Posted on 07/08/2009 12:38:24 PM PDT by presidio9
A military strike to thwart Iran's nuclear weapons capability remains on the table but could have grave and unpredictable consequences, the top U.S. military officer said Tuesday.
"I worry a great deal about the response of a country that gets struck," said Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "It is a really important place to not go, if we can not go there in any way, shape or form."
Iran is perhaps one to three years away from getting the bomb, leaving a small and shrinking opening for diplomacy to avert what he said could be a dangerous nuclear arms race in the Middle East, Mullen said.
"I think the time window is closing."
Mullen said President Barack Obama's diplomatic outreach to Iran holds promise, despite political upheaval and deadly protests following Iran's disputed presidential election.
Obama told The Associated Press last week that persuading Iran to forgo nuclear weapons has been made more difficult by the Iranian government's handling of claims that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole re-election.
Mullen pointedly said "the strike option" — is one possible outcome. He suggested that a strike, meaning missile or other attacks to blow up Iran's known nuclear facilities, is a last resort. It would be "very destabilizing," Mullen said.
Mullen was referring to Iran's response should it be attacked by either the United States or Israel, although he was careful to say that Israel can speak and choose for itself. His remarks made clear that the Obama administration wants to avoid a strike by either country.
Mullen, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said it is critical to find a solution "before Iran gets a nuclear capability, or that anyone ... would take action to strike."
On Sunday,
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I see Obama has his lackeys in place, now, in the military.
And when does it become a good option? After Iran nukes Israel? or America? Our “pandering to dictatorships” foreign policy will cost dearly someday.
“”I worry a great deal about the response of a country that gets struck,” said Adm. Mike Mullen...”
How special. You must be the only one, Admiral. That detail has escaped everyone else’s attention until now.
Actually Admiral Mullen was appointed by Bush after a recommendation from Gates.
It was a good option 3 to 4 years ago. The longer we wait the more pain we will suffer from either hitting them or not hitting them.
Admiral Mullen is a Bush appointee.
It would be interesting to contrast Adm. Mullen’s public statments concerning Iran with those he made during the latter days of the Bush Administration. Just sayin’.
but he seems to have worked hard at fitting right in, in the Marxist regime of our dear POSOTUS (that's write I said POSOTUS)
From personal experience, I can tell you that about 9 out of every 10 general officers are political lackyes. It has been so since after WWII, and just got worse during the Clinton era.
The best officers rarely make the political bones to get promoted.
I give you for example Wesley Clark and Colin Powell.
This guy will work to find any excuse not to confront Iran on the nuclear weapons issue - I believe he wants the Mullahs to have the bomb and to wipe Israel off the map.
Obama may be the most dangerous leader of any nation I have witnessed in my 70+ years. He is ignoring what is the most "clear and present danger"!
I’ve been on this forum for nearly four years and lurking the Net for a couple more.
I’m really tired of hearing how Iran is 3, 4, 5 years away from getting the bomb. Give peace a chance blah, blah....
Hell, by now they could have a Hydrogen weapon and a MIRV warhead.
Or maybe thats really what he believes.
I was thinking Westmoreland.
Ike was more of a pol than lets say Patton, who spoke his mind....
IMO, Ike was thrust into a position he didn't really want at first, but was happily, very good at doing. He worked for McArthur as you recall and was reported to have said that he “studied drama under General McArthur”.
Patton was just a steam roller who deeply believed in his own personal destiny. It was the driving force in his life, and he was lucky enough to get in on the ground floor of the Tank Corps.
obammy the limp wristed... will not allow his accolytes to use force... who is this puke kidding... attack has and will never be an option as long as a muzzie marxist that hates America is his CiC.
LLS
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