Gates: War With Iran ‘Would Be Disastrous,’ It’s ‘The Last Thing We Need’
Gates: War With Iran ‘Would Be Disastrous,’ It’s ‘The Last Thing We Need’
In the most recent issue of the Army War College’s quarterly journal “Parameters,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote an article (pdf) titled “Reflections on Leadership,” in which he examines the “three principles of war for a democracy” espoused by General Fox Conner — “a tutor and mentor to both” General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General George Marshall.
Gates applied one of Conner’s principles — “never fight unless you have to” — to the current situation with Iran:
Conner’s axiom — never fight unless you have to — looms over policy discussions today regarding rogue nations like Iran that support terrorism; that is a destabilizing force throughout the Middle East and Southwest Asia and, in my judgment, is hell-bent on acquiring nuclear weapons. Another war in the Middle East is the last thing we need. In fact, I believe it would be disastrous on a number of levels.
Gates added that “the military option must be kept on the table” but his overall assessment echoes a recent statement by Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Admiral Michael Mullen. Last week on Fox News Sunday, Mullen said “I’m fighting two wars, and I don’t need a third one” in Iran. Watch it:
However, the right’s neoconservative hawks see the Iranian threat differently. Surge architect Fred Kagan said recently that “there’s nothing we can do short of an attack to force Iran to give up its nuclear program.” Ultra-conservative evangelical Pat Robertson wants an attack before November. John Bolton wanted bombs flying over Iran yesterday and Vice President Dick Cheney is reportedly on board.
But while Sen. John McCain is busy assessing the “nature of the threat” from Iran, President Bush recently authorized direct high level talks with the Iranians regarding their nuclear program — an indication he may be backing away from his “appeasement” rhetoric and siding with Gates and Mullen.
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The answer is SO simple–just send the idiot chickenhawks who WANT WAR to FIGHT THE WAR! problem solved…..
July 28th, 2008 at 6:52 pmGates is correct, but he omits that the war we have in Iraq is also is the last one we needed. McCain thinks we have to ‘win’ just as Georgie does, but neither will define what that means. We really need to just get out and let them sort everything out themselves – it certainly will be messy, but it’s their mess, not ours.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:55 pmCheney will likely have Gates sacked before November.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:55 pmVice President Dick Cheney is reportedly on board.
Cheney just wants Haliburton to win the contract in Iran by default.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:00 pmOT Sorry..OpEdnew’s. com. writer Joseph Frank wrote “Why I can’t support Barack Obama…It is relative to this post as well…P,B & J.All
July 28th, 2008 at 7:04 pmGates is also conspicuously absent from the meetings Cheney and comppany are holding with Israeli Defense officials. It’s been a revolving door for over a month.
http://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2008/07/cheney-didnt-get-message-from-pentagons.html
July 28th, 2008 at 7:04 pmBush just bought 90 days to do what he wants with military assets in the region, i.e. Iran’s next door neighbor.
http://arisfreedomswitch.blogspot.com/2008/07/bush-buys-90-days-to-do-wtf-he-wants-to.html
July 28th, 2008 at 7:06 pmWaltB Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I agree, Walt, and even with the damage and pain this administration has inflicted, Iraq’s record oil revenues reduce our financial obligation to the area for reconstruction. No rebuilding of any installation can comfort the millions of Iraqis who’ve lost so much.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:09 pmStill, the neocons/Big Oil did pretty well with Iraq, but they’ll have to settle for one invasion/occupation per unrelated terrorist attack.
Let’s see … blowback from our occupation of Saudi Arabia was used to justify invading Iraq, so invading Iran will likely be justified by blowback from our occupation of Iraq. The question is, which country’s invasion will we justify with blowback from our occupation of Iran?
July 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pmThe Jerusalem Post offers a bit different view on Bush’s diplomatic push:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331116435&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
July 28th, 2008 at 7:11 pmThe supposed “threat” that McWar is “assessing” is the fact that the Iranian government is not part of the American imperial system. Oh my God, some people living in a region that has been civilized for about twenty-times as long as the United States have the unmitigated gall to think that they can go their own way in the world without kowtowing to Bush or McWar…
July 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pmOr the “threat” that if Iranians built a few nuclear weapons that they could then fend off constant war/bombing/invasion threats from the zionist Israelis and the imperialist Americans.
Bob Gates counterpart, Israeli Defense Minister Barak met with Cheney today. It seems he also got time with reluctant Pentagon Chief:
Barak: Iran putting entire world at risk
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331128300&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
July 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pmThe magazine is a quarterly publication, so Mr. Gates thinking could have evolved between submission time and now.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:15 pmGates: “Another war in the Middle East is the last thing we need. In fact, I believe it would be disastrous on a number of levels.”
That sounds like Gates shares the opinion of Admiral Fallon who got booted as CentCom Commander for saying that a war with Iran wouldn’t happen “on my watch” just one year after he was given command. Fallon was replaced by Petraeus.
BUT
Gates says; “…rogue nations like Iran that support terrorism; that is a destabilizing force throughout the Middle East and Southwest Asia and, in my judgment, is hell-bent on acquiring nuclear weapons.
The question is, if Bush as C-in-C orders military action against Iran, will Mullen follow orders despite how “disastrous” the results might be?
Apparently Gates thinks the results won’t be sufficiently disastrous for him to take the stand that Admiral Fallon did. Gates thinks war with Iran is still an option.
There’s no ‘good’ news here at all.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:15 pmGates: War With Iran ‘Would Be Disasterous,’ It’s ‘The Last Thing We Need’
– - How about we at least spell the operative word correctly: Disastrous
July 28th, 2008 at 7:23 pmEight years of the Bush Regime has been disastrous. Do the Generals know this? How ’bout Gates? Doesn’t appear so.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:28 pmTanqueray, I’m glad Obama’s political posturing is winning you over. You da man, Tanq!
July 28th, 2008 at 7:30 pmHi DumbDumb. He said a NUCLEAR IRAN would pose a “grave threat”, but as we all know, the American spies working for Brewster Jennings and who were in Iran spying on their nuclear program were outed by the Bush Regime out of retaliation, because the Regime Monsters have fragile egos and don’t like their lies & deceptions aired to the world.
We can only guess now what Iran is doing thanks to the Pigs in the Regime.
See?
July 28th, 2008 at 7:30 pmCountdown to Gates being labeled as a left wing terrorist loon by the right wing terrorist loons. :D
July 28th, 2008 at 7:34 pmTanqueray Says:
——————————————————————————–
US presidential hopeful Barack H. Obama said on Wednesday that a nuclear Iran would pose a “grave threat” and that the world must prevent it from obtaining the atomic bomb. “I will take no options off the table in dealing with this potential Iranian threat,” Obama said
You go Barry(fist-tap)at least he sees the danger in these insane mullahs.
Bomb bomb bomb, Obama ran.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
He also isn’t pushing the neo-assclown line that Iran should be invaded/attacked immediately , unlike the wrinkled old moron you stupidly support has ……..
July 28th, 2008 at 7:38 pmFor America and Israel not to be planning that disastrous attack on Iran, boys from both sides are spending far too much together in meetings.
Israel Defense Chief Ehud Barak visits for the second time in the month of July. His top General spent time in D.C. last week, even brought his top strategic planner with him. Prior to that the top Israeli intelligence guy was in town, that after the hesitant Mullen segwayed from Europe to Jerusalem while his top Naval guy happened to be in the Holy City.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:38 pmI hate to nitpick, but there is a huge misspell in the headline.
It should be: disastrous
July 28th, 2008 at 7:40 pm“Gates applied one of Conner’s principles — “never fight unless you have to””
That’s not original with Conner or Gates.
Anyone who’s read “The Art of War” by Sun Tsu knows this and can cite a dozen other reasons we shouldn’t have entered into this war based on his writings from more than 2,000 years ago.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:42 pmMcCain: U.S. won’t allow a second holocaust
Obama: Obama said he was not naive about the nature of the Iranian regime, and that he wanted “tough, serious direct diplomacy” because “if we show ourselves willing to talk and to offer carrots and sticks in order to deal with these pressing problems, and if Iran then rejects overtures of that sort, it puts us in a stronger position to mobilize the international community to ratchet up the pressure on Iran.”
July 28th, 2008 at 7:44 pmOur false war in Iraq has weakened our military to the point that fighting a large scale battle anywhere in the world isn’t possible at this time. At a time when we should be building our defenses/troops up we have done nothing but tear them down. Longer and harder deployments mixed with shorter time R&R for 7 years has left our military weak and depleted. Any high ranking officers who have disagreed with anything this administration has said/done have been forced to retire.
What have the Republicans done to protect us from terror?
July 28th, 2008 at 7:54 pmTanqueray Says:
——————————————————————————–
KayInMaine Says:
He said a NUCLEAR IRAN would pose a “grave threat”,
He also says
“the world must prevent it from obtaining the atomic bomb.”
And “nothing is off the table”
I guess without my BHO “Secret Decoder Ring”tm I can’t decipher the nuance like you insiders can.
BTW Barry(fist-tap) it’s “NEWCLEAR” not Atomic bomb, or is that part of the secret code.
Bomb bomb bomb, Obama ran
July 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Not surprising that you GOP/Chimpy leg humpers don’t do ‘nuance’ ; you’re merely following your retarded deity’s lead……
Bomb bomb bomb, Chimpy ran from Vietnam
July 28th, 2008 at 7:57 pmNothing is off the table might also mean (gasp!) actually sitting down with the Russians and Chinese, who are Iran’s prime customers of natural gas and oil, and seeing if we could persuade them to pressure Iran to back off the program they haven’t been pursuing for five years, if necessary.
No more wars.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:07 pmTanq, You are my favorite racist. You have a lot of spunk. I hope when the revolution comes, you will bow down to your new master.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:08 pmI must have flustered DumbDumb when I called him DumbDumb. Huh. LOL
July 28th, 2008 at 8:44 pmBigCynicDotCom Says:
“The question is, which country’s invasion will we justify with blowback from our occupation of Iran?”
South America is next on the Corporo-Militarist hit list… shall we say Venezuela?
July 28th, 2008 at 8:46 pmNo, to blatant… how about any or all of Columbia’s neighbors?
Bush & McCain don’t listen to anyone– it’s such a lie when McCain talks about the withdrawal timetable depending on the situation on the ground– he doesn’t care a fig for that, and doesn’t give a s**t about what the military officers say. He just wants war & more war. Intelligance be dam*ed.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:47 pm“Never fight unless you have to”
Too late. See Iraq.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:49 pmFor once someone in the White House taken over by gangsters is making sense. But will we soon see the elimination of Gates by whatever method?
July 28th, 2008 at 9:50 pmFinally, a BUSHCO crime family member speaking up against going into Iran…..
July 29th, 2008 at 9:00 amThe military understands that a war with Iran would be a disaster, which is why they recently warned Israel against making a false-flag attack against American interests to drag us into the war. It seems the military is at odds with about 42% of the civilian population who favor helping Israel attack Iran. This makes it obvious that 42% of our citizens have no idea of how disastrous an attack against Iran would be to the United States.
Military Attempts To Prevent Iran War – Civilians Promote It – Who Wins?
It’s obvious that the MSM should be covering this matter, especially as it regards warning Israel against against a false-flag attack – but as usual, our MSM is useless and is nothing more than state sponsored propaganda.
William Cormier
July 29th, 2008 at 1:20 pm