In a highly controversial open letter earlier this month, a number of Senate Republicans warned Iran against signing a nuclear deal with President Obama, arguing the US couldn’t be trusted to keep the deal. They didn’t know how right they were.
Today, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter sought to downplay the Iran talks, during remarks at Syracuse University, saying the deal wouldn’t have any impact on a potential US military strike on Iran.
“One of my jobs is to make sure all options are on the table,” Carter said, insisting that the US would reserve the right to attack Iran at any time even if the nuclear deal is reached.
That’s a position almost certainly not shared by the other nations involved in the nuclear talks, which were seen as necessary to resolving long-standing disputes with Iran and prevent a US attack. The Pentagon, it seems, is viewing the talks as so much noise, and not something that could stop a future war.
Soooooooo….. if the US- the chief architect of the Iranian nuclear deal- attacks Iran, does that not give the Iranians the go-ahead to completely discard everything but the standard IAEA protocols they have already agreed to? Will such an attack drive them to the point of discarding the IAEA altogether and putting a weapons program in place- and in overdrive?
Is there a way to disbar politicians from practicing politics? It's not the military that's going to get us all killed, it's the politicians for being stupid on a grand scale.
YOU, carter, shut up war criminal.
One day, not to far the USG and its allies, israel, saudis, GCC and every other non existent democratic governments in Europe will destroy middle east entirely. They are just paving the way for that day.
"One of my jobs is to make sure all options are on the table."
Reporters then asked Mr. Carter what other options the Pentagon has "on the table" to deal with the crisis with Iran.
Mr. Carter responded with a list:
– Invade France.
– Burn Washington.
– Explode a nuclear device on the moon.
– Parachute-drop the Detroit Lions into Tehran.
– Remove the letter "n" from the English alphabet.
"Like I said, all options," said Mr. Carter, before two men with white coats rushed into the room and bundled him away to receive the professional help he so obviously needs.
May I help? I have a white jacket.
Secretary Carter is talking nonsense because it is up to the President to decide which options are on the table. He has to obey the CinC. If he claims that all options are on the table then President Obama has told him that all options are on the table. All options include nuclear. His statements will register in Tehran and at the negotiation table. If he was allowed by President Obama to make this statement at this time it is one of the greatest stupidities of our government in recent times.
"…up to the President to decide which options are on the table."
Well, that is the standard MO but I'm not so sure anymore. Carter is more aligned with the wackos in Congress – the Senate in particular – than he is with Obama. Of course, it's completely unclear what Obama's stance is anymore.
yup, he part of Obama's team of rivals.
Thanks Obama for appointing this rabid NeoCon Sec of Offence…. He certainly is Final proof that the deep state is beyond the reach of "We the People". Just another NWO puppet fat and happy on our extorted taxes…… All options are on the table, except representing the interests of ordinary Americans. And don't forget this SOB was one of the signatories of the New Pearl Harbor outrage…. Just what one would expect from the Trojan Whores running this carefully corrupted administration…
This is what passes as American diplomacy in the 21st century…..
Constant veiled, or unveiled, threats. Nothing like pouring more gas on the fire to put it out, eh?
"Is there any intelligent life in Washington, DC?", he asked, already knowing the answer.
One more reason to wonder, why did Obama appoint this guy? He picked a neocon.
Kind of makes you wonder whether it was Obama who did the picking, doesn't it?
The US government is a depraved monster.
Is this article an April Fools joke?
Despite his many manifest sins, Obama has appeared to be opposed to war with Iran. It is a given that Obama can't control the Republicans. However, one would think that Obama could keep his own appointees from spouting lunacy. Other than an inability to control the executive branch, the only other possible explanation is that Obama actually does want war with Iran.
It interesting to compare the control Bush The Younger had over the message his administration presented. While Bush appeared to be incompetent in most realms, he was good at two key objectives: spending money, and keeping his administration on message. In contrast, Obama's administration is all over the map on any number of issues.
"…keeping his administration on message."
Or someone in his administration was good at keeping everyone on message…
This is yet another ultimatum by an militarism regime to Iran, if you don't do what we tell you to do then we bomb you with Israel and Saudis whom are our allies, we don't like tgem that much but due to our economic and geopolitical "interests" we are coperating with them, even supporting their terrorism in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and all other place where we have our interests to be protected by these terrorist and regimes that are states sponsored terrorist, like Saudi, GCC and israel.