Pentagon's Gates warns against targeting Iran

[maddezmom]

One anecdote in Seymour Hersh's latest piece speculating about a possible White House attack on Iran's nuclear program is sparking special interest. It involves Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

According to the New Yorker piece discussed here Sunday, Gates told Democratic senators at a policy luncheon that if the United States staged a preemptive strike on Iran, "we'll create generations of jihadists and our grandchildren will be battling our enemies here in America."

~snip~

I think that military action against Iran would be an absolute last resort, that any problems that we have with Iran, our first option should be diplomacy and working with our allies to try and deal with the problems that Iran is posing to us.

I think that we have seen, in Iraq, that once war is unleashed, it becomes unpredictable. And I think that the consequences of a military conflict with Iran could be quite dramatic.

And therefore, I would counsel against military action except as a last resort and if we felt our vital interests were threatened.


more:http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2008/06/pentagons-gates.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Gates is sane. He has to carry

Chimpy's water when necessary, but he isn't a lackey.

[jaxx]

3. I'm amazed he still has the job.

The bushies don't look kindly on those who disagree with their wars.

[melody]

6. He must have more dirt on them than they have on him n/t

[Hydra]

2. Cheney did something similar regarding Iraq after the first Gulf War

That didn't stop them from going through with it when they felt the need.

This is a Government that feels that it creates reality, and the rest of us follow that reality.

[MasonJar]

4. Not good enough, but better than the rest of the Bushistas. He wants

to stay on, so he is leaning moderate. I hope Obama chooses someone else.

[Captain Hilts]

5. SEE, Gates ISN'T part of the Bush cabal...nt

[Angleae]

7. One has to wonder how he got his job?

and how he has managed to keep it.