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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Attack on Iran could have 'unintended consequences' |
| 2010-02-15 |
| The chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff has stated that any attack on Iran's nuclear facilities could have 'unintended consequences' throughout the Middle East region. "Of course, there are limits and this (military strike) option is on the table, but we are not there yet," Admiral Mike Mullen said during a press briefing at the US embassy in Tel Aviv on Sunday. He emphasized that US officials believe it is important to allow time for diplomacy and international pressure to work before they begin looking into military options. Asked whether the United States would prevent Israel from attacking Iran, Mullen said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi made it clear to him that Israel backs the US administration's policy vis-Ã -vis Iran, adding that Washington is committed to Israel's security. However, Tehran has made it clear that Israel will pay dearly for any adventurism targeting the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have accused Iran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program. Yet, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes. In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production. But Israel possesses a nuclear arsenal of at least 250 warheads, has never signed the NPT, and has never allowed IAEA inspections of all its nuclear facilities. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #15 That certainly is a rant, Shymaiden. A few quibbles: the Euroweenies in this case must include the Brits and the Germans, although Angela Merkel may step up to the plate, at least on the sanctions side; separately, Israel certainly didn't wait for a separate provocation before starting the Six Day War in '67, or more recently Operation Cast Lead against Hamas in Gaza. As for the rest, are you or have you ever been a sergeant? ;-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-02-16 00:04 |
| #14 February certainly has had an effect on you, TW. Not February in general, Nimble Spemble. But this one has been... interesting, thus far. We can hope the rest of the year will be less so. The onanism comment is a reflection of nine years of sex ed. in the very progressive public school system I attended, however, and nothing more profound. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-02-15 23:56 |
| #13 So what unexpected consequences are we talking here? We HAVE given diplomacy a thorough prance I think. Striped pants and french murmuring and the smell of dog piss all across the EU. The EUweenies are basically NEVER going to do anything. Besides, they CANT, they dont have a military or the capacity. EUrope is nadless. Its priss perfect for just squeaking, knocking over its glass, and sitting there bigtime. Israel doesnt have the overall to do anything but unleash hell if they get attacked first. They dont have the reach to do a First Strike..particularly if we wont let them fly all they way there or co-operate. Ergo Israel is not going to start it. They would LIKE to, they have the nads for a fight. But they wont. You provoke them and they will blow your head off ,but they wont make the first move. Iran is teetering like a drunk. Time is running out for the regime. We SHOULD be funding the dissidents and getting nasty behind the curtains. But no chance of that with Skinny as the hey what. It a close race between allowing natural events INSIDE Iran pushing them in their own hole and waiting for them to get a warhead screwed down on a launch vehicle. They will eventually. If you think there is something else on their minds, well, I have some swamp for you at a very good price. Admiral Mike Mullen is a man who eats with a linen napkin and has someone else do his driving for him while he sits in a tailored suit. He probably has never killed anything himself in his entire life. Hand him a rabbit and tell him to rip its head off...he wont be able to do it. His grandmother never showed him how. He's that kinda guy. If a war breaks out with Iran most Arabs will squeal like ruptured stoats and wee wee on themselves. Its the kind of people they are. Killing is always traumatic and no one likes to be out under the lights when they do it. But it CAN be done, and at the point of contact, its rather simple actually. You just stick the muzzle up against the Persians head and pull the trigger. Dont bring a trumpet and dont give any warning. And make sure you get everybody who looks you in the eye. Wars are NECESSARY... that's why we have the guys in uniforms and give them guns. There is nothing wrong with wars... the killing is sanctioned and you dont go to Hell if its for a good cause. You just look at the poor sod and try and do it so he doesnt get away or make a mess . Sometimes they make a fuss and its regrettable. You promise yourself you'll do it better next time. But Iran has it coming. Dont lie to yourself like it will go away. It wont. You are going to have to DO IT eventually. Finish your milk and get your tools. |
| Posted by: Shymaiden 2010-02-15 22:28 |
| #12 February certainly has had an effect on you, TW. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2010-02-15 20:47 |
| #11 Mental onanism being ever so much less messy than the other kind... /Sorry to those who are shocked. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-02-15 20:38 |
| #10 If by "sage" you mean someone who knows that he doesn't know everything, tries to learn, and takes great pains not to display his ignorance during the process, then guilty as charged, meneer. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-02-15 20:07 |
| #9 Those of us in the Ranting ranks long for the day we might somehow attain your level of military strategy and foreign policy awareness o'great sage. My comment regarding the basketball college stands. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-02-15 19:11 |
| #8 And unintended consequences are a problem? How? Are you being serious, or is this yet another sardonic, HUA-moment? Recall Ike, and his "enlarge the problem" advice. IIUC, the context was in how to move large numbers of troops around the country, and at the time of his presidency, how to evacuate populations from cities facing nuclear attack. The problem was then enlarged to "how do we establish a viable large-volume, national transportation system?" (the answer being the interstate highways). The question is really not only enlarging the problem, but then determining if there are viable solutions. Otherwise it's merely mental-onanism. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-02-15 17:11 |
| #7 And unintended consequences are a problem? How? Recall Ike, and his "enlarge the problem" advice. |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2010-02-15 15:45 |
| #6 He must have picked that up at the Naval War College. How profound. That's really funny. Remind me some day to ask you for your CV. PressTV is indeed spinning this. Mullen is not my favorite C-JCS |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-02-15 14:56 |
| #5 I wouldn't hammer Mullen too hard for the way PressTV spins a briefing. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2010-02-15 09:43 |
| #4 Or it could have intended consequences. I'm just sayin'... |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2010-02-15 08:26 |
| #3 ....War could have 'unintended consequences' He must have picked that up at the Naval War College. How profound. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-02-15 07:58 |
| #2 Consider the source....pfffffffffftttttt |
| Posted by: Captain Sherelet3127 2010-02-15 07:13 |
| #1 The man is a genius! |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2010-02-15 02:53 |