"Big George" - A Plan To Eliminate Iran and Minimize American Casualties

The following is based upon information that is now about 7 years old. The plan described is still a viable plan, the only real question is one of government resolve. My trailing comments are based on current prevailing conditions...

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According to the man who helped plan the first air war against Saddam in 1991, U.S. aircraft, armed with conventional bunker-buster bombs, would be more than enough to wipe out Iran's nuclear and missile facilities, and cripple its ability to command and control its military forces. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney calls it the "Big George" scenario.

McInerney believes that U.S. air power is so massive, precise, and stealthy, it can effectively disarm Iran with just limited assistance from covert operators on the ground whose task would be to light up enemy targets.

In his "Big George" scenario, the United States would attack 1,000 targets in Iran. Fifteen B2 stealth bombers based in the United States and another 45 F117s and F-22s based in the region would carry out the initial waves of the attack, crippling Iran's long-range radar and strategic air defenses.

"Big George" would also target command and control facilities – Revolutionary Guards command centers, key clerics, and other regime-sensitive sites – in the hope of triggering a revolt against the clerical regime by opposition groups inside Iran.

That sounds like a plan to me! There are just a couple of potential glitches involved...

1. General McInerney is retired. Today, he has zero power, and probably the same amount of military influence... zero.
2. The "Big George" scenario was born during George W. Bush's first term.
3. Bush was a bit on the "hawkish side" of neutral, and may have initiated such a plan had the need presented itself. There was a believable threat there.
4. The current leftist Obama administration is in "cut-n-run" mode, as Obama busies himself running around the world apologizing for the United States, and releasing enemy combatants and terrorists. Based on his performance thus far, he cannot even create the illusion of a believable threat!
5. The Brits have intelligence indicating that Iran has Shahab-3 long-range missiles capable of delivering multiple nuclear warheads, and that Iran can now produce those nuclear warheads within 6-12 months.
6. Israel is somewhat concerned over the Brits intel. Can you say "preemptive strike"? (Unfortunately, Israel may find itself with minimal support [if any] from the U.S. in such an undertaking, due to the distinct absence of cojonés in Washington D.C.)
7. Much of the "Big George" scenario is dependent upon the availability of additional waves of carrier-based F-18s, as well as F-15s and F-16s launching from ground bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, and Bahrain, to take out Iran's known nuclear and missile sites. (What if these Muslim nations are not particularly inclined toward allowing the U.S. to launch attacks from within their borders? American "status of forces" agreements with foreign countries have always placed significant restrictions on what the USA may and may not do from within the borders of those foreign sovereign nations.)

As optimistic as "Big George" sounds, keep in mind that it was created under a different government administration, with a completely different philosophy about international confrontation. It could, perhaps, actually be accomplished in one or two days, with the proper leadership. Or, if the political clowns continue trying to run the war circus, it could turn into another Vietnam quagmire... complete with the loss of tens of thousands of American lives.

As always... there is a remote chance that I could have the wrong attitude about this whole thing, and we should all get in a big circle, hold hands, and sing "Kumbaya".