Israeli intelligence’s (Debka File) report that last Thursday, Oct. 26, Iranian officials were seriously rattled by a rumour that an Iranian spy plane had located the USS Boxer heading for the Persian Gulf.

It prompted fears of an imminent American military assault to lift Republican prospects in the coming US midterm elections of Nov. 7. If Bush looses control of Congress he will be investigated for some of the criminal actions he has taken since he came into office and be impeached.

In any case, the Iranians suspect that at the end of the joint US-Indian exercise in the Arabian Sea, Boxer will veer west and head into the Persian Gulf.

There would then be four US air carriers with task forces parked opposite Iranian shores, including the USS Enterprise Strike Group, the USS Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group and the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, which are already in place.

The problem is that the Iranians are ready for an attack and will inflict another Iraq on us this time at sea.