FRANKNOTE

On August 30, 2007, a B-52 bomber loaded with six Advanced Cruise missiles with adjustable nuclear warheads from five to 150 kilotons flew across the U.S. in a covert mission to the Middle East. The B-52 was scheduled to be used against Iran in an operation that would have coincided with Israel's secret attack on Syria on September 6. This covert operation was secretly ordered by Vice President Dick Cheney who attempted an end-run around objections by the Joint Chiefs of Staff who first in April 2006 and again in 2007 had conclusively rejected the use of nuclear weapons in any war to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities. Air Force personnel involved in the leaking of news of the nuclear armed B-52 bomber and stood down orders to complete the mission were scapegoated in an official Air Force investigation released on October 19. Two days earlier on October 17, President Bush delivered a Press Conference claiming that World World III was worth starting in order to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons. On October 21, Vice President Cheney began warning of "serious consequences" if Iran doesn't comply with U.S. demands. This was the same language that preceeded the military intervention in Iraq in March 2003.