U.S. admiral says talk of potential war with Iran is 'unhelpful, distracting'

[Purveyor]

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii (AP) -- The Navy admiral tapped to take command of U.S. forces in the Middle East said any speculation of war with Iran is "unhelpful" and only serves to "up the ante of fear and uncertainty."

Adm. William J. Fallon told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday that Iraq and Afghanistan are priority tasks for the United States in the Middle East. Fighting a war with Iran is not something the U.S. wants, he said.

"Some in the world are talking some fear of alleged imminent attack by the U.S. on Iran," Fallon said. It "serves no good purpose, (is) unhelpful, distracting and just serving to up the ante of fear and uncertainty."

Speculation that the U.S. may be planning to attack Iran rose this year after President Bush announced plans to send an additional aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf region.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates later said the carrier and its accompanying ships were sent to show Tehran that the Iraq war was not making the U.S. vulnerable.

---END OF EXCERPT---

http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/national/MI39695/

[Botany]

1. Please!

We are going to have 3 carrier groups in the Persian Gulf shortly.

So Adm. William J. Fallon, why?

[Kagemusha]

3. Why to ratchet up the fear and uncertainty of course.

Anyone really believe that carrier groups are there to defend nations against what, Iranian strikes? Iranian invasions? What?

[Ghost Dog]

5. 4! Question: when is a carrier group all but invisible, apparently?

Answer: when it's the USS Bataan 'Expeditionary Strike Force', and the carrier is described as a 'multipurpose amphibious assault ship'!

See here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x94643

[kenny blankenship]

2. Talk about war is unhelpful. It should come as a complete surprise when it happens!

If you peek now there'll be nothing to unwrap on Christmas morning.

[MrPrax]

4. Oh I am pretty sure the good Admiral

will have a LOT to say on the subject of war with Iran AFTER The Incident takes places...

but ONLY then, it will be a news story about how he thinks the "unhelpful" and "distracting" talk is harming the war effort.

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. He'd better check with the CIC. Bush said he's "going to do something

about it!" today in his PC.

[damntexdem]

7. And if he loses a carrier or two to the Iranians ...

will he also consider that to be unhelpful and distracting?

[FightingIrish]

8. Besides, talking about the war will spoil the surprise.

[Doondoo]

9. K&R

[IndianaGreen]

10. Is Fallon worried that his own plans to attack Iran will be derailed?

Too bad, sailor! Go back to play with your rubber duckies in the bathtub.

[MasonJar]

11. Could that be because the idiot profligate son and his "sneer"full

( as in full of sneers) commander are presenting the case while they categorically deny it (once again)?