America Fears an Iranian Strike on Its Territory

Iranian attacks on American soil and cyberspying by the Iranians, Russians and Chinese – these are the greatest threats to American security now.

This was in a report that James Clapper, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, delivered before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Clapper recalled the failed assassination attempt which was aimed at the Saudi ambassador last year. U.S. authorities claimed that the masterminds behind the attempt were Iranian. Clapper concluded that “high-level officials” in Tehran, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, may have changed their tactics. They are now more inclined to organize terrorist operations in the United States, responding to the realist threat that America supposedly poses against Iran.

In addition, Clapper warned that Iran could significantly improve its tools of electronic espionage. In this area, the greatest threats to America come from Russia and China. “FIS [foreign intelligence services] have launched numerous computer network operations targeting U.S. Government agencies, businesses, and universities,” admitted Clapper. He added, “We assess that many intrusions into US networks are not being detected.”

On the other hand, in an interview with CBS, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta warned that Iran can have enough enriched uranium within a year. But Iran would need at least three years before it will have a rocket that can be nuclear

Panetta concluded by warning that a nuclear weapon is a red line that Iran should avoid crossing. Last week, Obama spoke very much in the same spirit. He said, “America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal.”

At the same time the Pentagon has allocated $82 million extra to upgrade a state-of-the-art guided bomb, the Massive Ordnance Penetrator GBU-57, or the “bunker buster.” The Pentagon has already spent $330 million on 20 of these “monsters.” These were recommended by the Boeing company in 2007 as weapons against underground equipment in Iran and North Korea. With the escalation of tensions over Tehran’s nuclear aspirations, the U.S. discovered that using the “bunker buster” will not require force. These bombs can penetrate 60 meters beneath the ground before they explode. However, the uranium enrichment plan outside the city of Qom, for example, is more than 60 meters deep within the rocky land. On top of that, there is suspicion that there are other facilities even deeper that the GBU-57 can destroy. In the words of Panetta, the latest model of this weapon will be placed in the service of the U.S. armed forces “as soon as possible.”*

Editor’s note: This quote, while accurately translated, could not be verified.