Robert Parry: Bush Faces Opposition on Iran Attack

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/5779

Bush Faces Opposition on Iran Attack
by Robert Parry | Feb 28 2007 - 8:54am

A number of U.S. military leaders, reportedly including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have waged an extraordinary behind-the-scenes resistance to what they fear is a secret plan by George W. Bush to wage war against Iran.

One intelligence source told me that Joint Chiefs chairman, Gen. Peter Pace, has explored the possibility of resigning if Bush presses forward with air attacks against Iran, a war strategy that might be done in coordination with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Though Pace has given no public signal on resigning, he has undercut Bush’s case for an expanded Middle East war by challenging the administration claims about Iran’s alleged sponsorship of attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and by telling Congress that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have eroded American military capability to confront another crisis.

In a classified report to Congress, Pace warned that there is a significant risk that the U.S. military would be unable to respond quickly and fully to a new threat, the Associated Press reported, citing “senior defense officials.”

Pace’s grim assessment represents a mark-down from a year ago when Pace concluded that the risk was only moderate. The AP wrote that a report accompanying Pace’s review said that while the Pentagon is working to upgrade its readiness, it “may take several years to reduce risk to acceptable levels.”

In other words, the Pentagon brass is raising an alarm over how stretched the U.S. military has become because of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, suggesting that another front in Iran could add to American vulnerabilities.

Sources familiar with concerns inside the Pentagon have told me that senior U.S. military commanders, including Pace, have publicized their differences with the White House as part of a shadow bureaucratic battle to head off Bush’s Iran war plans.

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[KKKarl is an idiot]

1. The right uses

the phrase that "we should not undermine the president in a time of war". Wonder if he is conducting 3 wars at once whether they will start calling for us "not to elect a new president while he is fighting 3 wars".

[gratuitous]

2. I'll bet a shiny quarter

If Bush orders an attack on Iran, Pace will not resign. Make it two shiny quarters. Any takers?

[babylonsister]

3. I DO like the fact that's he's challenging this admin, but no bets from me. nt

[gratuitous]

4. I'd really like to lose this bet

Come onnnnnnnn.