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President Obama’s plans for all-out assault against Iran are at roughly the same point of preparation and likelihood of execution as George Bush’s plans for Iraq in the summer of 2002. As with Bush’s deployment of forces deep into Iraq months before his successful request for War Powers in October, 2002, and more than half a year before full scale invasion in March, 2003, there is still time to halt Obama’s methodical movement toward full-scale war – but not much.

This week’s deliberate leaks of Pentagon orders to deploy U.S. special operations forces in Iran, Yemen, Somalia and even U.S.-allied Saudi Arabia are designed to acclimate the public to escalating U.S. operations in the region and within Iran, itself. The Administration also thought it prudent to prepare the public for when Americans are inevitably captured or killed in Iran or elsewhere they have no right to be, under international law. U.S. special operations soldiers are authorized to infiltrate “friendly and hostile nations in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa to gather intelligence and build ties with local forces.” The reconnaissance aspects of the missions “could pave the way for possible military strikes in Iran,” said the designated receiver of the leaked documents, The New York Times.

Predictably, the Times raised no questions of its own about the legality of the new policy, which is said to have gone into effect in September, beyond noting that ... >>>