US ex-generals reject Iran strike

[Kärnfysikern]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6328801.stm

Three former high-ranking American military officers have warned against any military attack on Iran.
They said such action would have "disastrous consequences" for security in the Middle East and also for coalition forces in Iraq.

They said the crisis over Tehran's nuclear programme must be resolved through diplomacy, urging Washington to start direct talks with Iran.

The letter was published in Britain's Sunday Times newspaper.

It was signed by:


Lt Gen Robert Gard, a former military assistant to the US defence secretary

Gen Joseph Hoar, a former commander-in-chief, US Central Command

Vice Adm Jack Shanahan, a former director of the Center for Defense Information
"As former US military leaders, we strongly caution against the use of military force against Iran," the authors said

They said such action would further exacerbate regional and global tensions.

"A strategy of diplomatic engagement with Iran would serve the interests of the US and the UK and potentially could enhance regional and international security," the letter said.

It also said that "the British government has a vital role play in securing a renewed diplomatic push and making it clear that it will oppose any recourse to military force".

The US and its Western allies suspect Iran of using its nuclear programme as a cover to produce nuclear weapons, a claim denied by Tehran.

Washington has so far refused to rule out military action if Iran does not halt its nuclear activities.

The US has also recently beefed up its military presence in the Gulf.

[RA]

Obviously they are not doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. They have some agenda.

[Ufa]

Only active Generals advocate war. Ever seen a General during peace time. Well, it's pathetic. Unfortunately we have a nation of war mongers.
Bush never met a country with oil that wasn't worth attacking.
"Send your daughters Mr. Bush" "Mr. Clinton send your brat also"
Oh! I forgot we just send people that don't want to go to jail.

[RA]

I dont remember Clinton ever sending his daughter into a military engagement.

[Ufa]

Rich people don't send their kids to war. It's for us poor people and
some that are in trouble with the law.
.

[Kärnfysikern]

Obviously they are not doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. They have some agenda.

Everyone has a agenda. I dont think those pushing for attacking Iran is doing it out of goodness of their hearts either...

[juicedOUTbrain]

Originally Posted by johan
Everyone has a agenda. I dont think those pushing for attacking Iran is doing it out of goodness of their hearts either...

Heres the agenda, in the war parties own words...This panorama is full of revealing interviews with the people running the defence department...

Google Video- BBC Presents: The War Party

[mcpeepants]

well only retired generals could speak up because promotions from colonel on up are largely politically. criticism could end their career.

[mcpeepants]

I posted this a few weeks ago. Barry McCaffrey is a retired general who supported the Iraq war but points out the stupidity attacking Iran.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15830514/

MATTHEWS: We‘re back with General Barry McCaffrey.

I have to ask you, General, about this story we just talked a moment ago. It‘s Seymour Hersh of “The New Yorker.” Without getting into all the details, do you think it is feasible for the United States to take out Iran‘s nuclear facilities such as they are?

MCCAFFREY: No, I think our rhetoric has been ill advised. The notion that we can use conventional air power to go after Iranian nuclear facilities is preposterous.

We probably know where three-fourths of them are. With a six-month air campaign, we could probably degrade or knock out half of them.

We‘d set the entire world against us and, oh, by the way, they close the Persian Gulf and try and close our lines of communication from Kuwait, up to 150,000 troops stuck in the middle of Iraq.

It is absolutely a senseless idea. We‘re not going to do it.

MATTHEWS: If we did so, maybe this is more of a technological question than a military one, what would stop the Iranians, with the wealth they have, from rebuilding everything we destroy, only this time with the entire world playing them as victim?

MCCAFFREY: Well, I don‘t think it would go that far. I mean, if we attack—if we took two carrier battle groups and ran a bunch of good, vigorous strikes against Iranian nuke facilities at Bushehr and places like that, we‘d have an immediate reaction.

They would close the Persian Gulf. The Navy would have to withdraw out to sea. They‘d go out 200-300 miles. You‘d see a huge insurgent effort against our 400 kilometer supply lines.

We‘d be in a crisis mode within a week of the first air strikes.

MATTHEWS: So they have retaliatory ability against us. It wouldn‘t just be a clean strike and walk away?

MCCAFFREY: Sure. My first platoon sergeant said, “Don‘t ever threaten people in public and, by the way, when you do it, make sure you can carry out your threat.”

We‘re threatening people in public and we can‘t carry out the threat.

MATTHEWS: Interesting. Thank you very much, General Barry McCaffrey.

[Logan13]

Rich people don't send their kids to war. It's for us poor people and
some that are in trouble with the law.
.

John Kerry couldn't have said this better...........come on UFA. BTW, You can't get into the military as a felon.

[manster__34]

The reason these ex-generals are speaking out is because they can. It is against the UCMJ for any officer in the military to speak critical of the commander-in-chief. While serving we carry out our orders to the best of our ability, we don't question, we follow. That goes all the way up the chain of command, right up to the four stars. Once we retire then we gain the ability to openly express our views.

BTW not all of us are from poor families.

[Ufa]

Looks like I hit a nerve. What I ment to say is that when you fight one Muslim
you fight them all. So what the hell are we doing. We either take them
all on or get the hell out. If the President is not committed, he should
get out also. He should send his daughters, and have Israel use
tactical nukes were needed. Iran, Syria. Additionally we should take
there oil. Bomb them back into the biblical times.

[eliteforce]

the "take their oil" thing pretty much went out the window as soon as insurgents started blowing up pipelines, israel would never use a nuclear weapon first, not even a tactical, nobody would, so that leaves get the hell out.

[Ufa]

We used atom bomb in WW2. We use tactical nukes against Iran or they
use some version against Israel. This would assist in golbal warming. We
take their oil and we are King Kong again. The 800 lb gorilla. Or we can
let this thing drag on until we are broke and owned by China.

[Logan13]

We used atom bomb in WW2. We use tactical nukes against Iran or they
use some version against Israel. This would assist in golbal warming. We
take their oil and we are King Kong again. The 800 lb gorilla. Or we can
let this thing drag on until we are broke and owned by China.

we could use some global warming right around now here in Iowa...........

[Kärnfysikern]

we could use some global warming right around now here in Iowa...........

And we sure dont need it here. Rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain and then some more rain. Im so ****ing sic and tired of rain that Im going to puke soon. Where the hell is the snow

[Ufa]

we could use some global warming right around now here in Iowa...........

I predict sunshine and normal weather for you in the near future.

[eliteforce]

lets stick to something at least half-way realistic, u use a little nuclear weapon whats to stop them from sending in a suicide bomber with one of those 'suitcase' nukes into any downtown area and setting off alot of chaos and death but not 'hiroshimnizing' the city, then what; u hit them again? with another little one or a bigger one? then they hit israel, then israel hit them and syria killing millions, they hit back again and another us city..if it gets to the point where multiple large nukes go off in the me-the jetstream winds will takie the fallout all over russia and europe. nuclear war is pretty much always guaranteed to get out of control.