran's oil refineries

[Newsjock]

Source: Wired

Major General Charles Dunlap, the provocative Air Force bigwig who recently mused about disbanding either the Army or the Marines -- and mocked the "boots-on-the-ground zealots" and "neo-Luddites" who "quot counterinsurgency manuals from the horse cavalry era" -- is at it again.

In a new article for Defense News, he wonders aloud whether the next phase of the counterinsurgency in Iraq should be... bombing Iran's oil refineries, in retaliation for Tehran's support of Iraqi guerrillas.

... Oil refineries are ideal targets for air and missile attack. They are large, relatively “soft” facilities that are difficult for even the most modern air defense to protect. At the same time, they represent wholly lawful targets generally subject to attack with a minimal risk of collateral damage.

Besides reducing the fuel available to support insurgent activities in Iraq, the further cutback in refinery capacity could influence Iranian leadership, as the nation has already seen civil disturbances as a result of gasoline rationing.

Another indirect benefit of destroying refining capacity: Billions of dollars otherwise available to support Iraqi insurgents would have to be diverted by the Iranians to import additional gasoline supplies.

Read more: http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/08/insurgencies-ar.html
The Defense News story quoted in this article is behind a subscription wall.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Ah, another brilliant strategy from another war-monger!

[soothsayer]

2. If we do this, it's really to punish China (we told them we'd do this last

christmas if they didn't quit threatening to dump the dollar)

[bullimiami]

3. if someone bombed our refineries it would be considered an act of war.

what sort of insanity does this reveal.

[shain from kane]

4. Iran imports more than 40 percent of its gasoline and diesel needs. It comes mostly from the Middle

East but also from as far away as Venezuela.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/31/AR2006053101464.html



He will run out of targets by noon.

[Warpy]

5. If your only tool is a hammer

every problem looks like a nail.

This is why we are supposed to have civilian oversight of the military.

They are the last ones who need to be making decisions in international relations.

[liberal N proud]

6. Where do these crazy fuckers come from?

This guy has been up in the ozone layer a few too many times.

[acmavm]

7. Someone needs to ask this bastard how he'd feel about

someone nuking his house with every member of his family in it. Because the real casualties in the war between big shots are the little guys, the people.

[Javaman]

8. And this would exactly accomplish, what?

other than sending the price of oil through the roof?

well there you go, they don't even beat around the bush anymore. They would only temporarily hurt Iran considering that they import their own gas.

However, I'm sure europe, russia and china would have a few things to say.

given that china stated that they may start dumping their share of US T-bonds, bombing Iran's oil fields, I'm sure would make China fulfill their concept.

world wide depression? it would certainly give it a good shove in that direction.

[sutz12]

9. The air war nuts have been saying stuff like this since the 30's

The Air Force is good for two things.

1. They can blow shit up.
2. They can carry shit long distances fairly fast (but they need airstrips and other complex infrastructure wherever they're going).

Nobody has ever 'won' a war entirely through air power. It's been proven time and again since the warplane was invented.

If this gets much press, can you imagine what it would do to the oil commodities markets? :shrug:

[Help me help Earth]

10. LOL. Air power advocates have been calling for similar things since WWII.

The idea of winning a war with air power alone has had its champions for years, and they usually make similar comments to this nonsense. In practice, its seldom as successful as they would lead one to believe.

[C_U_L8R]

11. Are they nuts ????

Bombing Iran for Saudi subterfuge???
These assholes will use any excuse to grab the Middle East (oil)

[never cry wolf]

12. Brilliant, shoot gas prices up to $5/gal

Double the big oil company profits, expand equipment orders to the Mil/Ind complex all at a time when China will get pissed off and call in their notes.