WASHINGTON – The White House demanded that the military draft plans forstrikes on Iran after attacks in Iraq last year, sparking concern at thePentagon and State Department, the *Wall Street Journallink*reportedon Sunday.
The report said the move followed a mortar attack launched by an allegedlyIran-linked group on the Baghdad diplomatic quarters home to the US embassyin September. No one was hurt by the shells, which landed in an open lot.
But the White House National Security Council (NSC) sought to develop aforceful American response to the low-scale attack, including options for astrike against the Islamic republic, *WSJ* reported.
It added that the NSC also requested options to respond with strikes inIraq and Syria.
“It definitely rattled people,” a former senior US administration officialtold the newspaper. “People were shocked. It was mind-boggling how cavalierthey were about hitting Iran.”
Although the Defense Department did develop proposals for a possiblestrike, the *WSJ* said it was unclear whether they were shared with theWhite House.
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In one NSC meeting, then deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardelcalled the attacks in Iraq an “act of war” and called for a decisive USresponse.
Pentagon officials stressed that it was not unusual for the DefenseDepartment to draw up military plans for the White House.
“The Department of Defense is a planning organisation and provides thepresident military options for a variety of threats,” Colonel Rob Manning,a Pentagon spokesman, told *AFP*.
