A US or Israeli attack on Iran would “prove catastrophic” and “make a nuclear-armed Iran inevitable,” former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said in a speech Wednesday night.
Neither the United States nor Israel is capable of wiping out Iran’s nuclear capability, Gates said, and “such an attack would make a nuclear-armed Iran inevitable. They would just bury the program deeper and make it more covert.”
Not only would Iran be likely to reconstitute its defunct nuclear weapons program, but Tehran might also respond by disrupting world oil traffic in the Persian Gulf and launching a wave of terrorism across the region, Gates claimed.
“The results of an American or Israeli military strike on Iran could, in my view, prove catastrophic, haunting us for generations in that part of the world.”
Gates was reiterating what has become an emergent consensus within the military and intelligence community in the United States, that a war on Iran – which Israel and many hawks in Congress have been pushing for – would not only be entirely discretionary, but would have disastrous consequences for Iran, the region, and the United States.
A report released last month by former government officials, national security experts and retired military officers concluded also that an attack would motivate Iran to restart its weapons development, and that the ensuing war would end up being “more taxing than the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined.”
On the war strategists’ own terms, a war on Iran would backfire. But the human cost of such a war would also be immense. Even if a US or Israeli strike only targeted Iran’s nuclear sites and it didn’t result in larger land war, the toxic plumes released as a result of the strikes could kill or injure up to 70,000 civilians in nearby cities and towns.
When the "crazies" even say it's nuts then you know it is.
And I am 100% sure if 70,000 of their citizens are muderd their will be many more deaths when they fight back like other were not capable of doing.The nucular facilitys in Israel and Americas soldiers and bases would be attcked.If Israel wants to fight this war of agreesion they can but, by themselfs.
No need to worry, everything's OK – Israel has access to it's own oil (at that of the Palestinians, maybe Lebanon and Syria too if all goes to plan), and the oil the US is bound by treaty to sell it (at a discount price no doubt). If you then run short yourself, Israel may sell you some of its oil at, say, $250 a barrel (Herzliya 2012 conference target price).
Yes, Mr. Gates, leave Iran and stop baseless propaganda. Instead, attack Israel and destroy undeclared arsenal of WMD in hands of fanatics and stop occupation of Palestine…And then, dismantle place called Israel and help with return of refugies….By this move, You could help prevent WW3, nobody /exept fanatical, mesianic zionists/ wants!!! peter czech
Iran is stupid NOT to have a bomb.
Unlike our sociopath politicians in the US, Iranians actually have convictions, and they've chosen not to pursue nuclear weapons.
The ONLY people who want this war are Zionist fanatics, Bible thumpers longing for the end of days, and psychopaths.
These cowards develop a pair only when they have left the government. Obviously it's not convenient for them to tell the truth when they are enjoying the perks that come with high office. After all, what is a million lives (Iraq)?
"Wars are caused by unprotected wealth."
– General Douglas Macarthur
More TRUTHERS Please………
I'm grateful for his comments but it's frustrating that people in positions of power and influence who come out against pointless endless war always wait AFTER they retire and secure their lucrative pensions before they say anything. Why couldn't Gates have opposed some acts of war when he was in office?
Amen !!! But still, better than nothing ,…
An attack on Iran would, indeed, be catastrophic; Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates is totally correct, Not only would such a strike initiate WW III, it would destroy the entire region – including Israel. Included in Iran's response would be a missile strike on the Dimona Nuclear Weapons facility in the Negev Desert, releasing deadly radiation throughout the Zionist entity and its neighbors.
The US has already told Israel that there would be no support for any war of aggression against Iran; thus, leaving the Zionist entity totally alone against Iran, its proxies in Lebanon and Gaza, and both China and Russia.
Iran was right all along, they have every right to do what they are doing; No proof whatsoever has been provided that they are attempting to produce atomic weapons, and in fact officials high in our own gevernment have admitted as much. The bully of the block will just have to turn tail and retreat, just as it has in Vietnam and Iraq, and soon Afghanistan. If you do not want nuclear proliferation . . . you need to talk to other countries with respect, and not threaten them. You will also have to give up your own nuclear weapons . . . . . Washington bone heads.
Not sure who all, but I think at least Gareth Porter isn't convinced there's evidence that there ever was a "weapons program." Just sayin', 'cause I can pick out at least two instances in this article where a reader would be lead to assume there was one, e.g.:
"restart its weapons development" = when will you resume beating your wife?
"its defunct nuclear weapons program" = when did you give up beating your wife?
It's a great pity that such warnings as uttered by warmonger and former Secretary of Defence Robert Gate never seem to reach the pages or TV news bulletins of our strictly controlled and censored corporate news media.
Saw this highly suspicious and very disturbing headline a few minutes ago on whatreallyhappened.com. Remember the electronic voting machines and the clear
evidence that they can be rigged, and how GWB got exactly 10 percent margins of victory
in his reelection campaign in every state that used them. I am NO fan of Obongo and won't
vote for the Communist, but it's looking like the fix is in for Mittens and the 'fixers' don't want to
have any exit polling data that might cast suspicion upon the outcome of the election.
"Networks, AP cancel exit polls in 19 states
Breaking from two decades of tradition, this year’s election exit poll is set to include surveys of voters in 31 states, not all 50 as it has for the past five presidential elections, according to multiple people involved in the planning."
However, even if Mittens gets installed – I still do not think that the US Military is going to go along with another one of these Israeli wars being assigned to them. In fact, I would not be surprised in the least to see a military coup de tat and the arrest of any president who tried to order them into such a stupid and clearly unnecessary war.
If Iran were attacked anything it did in retaliation could hardly be labeled as "launching a wave of terrorism across the region".
It crossed my mind too – A mop job like getting rid of foreign lobbies, their moles occupying Capitol Hill wouldn't hurt either ,…
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In fact, I would not be surprised in the least to see a military coup de tat and the arrest of any president who tried to order them into such a stupid and clearly unnecessary war.