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According to the New York Times, America is secretly carrying out contingency planning for war with Iran. That was just part of its report on an expansion of US clandestine military activity recently authorised in the region. The timing of the story, and the leak it was based on, is intriguing.

The report, which has been stood up in off the record briefings by senior defence officials, claims top US commander in the region, General Petraeus, has ordered a ‘broad expansion’ of secret activity in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen among other countries.

It authorises special operations in both friendly and hostile nations. But of most interest here of course is what it means for American operations in Iran.

In particular, the New York Times reports, the order "permits reconnaissance that could pave the way for possible military strikes in Iran if tensions over its nuclear ambitions escalate’.

And it claims the directive ‘appears to authorize specific operations in Iran, most likely to gather intelligence about the country's nuclear program or identify dissident groups that might be useful for a future military offensive’ against Iran.

Officials emphasise that diplomatic and economic sanctions are the only methods currently being employed but say ‘detailed war plans’ must be drawn up ‘in the event that President Obama ever authorises a strike’.

In one sense you would not expect anything else, but as the Jerusalem... >>>