Once again seeking to reassure the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Iran deal won’t get in the way of a potential US attack on Iran, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter today insisted the deal provides “no limits” to US attacks, and that the US has such a “robust” amount of military force in the area they can hit anywhere in Iran at any time.
Carter has repeatedly talked up the idea of the US following on to the nuclear deal with a unilateral military strike on Iran for some unspecified reason, and presented the notion multiple times in the week after the deal’s announcement, during which he visited Israel and sought to assure them that war as still in the works.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey appeared to talk back the notion of a sudden attack, however, declaring in his own testimony that a US attack on Iran would be “an act of war,” while going to great lengths to avoid taking a position on the wisdom of launching such a war.
Dempsey and other officials also presented as part of the narrative on the deal that it makes war less likely, a talking point for the administration which doesn’t seem to be sitting well with many in Congress, for whom a massive new war is an end unto itself.
And prey tell Ashton, under what circumstances would you think it necessary for the US to attack Iran militarily?
Remember, he just returned from violent apartheid 'Israel'.
If Saddam had WMD Bush would have never invaded.
I'm sure Iran is not that naïve.
No but if the US was to attack Iran it would also negate the deal in relation to sanctions, sanctions of trade between the US and Iran would cease and remove Iran's requirements to follow them! The US can not have it both ways, BOTH nations have to operate in good faith!
Of course the US has the Problem that there would be NO impediments in the UN security council and there for NO lawful excuse to attack Iran! An attack by Israel on ANY Nuclear facility would in fact be a serious problem for Israel, as the IAEA is monitoring them! It would also be a War crime attacks on active nuclear facilities or facilities that hold Nuclear waste are recognised war crimes! As Iran is in compliance and has allowed further access, would probably end up with sanctions of their own if they attacked, it would not bode well for the US either if there was to be a radiation leak that went over other nations borders from such an attack if they tried to veto any moves to punish Israel!
One after another rubbing it in for Israel, just make bibi happy. Meanwhile bibi doing what he is best at, demolishing Palestinians homes building more for Jewish immigrants from Europe and USA.
Ash is no deep thinker. Then again, neither is his audience. No agreement prevents an attack regardless of who made the agreement; agreements can always be broken.
There is a very big difference between launching an attack and succeeding in its objectives. Ash should take a hour or so off "briefing" everybody else to get a "briefing" from his own military professionals. What exactly is involved in attacking a large country of 90 million people? What resources are required if the Iranians don't just roll over and die on demand. One thing is for certain, the current US military does no have the manpower to subdue Iran. Hand over your kids as cannon fodder…..unless you are rich.
They rage on about the Ayatollah making threatening noises, yet they can't hear themselves. I guess that's what being "exceptional" is all about.
I'm still looking for the adults in the room.
A real possibility
If Empire USA attacks Iran, immediately Russia and China encircle Iran with battleships, Iran gets all the fighter-bombers it needs to wage any kind of air battle and no NATO plane would dare to enter Iran air space as both Russia and China would have Iran protected by their latest missile defense system.
Well said, John.
The US & Israel military is all hat & no cattle
Shut up terrorist. You should attack yourself.
He's kind of right. Iran has powerful allies or friends (or both).
Funny how Dempsey has to explain that an attack on Iran would be an act of war. That's how arrogant we are.
He has said this so many times it is not a mistake. Obama has authorized it, wants it said.
Why? We know Obama will not attack Iran. If he would have, it would already have happened.
Clearly, it is a lunatic talking to lunatics. It is the conversation one would hear in the group meeting room of a lunatic asylum. Obama is treating it that way, too.
It is now a quaint idea that anything could keep the US from attacking, attacking, attacking.
We are like the crazy brother who imagines that he is Theodore Roosevelt in "Arsenic and Old Lace" dashing up the stairs shouting "CHARGE."