Congress Hears Calls to Escalate Covert War Against Iran

Former Officials Urge US to Start Killing People

In a hearing that was vaguely related to the alleged DC assassination plot, a number of former officials and general war enthusiasts discussed ways to further escalate a covert war against Iran, including making the war more overt.

Retired Gen. Jack Keane condemned the international community for not already having started a war with Iran, saying the US should “go without ’em” and that the US should kill members of the Revolutionary Guard as part of the escalation.

Former CIA agent Reuel Marc Gerecht downplayed calls for additional sanctions and covert cyber attacks, saying “I don’t think you’re going to really intimidate these people, get their attention, unless you shoot somebody.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was not testifying but was giving an interview with BBC Persian, insisted that the plot was proof that the Iranian military is becoming “more reckless” and that it was a great opportunity to change Iran’s behavior.

Perhaps a testimony to how confused US officials are about the whole situation, however, Secretary Clinton also conceded “we’re not quite sure who makes decisions anymore inside of Iran.”

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.