Bush Faces Opposition on Iran Attack

[freedomfries]

Bush Faces Opposition on Iran Attack

Robert Parry
Baltimore Chronicle & Sentinel
February 28, 2007
http://baltimorechronicle.com/2007/022807Parry.shtml

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.
http://baltimorechronicle.com/2007/022807Parry.shtml

[yourout]

1. I fear a "Gulf of Tonkin" incident is in our very near future.

They know the only way they can get us into Iran without getting impeached is for "Iran" to attack us.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

2. kick

[Mr. Ected]

3. As A DU'er Much More Erudite Than I Said Earlier Today

The relative silence among the candidates, among our Congressmen and women, Cheney's trip to China and the subsequent collapse of the Chinese stock market yesterday...it all seems ominous.

Is an attack on Iran...imminent?

Is the Bush administration's recent 180 degree turn on agreeing to negotiate with the Iranians a pre-attack ruse...much like the pretend diplomacy Bush displayed before invading Iraq?

I pray to God...not.

[bananarepublican]

8. Unfortunately, the Democrats are also going along with the official 911 fairytale. n/t

[leftchick]

4. no resistance from congress?

???

[winston61]

5. What part of this do you folks not understand?

The last thing Cheney is concerned with are military officers that don't want to cooperate. Half the Pentagon can resign and it won't matter to them. There will always be another officer willing to do anything they're told to do. Enlisted men have two choices. Follow orders or go to jail. The attack will happen because the neocons see in Congress nothing but a pack of weak sisters that won't say boo to a goose, let alone cut off funding for an insane war plan.I'm convinced the draft could come back and the public would say nothing. Sure, our government may suck, but what do we deserve? We let 'em stay in power.

[bananarepublican]

9. In other words, the system purges itself of quality people. The replacements....

... are likely to be neocon commissars. What a sad and highly dangerous state of affairs.

[lala_rawraw]

6. not enough...not enough!!!

[Time for change]

7. Great to see opposition developing within the military

[Ganja Ninja]

10. The dear leader doesn't listen to anyone but God.

He's ignored the military advice so far why would he suddenly break form and control himself now? Make no mistake he's going to order an attack.