Matt Ortega

According to the BBC, U.S. attack plans on Iran include “two triggers” that are oddly similar to the Iranian-backed armament conspiracy that the White House pushed in recent weeks.

Two triggers

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the trigger for such an attack reportedly includes any confirmation that Iran was developing a nuclear weapon - which it denies.

Alternatively, our correspondent adds, a high-casualty attack on US forces in neighbouring Iraq could also trigger a bombing campaign if it were traced directly back to Tehran.

Recently, the White House alleged that Iran was arming Iraqi Shiites and responsible for the deaths of 170 American soldiers. The allegations of arming Shiite militants in Iraq were attributed to the “highest levels of government” in Iran.

The Bush administration is confident the report about the weapons flow from Iran into Iraq is accurate, spokesman Tony Snow said today.

Asked directly if the White House is confident that the weaponry is coming on the approval of the Iranian government, Snow said: “Yes.”

General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, disputed the claim, stating that he had “no information indicating Iran’s government is directing the supply of lethal weapons to Shiite insurgent groups in Iraq.” (Tony Snow did a press corps two-step afterwards.)

Barbara Starr of CNN reiterated the White House line, completely void of any solid evidence, and went so far as to say “the US certainly does have intelligence tying these Iranian weapon shipments to Iran’s supreme leader— Ali KHAMENEI.” (Atrios went to town on Barbara Starr as a result.)

President Bush later backed off such claims and, instead, pointed the finger at the Quds Force, a faction of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard. Producing the “what’s worse” dichotomy.

THE PRESIDENT: What we do know is that the Quds force was instrumental in providing these deadly IEDs to networks inside of Iraq. We know that. And we also know that the Quds force is a part of the Iranian government. That’s a known. What we don’t know is whether or not the head leaders of Iran ordered the Quds force to do what they did.

But here’s my point: Either they knew or didn’t know, and what matters is, is that they’re there. What’s worse, that the government knew or that the government didn’t know? … [White House, 2/14/07]

Jon Stewart broke it down last week.

Bush administration officials continue to deny that they are pushing for a military confrontation with Iran. You know what that means: They’re pushing for a military confrontation with Iran.