Fears grow over Iran (British that U.S. Will Strike Iran)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1426601.ece

Tony Blair has declared himself at odds with hawks in the US Administration by saying publicly for the first time that it would be wrong to take military action against Iran. The Prime Minister’s comments came hours before the UN’s nuclear watchdog raised the stakes in the West’s showdown with Tehran.

The International Atomic Energy Agency concluded that Iran had expanded its nuclear programme, defying UN demands for it to be suspended. Hundreds of uranium-spinning centrifuges in an underground hall are expected to be increased to thousands by May when Iran moves to “industrial-scale production”. Senior British government sources have told The Times that they fear President Bush will seek to “settle the Iranian question through military means” next year, before the end of his second term if he concludes that diplomacy has failed. “He will not want to leave it unresolved for his successor,” said one.

But there are deep fissures within the US Administration. Robert Gates, the Defence Secretary, who has previously called for direct talks with Tehran, is said to be totally opposed to military action.

Although he has dispatched a second US aircraft carrier to the Gulf, he is understood to believe that airstrikes would inflame Iranian public opinion and hamper American efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. One senior adviser to Mr Gates has even stated privately that military action could lead to Congress impeaching Mr Bush.

Condoleeza Rice, the Secretary of State, is also opposed to using force, while Steve Hadley, the President’s National Security Adviser, is said to be deeply sceptical.

[grytpype]

1. There's some red meat for all you impeachment fans!

I tend to agree though, if Bush tries to open up an Iranian Front, he'll be impeached or forced to resign unless it's an overnight success. Which it won't be.

[FightingIrish]

2. What am I missing?

Why has no on even posted a comment on this post? Once again the world press is reporting the possibility if not probabilityof an insane war that only the mad man Dick Cheney is pushing for. We've been through this before and should know by now that the absurdity of an illegal, unjustified doesn't mean that it won't happen. Gates, Rice and Hadley are staking out their defense for the war crimes trials that must certainly come. Are we just accepting this or do we really believe that it can't happen here.

[Miss Chybil]

3. "US intell. on Iran does not stand up, say Vienna sources"

I'm just confused...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2741401&mesg_id=2741957

[TheBaldyMan]

4. So, Dubya doesn't want an unresolved Iran waiting for his successor

but presumably an unresolved Iraq is just fine & dandy. What a moran.

Any attack on Iran will destabilise the entire region even further.

Iran is a country that continues to assure the international community that it has no plans to develop weapons and is a signatory of the NPT. The exact same non-proliferation treaty that Bush decided to ignore when he approved transfer of nuclear technology to India last year.

Bush is a hypocrite, a liar and a coward. No one takes his cowgirl posturing seriously anymore.

[tbyg52]

5. Whether or not he is taken seriously

He and Cheney still do what they damn well please. Congress needs to grow a spine and slap down these madmen.

[TheBaldyMan]

6. amen to that n/t

[youngdem]

7. It's a done deal...he is going to attack Iran

March or April.

I will eat a hat or shoe (of my choice) should I be wrong.

He didn't send carrier groups to their shores for no reason, and he didn't start six months of propaganda against Iran for no reason either.

We are going to attack Iran. Holy Joe prevent the Dems from doing anything.

[City Lights]

8. So who in the US will stand up to the Dick of Death?

Who will stop the Dick of Death from killing more innocents based on lies?

The Dick of Death needs to go.

[LynnTheDem]

9. Why does the "media" not know the UN "resolution" is NON-BINDING

because under the NPT Iran has the "inalienable right" to nuclear energy?

[donkeyotay]

10. Headline should say, "Fears Grow Over US" not over Iran

The article is about fear of the bush administration's insanity, not Iran:

Senior British government sources have told The Times that they fear President Bush will seek to “settle the Iranian question through military means” next year, before the end of his second term if he concludes that diplomacy has failed. “He will not want to leave it unresolved for his successor,” said one.

Yep, still shooting for that place in history.