SOME of America’s most senior military commanders are prepared to resign if the White House orders a military strike against Iran, according to highly placed defence and intelligence sources.
Tension in the Gulf region has raised fears that an attack on Iran is becoming increasingly likely before President George Bush leaves office. The Sunday Times has learnt that up to five generals and admirals are willing to resign rather than approve what they consider would be a reckless attack.
“There are four or five generals and admirals we know of who would resign if Bush ordered an attack on Iran,” a source with close ties to British intelligence said. “There is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of people question whether such an attack would be effective or even possible.”
A British defence source confirmed that there were deep misgivings inside the Pentagon about a military strike. “All the generals are perfectly clear that they don’t have the military capacity to take Iran on in any meaningful fashion. Nobody wants to do it and it would be a matter of conscience for them.
“There are enough people who feel this would be an error of judgment too far for there to be resignations.”
A generals’ revolt on such a scale would be unprecedented. “American generals usually stay and fight until they get fired,” said a Pentagon source. Robert Gates, the defence secretary, has repeatedly warned against striking Iran and is believed to represent the view of his senior commanders.
The threat of a wave of resignations coincided with a warning by Vice-President Dick Cheney that all options, including military action, remained on the table. He was responding to a comment by Tony Blair that it would not “be right to take military action against Iran”.
I don't know how accurate this story is, however we've certainly seen plenty of stories coming out where top Pentagon generals and retired generals have criticized the Bush administration's war in Iraq. Now the PNAC neocons want to attack Iran. There is an insanity here within this Bush White House, where the president and Vice President Dick Cheney are so willing to drag this country down into a complete disaster for....what? Salvaging Bush's failed "legacy?" I'm not sure I can calculate the political consequences of five top generals and admirals quitting in protest of a Bush attack on Iran--not only would it be a huge news story here, but there would be an incredible outrage in Congress against the Bush White House. And I can't even say what the American publics' response would be.
Another monkey wrench to toss into this mess.
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