Huge bunker-busters being shipped to Diego Garcia

jesuitsdidit · 16-03-2010, 02:16 AM

Hundreds of powerful US "bunker-buster" bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id...onid=351020101

Diego Garcia bunker-busters meant to threaten Iran
Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:57:08 GMT

The Sunday Herald has reported that hundreds of powerful US "bunker-buster" bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia.

In January, the US government signed a contract to transport 10 ammunition containers to the island, the Scottish newspaper wrote on March 14.

According to a cargo manifest from the US navy, this included 387 “Blu-110” and "Blu-117" bombs used for blasting hardened or underground structures. Crucially, the cargo included 195 smart, guided, Blu-110 bombs and 192 massive 2000lb Blu-117 bombs.

Experts say that they are being put in place for an assault on Iran's nuclear facilities, added the newspaper.

There has long been speculation that the US military is preparing for such an attack should diplomacy fail to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment.

Although Diego Garcia is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, it is used by the US as a military base under an agreement made in 1971. The agreement led to 2,000 native islanders being forcibly evicted to the Seychelles and Mauritius.

The Sunday Herald reported in 2007 that stealth bomber hangers on Diego Garcia Island were being equipped to accommodate bunker-buster bombs.

Although the story was not confirmed at the time, the new evidence suggests that it was accurate, the latest edition of the Sunday Herald said.

A shipping company based in Florida, Superior Maritime Services, will be paid $699,500 to carry many thousands of military items from Concord, California to Diego Garcia.

"The US is not publicizing the scale of these preparations to deter Iran, tending to make confrontation more likely," the Sunday Herald quoted Dan Plesch, the director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London, as saying.

"The US… is using its forces as part of an overall strategy of shaping Iran's actions," he added.

According to Ian Davis, the director of the new independent think tank NATO Watch, the shipment to Diego Garcia is a major concern. “We would urge the US to clarify its intentions for these weapons, and the Foreign Office to clarify its attitude to the use of Diego Garcia for an attack on Iran,” he said.

The British Ministry of Defense has said in the past that the US government would need permission to use Diego Garcia for offensive action.

However, the US military used Diego Garcia as a base to attack Iraq in 1991 and 2003.

About 50 British military personnel are stationed on the island and over 3,200 US troops.

rashhead · 16-03-2010, 02:26 AM

Looks like the beef with Iran is on

Just what the world needs, another war

These fookwit leaders pick more fights than a Glaswegian ned off their box on a Saturday night

orage · 16-03-2010, 03:08 AM

Quote:

About 50 British military personnel are stationed on the island and over 3,200 US troops.

You sure it's a British island?

dreamweaver · 16-03-2010, 03:11 AM

Oh FFS. British complicity again!

worlds beyond · 16-03-2010, 08:20 AM

"US Sending Massive Amounts of Weaponry to Diego Garcia"

"Hundreds of Bunker-Buster Bombs Seen Threatening Iran Strike

by Jason Ditz, March 15, 2010

Reports emerged this weekend from Scotland’s Sunday Herald that the US government has contracted with a Florida company to ship a massive amount of weaponry, including hundreds of bunker buster bombs, to Diego Garcia.

Diego Garcia, a small island in the Indian Ocean, was depopulated by Britain in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and transferred to the United States as a military base. The island’s proximity to Iran suggests it may be used as a staging ground for US air strikes against the nation.

http://news.antiwar.com/wp-content/u...0/03/diego.jpg

The proximity is not lost on Iran’s state media, which is reporting that the bunker-busters are a clear move to threaten Iran’s nuclear facilities. The US has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran over its civilian nuclear program.

The Sunday Herald report also cites numerous experts as saying that the lack of publicity for the move, just one of several examples of the Obama Administration adding major amounts of weaponry to the area around Iran, suggests they believe a confrontation is more likely. The Pentagon has thus far refused to comment."

http://news.antiwar.com/2010/03/15/r...-diego-garcia/

martg · 16-03-2010, 08:52 AM

this is a very worrying move, I wonder what they mean by bunker busters?

there are several different types of bunker buster weapons, from Paveway LGB's to Fuel-Air explosive devices and even tactical nukes.

If the U.S. use nukes as a pre-emptive weapon then I believe escalation will be inevitable.

worlds beyond · 16-03-2010, 08:55 AM

here's original article:

"Final destination Iran?

Exclusive: Rob Edwards

Published on 14 Mar 2010

Hundreds of powerful US “bunker-buster” bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in preparation for a possible attack on Iran.

The Sunday Herald can reveal that the US government signed a contract in January to transport 10 ammunition containers to the island. According to a cargo manifest from the US navy, this included 387 “Blu” bombs used for blasting hardened or underground structures.

Experts say that they are being put in place for an assault on Iran’s controversial nuclear facilities. There has long been speculation that the US military is preparing for such an attack, should diplomacy fail to persuade Iran not to make nuclear weapons.

Although Diego Garcia is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, it is used by the US as a military base under an agreement made in 1971. The agreement led to 2,000 native islanders being forcibly evicted to the Seychelles and Mauritius.

The Sunday Herald reported in 2007 that stealth bomber hangers on the island were being equipped to take bunker-buster bombs.

"They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran" - Dan Plesch, director, Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy, University of London

Although the story was not confirmed at the time, the new evidence suggests that it was accurate.

Contract details for the shipment to Diego Garcia were posted on an international tenders’ website by the US navy.

A shipping company based in Florida, Superior Maritime Services, will be paid $699,500 to carry many thousands of military items from Concord, California, to Diego Garcia.

Crucially, the cargo includes 195 smart, guided, Blu-110 bombs and 192 massive 2000lb Blu-117 bombs.

“They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran,” said Dan Plesch, director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London, co-author of a recent study on US preparations for an attack on Iran. “US bombers are ready today to destroy 10,000 targets in Iran in a few hours,” he added.

The preparations were being made by the US military, but it would be up to President Obama to make the final decision. He may decide that it would be better for the US to act instead of Israel, Plesch argued.

“The US is not publicising the scale of these preparations to deter Iran, tending to make confrontation more likely,” he added. “The US ... is using its forces as part of an overall strategy of shaping Iran’s actions.”

According to Ian Davis, director of the new independent thinktank, Nato Watch, the shipment to Diego Garcia is a major concern. “We would urge the US to clarify its intentions for these weapons, and the Foreign Office to clarify its attitude to the use of Diego Garcia for an attack on Iran,” he said.

For Alan Mackinnon, chair of Scottish CND, the revelation was “extremely worrying”. He stated: “It is clear that the US government continues to beat the drums of war over Iran, most recently in the statements of Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

“It is depressingly similar to the rhetoric we heard prior to the war in Iraq in 2003.”

The British Ministry of Defence has said in the past that the US government would need permission to use Diego Garcia for offensive action. It has already been used for strikes against Iraq during the 1991 and 2003 Gulf wars.

About 50 British military staff are stationed on the island, with more than 3,200 US personnel. Part of the Chagos Archipelago, it lies about 1,000 miles from the southern coasts of India and Sri Lanka, well placed for missions to Iran.

The US Department of Defence did not respond to a request for a comment."

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/w...iran-1.1013151

worlds beyond · 16-03-2010, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martg

this is a very worrying move, I wonder what they mean by bunker busters?

there are several different types of bunker buster weapons, from Paveway LGB's to Fuel-Air explosive devices and even tactical nukes.

If the U.S. use nukes as a pre-emptive weapon then I believe escalation will be inevitable.

yes, this is a VERY serious and worrying move.... made even more so by fact they are doing everything to keep it OUT of media/earshot of public.... try finding any mention of it on other MSM's (UK or US etc.).. so very well done to Scottish Herald for alerting public to these insidious moves by USA.

yes, there's been plenty talk/articles of US/Israel attacking Iran past 6 months or more, but this, imho, is by far the most serious indicator of what's just around the corner...

amaralsright · 16-03-2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

by Jason Ditz, March 15, 2010

Who is Jason Ditz and how does he know this?

worlds beyond · 16-03-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amaralsright

Who is Jason Ditz and how does he know this?

read above posts.. J Ditz is reporter for AntiWar site, took info from Scottish Herald, also posted above in full.

amaralsright · 16-03-2010, 09:39 AM

How does the Scottish Sunday Herald know this?

There is "a lack of publicity".

amaralsright · 16-03-2010, 09:49 AM

How does the piss poor Scottish Sunday Herald get the jump on everyone?

I'd like to see their investiagtive jouranlism budget.

I think a few more facts would helpful.

worlds beyond · 16-03-2010, 10:03 AM

my sincere apologies to Jesuitsdidit.... I didn't spot your original thread when I posted mine this morning here:

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108211

... i know how annoying it is when someone starts a separate thread to same subject as one you just posted!

Sorry!

perhaps mods can merge threads?

worlds beyond · 16-03-2010, 10:04 AM

mods, my error, I posted a new thread when already was one started lastnight.. please could you merge? thanks! And my apologies again to Jesuitsdidit !

the apprentice · 16-03-2010, 10:26 AM

:d

Quote:

Originally Posted by rashhead

looks like the beef with iran is on

Just what the world needs, another war

These fookwit leaders pick more fights than a glaswegian ned off their box on a saturday night

:d

dreamweaver · 16-03-2010, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amaralsright

How does the piss poor Scottish Sunday Herald get the jump on everyone?

I'd like to see their investiagtive jouranlism budget.

I think a few more facts would helpful.

It's far from a "piss-poor" paper, actually. But the question of how their reporter got this "scoop" is a good one.

dreamweaver · 16-03-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rashhead

These fookwit leaders pick more fights than a Glaswegian ned off their box on a Saturday night

I blame Buckfast!

Quote:

Originally Posted by martg

this is a very worrying move, I wonder what they mean by bunker busters?

there are several different types of bunker buster weapons, from Paveway LGB's to Fuel-Air explosive devices and even tactical nukes.

If the U.S. use nukes as a pre-emptive weapon then I believe escalation will be inevitable.

According to that report, they are Blu-110s and Blu-117s, which use conventional explosives. But who knows what these nutters are really up to?

willnotbesilenced · 16-03-2010, 11:09 AM

Just a thought : didnt we read sometime back how there was alot of military manouves in California ? Maybe thats when they were transferring the weaponary ?

**Confirmed** Unprecedented Troop Build Up Military Activity on the Californian Coast!

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

jiffy · 16-03-2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesuitsdidit

Although Diego Garcia is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, it is used by the US as a military base under an agreement made in 1971. The agreement led to 2,000 native islanders being forcibly evicted to the Seychelles and Mauritius.

Which was yet another example of how the west chooses which laws to abide by.

Shame the article hasn't mentioned the abject poverty these people now live in. Yet more faceless non westerners whom blight is completely overlooked

willnotbesilenced · 16-03-2010, 11:50 AM

Another thought here : If America attacks Iran..... then it will give
the ZIONISTS the opportunity they crave to join in the attack - without
the blame being pointed at themselves.

Below is a list of ALL the links for anyone who may wish to send it out
to others :

Report: US Sending Massive Amounts of Weaponry to Diego Garcia
Hundreds of Bunker-Buster Bombs Seen Threatening Iran Strike

by Jason Ditz, March 15, 2010
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/03/15/r...-diego-garcia/

Diego Garcia bunker-busters meant to threaten Iran
Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:57:08 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id...onid=351020101

Final destination Iran?
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/w...iran-1.1013151

and (below) possibly this is connected...

**Confirmed** Unprecedented Troop Build Up Military Activity on the Californian Coast!

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

16-03-2010, 02:16 AM	#1
jesuitsdidit Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: reading 'we r entering ice-age' chart in nick clegg's pyramid davidicke.com/ showthread.php?t=115401 Posts: 15,379	Huge bunker-busters being shipped to Diego Garcia Hundreds of powerful US "bunker-buster" bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia. http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id...onid=351020101 Diego Garcia bunker-busters meant to threaten Iran Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:57:08 GMT The Sunday Herald has reported that hundreds of powerful US "bunker-buster" bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia. In January, the US government signed a contract to transport 10 ammunition containers to the island, the Scottish newspaper wrote on March 14. According to a cargo manifest from the US navy, this included 387 “Blu-110” and "Blu-117" bombs used for blasting hardened or underground structures. Crucially, the cargo included 195 smart, guided, Blu-110 bombs and 192 massive 2000lb Blu-117 bombs. Experts say that they are being put in place for an assault on Iran's nuclear facilities, added the newspaper. There has long been speculation that the US military is preparing for such an attack should diplomacy fail to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment. Although Diego Garcia is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, it is used by the US as a military base under an agreement made in 1971. The agreement led to 2,000 native islanders being forcibly evicted to the Seychelles and Mauritius. The Sunday Herald reported in 2007 that stealth bomber hangers on Diego Garcia Island were being equipped to accommodate bunker-buster bombs. Although the story was not confirmed at the time, the new evidence suggests that it was accurate, the latest edition of the Sunday Herald said. A shipping company based in Florida, Superior Maritime Services, will be paid $699,500 to carry many thousands of military items from Concord, California to Diego Garcia. "The US is not publicizing the scale of these preparations to deter Iran, tending to make confrontation more likely," the Sunday Herald quoted Dan Plesch, the director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London, as saying. "The US… is using its forces as part of an overall strategy of shaping Iran's actions," he added. According to Ian Davis, the director of the new independent think tank NATO Watch, the shipment to Diego Garcia is a major concern. “We would urge the US to clarify its intentions for these weapons, and the Foreign Office to clarify its attitude to the use of Diego Garcia for an attack on Iran,” he said. The British Ministry of Defense has said in the past that the US government would need permission to use Diego Garcia for offensive action. However, the US military used Diego Garcia as a base to attack Iraq in 1991 and 2003. About 50 British military personnel are stationed on the island and over 3,200 US troops. __________________ Death Penalty now Valid in Europe http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135044 posts 3 & 4 Just remember it was Mrs ("there's no such thing as society") Thatcher who removed the banking regulation. http://jesuitsdidit.blogspot.co.uk/ BROWN'S THE ONLY ONE WHO'LL STAND UP TO THE NWO - eric jon phelps is king!! and i am now the guardian of Haiti.

16-03-2010, 03:11 AM	#4
dreamweaver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 10,759	Oh FFS. British complicity again! __________________ Congratulations, you found the secret message. Shhh!

16-03-2010, 08:20 AM	#5
worlds beyond Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: by the sea... UK Posts: 3,124	US Sends Massive Amounts Weaponry to Diego Garcia "US Sending Massive Amounts of Weaponry to Diego Garcia" "Hundreds of Bunker-Buster Bombs Seen Threatening Iran Strike by Jason Ditz, March 15, 2010 Reports emerged this weekend from Scotland’s Sunday Herald that the US government has contracted with a Florida company to ship a massive amount of weaponry, including hundreds of bunker buster bombs, to Diego Garcia. Diego Garcia, a small island in the Indian Ocean, was depopulated by Britain in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and transferred to the United States as a military base. The island’s proximity to Iran suggests it may be used as a staging ground for US air strikes against the nation. http://news.antiwar.com/wp-content/u...0/03/diego.jpg The proximity is not lost on Iran’s state media, which is reporting that the bunker-busters are a clear move to threaten Iran’s nuclear facilities. The US has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran over its civilian nuclear program. The Sunday Herald report also cites numerous experts as saying that the lack of publicity for the move, just one of several examples of the Obama Administration adding major amounts of weaponry to the area around Iran, suggests they believe a confrontation is more likely. The Pentagon has thus far refused to comment." http://news.antiwar.com/2010/03/15/r...-diego-garcia/ __________________ Peaceful Blessings

16-03-2010, 08:52 AM	#6
martg Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7,147	this is a very worrying move, I wonder what they mean by bunker busters? there are several different types of bunker buster weapons, from Paveway LGB's to Fuel-Air explosive devices and even tactical nukes. If the U.S. use nukes as a pre-emptive weapon then I believe escalation will be inevitable. __________________ ever wanted to fly?

16-03-2010, 08:55 AM	#7
worlds beyond Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: by the sea... UK Posts: 3,124	here's original article: "Final destination Iran? Exclusive: Rob Edwards Published on 14 Mar 2010 Hundreds of powerful US “bunker-buster” bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in preparation for a possible attack on Iran. The Sunday Herald can reveal that the US government signed a contract in January to transport 10 ammunition containers to the island. According to a cargo manifest from the US navy, this included 387 “Blu” bombs used for blasting hardened or underground structures. Experts say that they are being put in place for an assault on Iran’s controversial nuclear facilities. There has long been speculation that the US military is preparing for such an attack, should diplomacy fail to persuade Iran not to make nuclear weapons. Although Diego Garcia is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, it is used by the US as a military base under an agreement made in 1971. The agreement led to 2,000 native islanders being forcibly evicted to the Seychelles and Mauritius. The Sunday Herald reported in 2007 that stealth bomber hangers on the island were being equipped to take bunker-buster bombs. "They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran" - Dan Plesch, director, Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy, University of London Although the story was not confirmed at the time, the new evidence suggests that it was accurate. Contract details for the shipment to Diego Garcia were posted on an international tenders’ website by the US navy. A shipping company based in Florida, Superior Maritime Services, will be paid $699,500 to carry many thousands of military items from Concord, California, to Diego Garcia. Crucially, the cargo includes 195 smart, guided, Blu-110 bombs and 192 massive 2000lb Blu-117 bombs. “They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran,” said Dan Plesch, director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London, co-author of a recent study on US preparations for an attack on Iran. “US bombers are ready today to destroy 10,000 targets in Iran in a few hours,” he added. The preparations were being made by the US military, but it would be up to President Obama to make the final decision. He may decide that it would be better for the US to act instead of Israel, Plesch argued. “The US is not publicising the scale of these preparations to deter Iran, tending to make confrontation more likely,” he added. “The US ... is using its forces as part of an overall strategy of shaping Iran’s actions.” According to Ian Davis, director of the new independent thinktank, Nato Watch, the shipment to Diego Garcia is a major concern. “We would urge the US to clarify its intentions for these weapons, and the Foreign Office to clarify its attitude to the use of Diego Garcia for an attack on Iran,” he said. For Alan Mackinnon, chair of Scottish CND, the revelation was “extremely worrying”. He stated: “It is clear that the US government continues to beat the drums of war over Iran, most recently in the statements of Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. “It is depressingly similar to the rhetoric we heard prior to the war in Iraq in 2003.” The British Ministry of Defence has said in the past that the US government would need permission to use Diego Garcia for offensive action. It has already been used for strikes against Iraq during the 1991 and 2003 Gulf wars. About 50 British military staff are stationed on the island, with more than 3,200 US personnel. Part of the Chagos Archipelago, it lies about 1,000 miles from the southern coasts of India and Sri Lanka, well placed for missions to Iran. The US Department of Defence did not respond to a request for a comment." http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/w...iran-1.1013151 __________________ Peaceful Blessings

16-03-2010, 02:26 AM	#2
rashhead Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: It Feels Like Abbottabad Posts: 856	Looks like the beef with Iran is on Just what the world needs, another war These fookwit leaders pick more fights than a Glaswegian ned off their box on a Saturday night

16-03-2010, 09:39 AM	#11
amaralsright Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Varies in quest for more Sooty Posts: 12,319	How does the Scottish Sunday Herald know this? There is "a lack of publicity".

16-03-2010, 09:49 AM	#12
amaralsright Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Varies in quest for more Sooty Posts: 12,319	How does the piss poor Scottish Sunday Herald get the jump on everyone? I'd like to see their investiagtive jouranlism budget. I think a few more facts would helpful.

16-03-2010, 10:03 AM	#13
worlds beyond Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: by the sea... UK Posts: 3,124	my sincere apologies to Jesuitsdidit.... I didn't spot your original thread when I posted mine this morning here: http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108211 ... i know how annoying it is when someone starts a separate thread to same subject as one you just posted! Sorry! perhaps mods can merge threads? __________________ Peaceful Blessings

16-03-2010, 10:04 AM	#14
worlds beyond Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: by the sea... UK Posts: 3,124	mods, my error, I posted a new thread when already was one started lastnight.. please could you merge? thanks! And my apologies again to Jesuitsdidit ! __________________ Peaceful Blessings