The internet has been quoting an article entitled "Russian Intelligence Sees U.S. Military Buildup on Iran Border" published by RIA Novosti allegedly on March 27, 2008.
The date of this article is mistaken. Information Clearing House posted it on March 29, 2008. The original date of publication by Ria Novosti is March 27, 2007.
In the last few days, this text posted on The Information Clearing House has been considered by several authors and analysts of the Middle East as a bona fide current news item. The article has been quoted profusely in a number of articles, several of which point to an imminent military build-up directed against Iran.
What the authors of these articles have failed to do is to crosscheck the source and date of this Ria Novosti article. Moreover, they have not verified the history of the US-NATO Israeli build-up including the deployment of naval forces in the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The article quotes Col-General Leonid Ivashov, vice president of the Russian Academy of Geopolitical Sciences, who stated in March 2007 that "the Pentagon is planning to deliver a massive air strike on Iran's military infrastructure in the near future."
The article also states that: "the USS John C. Stennis, with a crew of 3,200 and around 80 fixed-wing aircraft, including F/A-18 Hornet and Superhornet fighter-bombers, eight support ships and four nuclear submarines are heading for the Gulf, where a similar group led by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has been deployed since December 2006."
The fact of the matter is that in late March 2008, the USS John C. Stennis had returned to Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington State, arriving on the morning of March 28, 2008, "after five days of sea trials following six months in dry dock." ( http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/356905_stennis29.html )
The Ria Novosti article was not published on March 27, 2008 but a year earlier on March 27, 2007.
It was posted on the Global Research website on March 28, 2007. It was one among several articles which we published on the US-NATO military build-up in the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The US-NATO-Israeli threat to conduct a war directed against Iran is noneless real.
An understanding of this threat cannot be based on an isolated and outdated news item. It requires a historical review and understanding of a complex process.
The military planning as well as the buildup directed against Iran has taken place over a period of more than four years.
In recent developments, which are of significance in assessing US sponsored war plans directed Iran, Israel has been hosting a NATO naval exercise, involving six NATO frigates, which arrived in Haifa on March 31st for a joint drill with Israeli Navy missile boats.
"During the visit, a demonstration of naval capabilities took place, as well as an exchange of information on a range of topics," the Israeli military said in a statement. Israel has been shoring up ties recently with NATO as part of preparations for any future showdown with Iran."
For further reference on the US and allied military buildup directed Iran and Syria, see:
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