US military chief refuses to rule out military option over Iran (Admiral Michael Mullen)

[sabra]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The top US military chief Admiral Michael Mullen Tuesday refused to rule out the military option over the Iran nuclear crisis, but stressed the importance of diplomacy in resolving the standoff.

"I would never take the military option off the table," Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at a briefing on US national security.

But he stressed that "doesn't mean it would be used" adding "diplomacy is very important."

...

"I worry about Iran because of the rhetoric, because of the development of the nuclear world, because of the support for the insurgents in Iraq," Mullen said at the briefing.

Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iEcRvNgMUMhcu4Wy7eQUcydZxoKQ

[daleo]

1. A general won't take the military option off the table?

That's a suprise. Generals don't make policy anyway, they just carry it out.

[Teaser]

2. I don't think an Admiral can rule anything in or out...

An officer's leeway with respect to making policy pronouncements is quite limited.

If it were otherwise, I suspect we would not currently be in Iraq.

[ClayZ]

3. The hellish tables the government sets!

Seems to me that these boys never had tea parties with their mothers as children.

I think we should all bave IMPEACHMENT on our Thanksgiving tables!

[BootinUp]

4. wow, shocking things revealed.

:sarcasm:

[conspirator]

5. who cares? Talk is meaningless nt

[provis99]

6. the real story is that the Admiral is pushing diplomacy

not that military options are 'off the table'. That's pretty close to making a political statement against Bush's policies of aggressive war.