“I have little doubt that such contingency planning, directed by the Oval Office, for provoking, if necessary, an excuse for attacking Iran while this administration is still in office exists right now, in safes and computers in the Pentagon, CIA and the White House.”

Daniel Ellsberg — The Guardian (Jan. 8 2021)

January 13 2021 — I believe that the world could be on the brink of an apocalypse. Those who urge President Trump to bomb Iran are dangerous fanatics. And the people who give these fanatics a tribune, by publishing and re-posting their ‘opinions’ are insane. The next few days may well be the most dangerous ones in half a century. Please, as you read this post, keep in mind that the US does not have a no-first-use nuclear policy.  Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

RELATED POST: One Year Ago — Has Iran President Just Admitted Responsibility for Lockerbie? [A personal story about the infamous 5th device]

RELATED POST: LOCKERBIE — Analysis of the New Indictment [Intel Today Conclusions]

“Reports from Washington in November indicated this was one option the US president had looked at, before being talked out of it by his advisers.”

BBC — Jan. 19 2021

UPDATE (January 19 2021) — The worst seems to be over. But is it really so?

In a piece just posted on the BBC website, Frank Gardner — BBC security correspondent — argues that Iran’s nuclear facilities are still vulnerable to attack.

“The end of the Trump era has caused a collective but cautious sigh of relief in Iran.

Some in the Gulf region feared that in the dying days of his presidency Donald Trump might choose to double down on his policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran and launch a military strike on its civilian nuclear plants and other targets.

Reports from Washington in November indicated this was one option the US president had looked at, before being talked out of it by his advisers.

By contrast, President-elect Joe Biden has made it clear that he wants the US to rejoin the 2015 nuclear pact with Iran, which would mean reversing sanctions and releasing money to Tehran in exchange for Iran’s full compliance.

So is Iran now safe from attack? In a word, no.”

Israel and Saudi Arabia were always skeptical about the nuclear deal and they are less than enthusiastic about its renewal by the Biden’s administration. Happy Nuke Year!

END of UPDATE

Like me, Daniel Ellsberg [1] believes that an imminent attack on Iran — possibly nuclear — should not be ruled out. Please, take a good look at this timeline.

Jan. 2 — According to credible sources, AIR FORCE ONE is expected to land at Prestwick airport, Scotland on January 19 2021. RUMINT : POTUS may visit LOCKERBIE on his final day as President. Why on earth?

Jan. 3 — The website of The Times of Israel publishes a story by a former CIA officer who ‘reveals’ that Tehran is the real culprit of Lockerbie and argues that the US and Israel should strike Iran right now. [2]

“I urge President Trump to bring Iranian religious leadership to justice for the Pan Am 103 bombing now. The US and Israel should work together to strike key Iranian military facilities, IRGC training camps and all nuclear development sites, both open and secret, before Iran gathers enough strength to strike again, which they will.”

Jan. 5 — In response to questions about potential nuclear strikes on Iran,  U.S. Navy Charles Richard, head of STRATCOM, tells reporters: “I will follow any legal order that I’m given – I will not follow any illegal orders.”

Jan. 8 — Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, speaks to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing TRUMP from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike. General Milley assures Pelosi that steps are in place to prevent Trump nuclear launch. [3]

Jan. 11 — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Mossad head Yossi Cohen are spotted at Cafe Milano in Washington DC. [4]

Jan. 12 — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is forced to cancel a trip to Brussels at the last minute after NATO [5] and European top officials decline to meet him. As Reuters points out, “It was not immediately clear why Pompeo sought to go to Brussels so near to the end of Trump’s term.”

Jan. 12 — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claims, without providing evidence, that al-Qaida leaders have established a new “home base” in the Iran. [6] “Iran is the new Afghanistan. Unlike in Afghanistan, when al-Qaida was hiding in the mountains, al-Qaida today is operating under the hard shell of the Iranian regime’s protection.”

Jan. 12 — Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif immediately dismisses the allegations as “warmongering lies”. “No one is fooled. All 9/11 terrorists came from @SecPompeo’s favorite (Middle East) destinations. NONE from Iran.”

What do you think?

Is the idea of Trump ordering a nuclear strike on Iran so far-fetched? Intel Today believes that this scenario was certainly planned.

And I am not the only one to think so. Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern just wrote:

When Trump moves out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave on or before the 20th, he’ll want to go somewhere safe. If I were he, I’d head for Israel where he might be able to escape justice and Interpol. Netanyahu is likely to exact a price, however, as in, “If you attack Iran, you are welcome forever – your family too…” Beware of a false flag casus belli to justify such an attack

“The nuclear launch codes are literally in Donald Trump’s pocket, and as President he has the full legal authority to order a nuclear strike at any time. (…) Ordering a nuclear strike may seem far-fetched, but until yesterday many would have said the same about a U.S. President inciting a mob to attack and terrorize the halls of government.”

Bruce Blair — Former U.S. Air Force missile launcher officer (Jan. 7 2021)

REFERENCES

Donald Trump’s parting gift to the world? It may be war with Iran — Daniel Ellsberg — The Guardian (Jan. 8 2021)

Exclusive: Luxembourg, EU snub Pompeo in final Europe trip, diplomats say — REUTERS

[1] Daniel Ellsberg is the whistleblower who leaked the Pentagon Papers. These documents revealed that the US government had lied to the American public about the Vietnam war.

[2] ZERO EVIDENCE — Over the last two decades, I have investigated the Lockerbie Case. Among other things, I managed to tracked the so-called Iran payment, and I can state with high-confidence that this transaction has nothing to do whatsoever with Lockerbie. [By the way, both the FBI and the SCCRC have come to same conclusion.] There is not a shred of evidence that Iran ordered the destruction of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie as an act of retaliation for Iran Air 655.

[]3 That sounds very nice… However, according to a report the Congressional Research Service released in December 2020, “The President does not need the concurrence of either his military advisors or the U.S. Congress to order the launch of nuclear weapons.” Simply put, neither the military nor Congress can overrule such a presidential order.

[4] Politico reporter Meridith McGraw

[5] Pompeo was due to have a private dinner with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday evening at Stoltenberg’s private residence.

[6] Mike Pompeo claims without evidence that Iran is al-Qaida’s new ‘home base’ — The Guardian (Jan. 12 2021)

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Final Move : Will Trump Nuke Iran?

Final Move : Will Trump Nuke Iran? [UPDATE : Is Iran now safe from an attack?]