Posted on 09/17/2007 4:28:52 PM PDT by Fitzcarraldo
WASHINGTON - Every effort should be made to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but failing that, the world could live with a nuclear-armed regime in Tehran, a recently retired commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East said Monday.
John Abizaid, the retired Army general who headed Central Command for nearly four years, said he was confident that if Iran gained nuclear arms, the United States could deter it from using them.
"Iran is not a suicide nation," he said. "I mean, they may have some people in charge that don't appear to be rational, but I doubt that the Iranians intend to attack us with a nuclear weapon."
The Iranians are aware, he said, that the United States has a far superior military capability.
"I believe that we have the power to deter Iran, should it become nuclear," he said, referring to the theory that Iran would not risk a catastrophic retaliatory strike by using a nuclear weapon against the United States.
"There are ways to live with a nuclear Iran," Abizaid said in remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank. "Let's face it, we lived with a nuclear Soviet Union, we've lived with a nuclear China, and we're living with (other) nuclear powers as well."
He stressed that he was expressing his personal opinion and that none of his remarks were based on his previous experience with U.S. contingency plans for potential military action against Iran.
Abizaid stressed the dangers of allowing more and more nations to build a nuclear arsenal. And while he said it is likely that Iran will make a technological breakthrough to obtain a nuclear bomb, "it's not inevitable."
Iran says its nuclear program is strictly for energy resources, not to build weapons.
Abizaid suggested military action to pre-empt Iran's nuclear ambitions might not be the wisest course.
"War, in the state-to-state sense, in that part of the region would be devastating for everybody, and we should avoid it in my mind to every extent that we can," he said. "On the other hand, we can't allow the Iranians to continue to push in ways that are injurious to our vital interests."
He suggested that many in Iran perhaps even some in the Tehran government are open to cooperating with the West. The thrust of his remarks was a call for patience in dealing with Iran, which President Bush early in his first term labeled one of the "axis of evil" nations, along with North Korea and Iraq.
He said there is a basis for hope that Iran, over time, will move away from its current anti-Western stance.
Abizaid's comments appeared to represent a more accommodating and hopeful stance toward Iran than prevails in the White House, which speaks frequently of the threat posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions. The administration says it seeks a diplomatic solution to complaints about Iran's alleged support for terrorism and its nuclear program, amid persistent rumors of preparations for a U.S. military strike.
Abizaid expressed confidence that the United States and the world community can manage the Iran problem.
"I believe the United States, with our great military power, can contain Iran that the United States can deliver clear messages to the Iranians that makes it clear to them that while they may develop one or two nuclear weapons they'll never be able to compete with us in our true military might and power," he said.
He described Iran's government as reckless, with ambitions to dominate the Middle East.
"We need to press the international community as hard as we possibly can, and the Iranians, to cease and desist on the development of a nuclear weapon and we should not preclude any option that we may have to deal with it," he said. He then added his remark about finding ways to live with a nuclear-armed Iran.
Abizaid made his remarks in response to questions from his audience after delivering remarks about the major strategic challenges in the Middle East and Central Asia the region in which he commanded U.S. forces from July 2003 until February 2007, when he was replaced by Adm. William Fallon.
The U.S. cut diplomatic relations with Iran shortly after the 1979 storming of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Although both nations have made public and private attempts to improve relations, the Bush administration labeled Iran part of an "axis of evil," and Iranian leaders still refer to the United States as the Great Satan.
(This version SUBS 9th graf, Iran says ..., to CORRECT word to 'program,' sted 'problem'))
Iran would nuke Israel the second it has the capabilities to do so. Since Israel has not been nuked, Iran doesn't have nuclear weapons.
I certainly hope you are right. But, I still believe they already have, at least, some old Soviet nukes.
I read that on Frontpage mag last year.
I just wonder.
Agreed.Reminds me of A young ,pretty,Russian jewish girl that used to work for me.Her parents and their parents before that suffered one form(Jail,execution,violence) or another under the anti-semetic system of the Glorious Workers Paradise.The family emigrated to the US in the first wave of the 90’s.Built a lifestyle unimagined in their home country.Big hose,lake front,new cars,the American Dream.
One day we are having a breakfast before work and the conversation somehow arrives to where she didn’t think she would know who to support if there was ever a conflict between the USA and Putin.(?)Her family was from Kiev (had survived fall out from Chernobyl),really not a even part of Russia.Culturally,no matter how bad things were in the home country,she still identified more with her families multi-generational oppressors,that the country that gave them freedom and a good life.Same way with lots of folks who got here lately,Yes?
she sounds like a bimbo and certainly cannot be compared to a US general given his scope of responsibility.
I've always believed that any country that wants nukes could develop them within 5 years. I base this reasoning on the fact that it took us about 5 years to develop nukes during World War 2. We also did not have foreign scientists with previous experience building nuclear weapons to help us in the task. Iran has all of this help.
I have no problem with Iran being nuclear as long as it glowed enough and was glazed over as one big ceramic or glassy expanse.
If they attack us they will be smart enough to not leave a calling card. Just like with Pan Am 103.
I said it then, I’ll say it again...
This fool General went “native” on us....
His position on ROE, got a lot of good men killed.
His PERSONAL agreement to avoid attacking the enemy while congregated for funerals or in cemeteries was UNCONSCIONABLE and resulted in the lost opportunity to kill a lot of bastard leaders - who lived to kill more good men..
This silly bastard should retire quietly, cash his pension checks and STFU.
How would the silly bastard explain away the risk of having Iran give nuclear weapons to “terrorists” to use against us — with unprovable connection to Iran?
Can’t happen? Hell, Iran is ALREADY sending weapons to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and probably Afghanistan to kill Americans or Jews....
It is the "some people in charge that don't appear to be rational" who are the ones IN CHARGE in Iran, i.e. THEY, THE NON-RATIONAL, will decide whether or not to launch nukes.
The General seems to be unaware that Iran is not the US - there are no checks and balances, there are no institutional safeguards to toss "some people in charge that don't appear to be rational" out of power and into jail or the nuthouse. The Iranian people, as kindly disposed to the US and the West as they may be on balance, count for little or nothing in the short term. Power is in the hands of the Ayatollahs, of the same people who daily preach for the destruction of "The Great Satan." That's not some dude in a red suit with horns, a pointy tail and hooves who sits on your shoulder trying to get you to do the wrong thing all the time, that's US, General Putz.
The Iranians are aware, he said, that the United States has a far superior military capability.
Yes, but there's that "some people in charge that don't appear to be rational" thing popping up again. Hitler knew that the resources of the US, UK and Soviet Union were far superior to those of Germany and its allies, but the non-rational SOB decided to declare war on all three at the same time. He also diverted enormous resources to a completely non-productive (and, in fact, counter-productive) enterprise, the murder of some 11 million non-combatants all over the continent of Europe. That's what "some people in charge that don't appear to be rational" will do sometimes.
Besides, the "some people in charge that don't appear to be rational" think that Allah or the 12th Imam, or Ishkabibble or the Man in the Moon will intervene on Iran's behalf in the midst of a global conflagration. They WANT it to happen.
As Nuconvert said, "Thank you for your service, General. Im glad youre retired." I agree. Go write a book, go help some contractor get some juicy contracts that it has no right to obtain in return for paying you an obscene amount of money, enjoy your family...in short, go away.
We need to stop the proliferation of WMD in its tracks NOW.
Given the spread of technology and rapid communication like with the internet, we need to have a world of responsible governments run by responsible people ONLY.
In today’s world, it is mainly states (with lots of resources) which are capable of creating WMD.
But if we let the proliferation continue and do not contain the irresponsible people running irresponsible governments, then it is only a matter of time before the age of WMD terrorism begins and good luck will be all that we have to rely on.
Iran needs to hear a very strong message. So far the strong “diplomatic” messages have only emboldened them.
Okay then he’s just a plain Nimrod for stating that we can “abide” with a nuclear Iran.Lots of folks have responsibilities,its discernment that rally counts when yah got nukes being passed around the tent.
And the threat of retaliation from Israels nuclear weapons sure has bought the Israelis a whole lot of peace and security.
The Vig is in, the USA will destroy Iran's nuclear capability. All last week, after Israel destroyed a nuclear cache in Syria, the Ilamofascists have been doing shark rolls and gnashing their teeth. Iran is not a suicide nation? They have been sponsoring and advocating suicide attacks for years. We can list dozens of them.
And whats this about not using a nuclear weapon, after the Iranians exchanged gas attacks with Sadaam Hussein, killing thousands of Iraqis and thousands of their own soldiers when the wind changed to blow the gas into Iranian lines?
You bet the Iranians would use the bomb. Chances are they already have it.
As Sherlock Holmes once said," Watson, the game is afoot!"
Do not be surprised when you wake up one of these mornings to find dozens of nuclear sites in Iran nothing more than glowing holes in the ground.
Long overdue!
Code words: Vive La France!
I’m stunned.
Even if that is the case,
Why does he think the Iranian islamo kooks would keep those nukes safe from other islamo kooks that would happily use them on Israel?
And along with New York, the UN building. And the liberal Mecca of Manhattan...
...and the EIB building. And Sean Hannity.
Seems like it's a bad idea all around.
Let's prevent it.
Cheers!
...”What is the matter with Americas former Generals?”...
Was General Abizaid a Clinton appointment?
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