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from KizylArvat to Gorgan, with a second corps-sized element moving south from Ashkabad to Quchan. Several other divisions are assembling farther inside the Soviet Union, here at

    Nebit-Dag and Mary. In the east a single motorized rifle division has been identified moving along an axis west from Herat in Afghanistan to, probably,
    Mashhad. Current intelligence gathered from several sources, including monitoring of official Iranian news agencies, indicates that the Soviet invasion came as a complete surprise to the Iranians. Only token resistance is being met by the Soviets. With the majority of Iran’s forces involved in active fighting against the Iraqis, and in view of the country’s lack of mobile reserves, the Soviets will meet little in the way of organized resistance for at least the next five to seven days, maybe longer.”
    Lieutenant Matthews paused to allow the commander to study the map showing the activity she had just described. When he was comfortable with the information, he nodded for her to continue.
    “A preliminary analysis brings out three major points. The first clearly indicates that Tehran is the offensive’s initial objective.
    Seizure of the northwest, the coast of the Caspian Sea and Tehran will place the majority of the population, agriculture and industry of Iran under Soviet control.
    This would leave only two other worthwhile objectives: the oilfields in the southwest and control of the Strait of Hormuz in the south. The second point is that the USSR is using relatively small forces along established lines of communication. Although it does have a large number of forces in the Transcaucasus region, they are being held in place to serve either as a threat to Turkey or as a second echelon.
    There is insufficient information at this time to confirm either theory. This could also mean that the
    USSR’s objectives are limited to the seizure of Tehran or that it is being careful not to shove more forces into the country than can be supplied.
    “The final point, and perhaps the most important to us, is the fact that the Soviets have taken no other actions anywhere else in the world to increase their state of readiness. An intelligence summary released to 10th
    Corps earlier this morning from the DIA concluded that it appears to be the
    Soviets’ intent to keep the conflict localized to Iran. In fact, Soviet ambassadors in all NATO countries had scheduled appointments with the heads of those countries within an hour of the invasion to present the Soviets’ position and explanation.”
    At this point, the brigade commander interrupted. “It’s going to take one hell of a line of BS to turn this stunt into a lily-white crusade to save humanity.” For the first time there was laughter in the room.
    Turning to

    Lieutenant Matthews, he asked, “Amanda, do you have anything else?”
    For a moment, Lieutenant Matthews was in shock. This was the first time since she had come to the brigade that the brigade commander had called her by her first name. She simply replied, “No, sir.”
    “That was a good briefing, thank you.”
    As she went to take her seat, the XO gave her a nod of approval. She was part of the team.
    Daradiz Pass, Iran 1700 Hours, 25 May (1330 Hours, 25 May, GMT ) The captain finished making the rounds of the positions occupied by his paratroopers. All was in order. Brought in by helicopter in the predawn darkness, the airborne company had had no problem overwhelming the Iranians who were supposed to man the positions now filled by his men. Four months of training, rehearsals and preparation for this single operation had paid off.
    At the cost of one man wounded and a sprained ankle sustained during the debarkation from the helicopters, the airborne company had taken out forty-five Iranians. There were, of course, no prisoners. The plan did not allow for the holding of prisoners.
    Standing on the edge of a cliff, the captain looked down at the unending column of tanks, armored