Deep fissures in administration over Iran policy; Blair at odds with the hawks (led by Cheney)

[Clarkie1]

The Times
February 23, 2007
Fears grow over Iran

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.

The hawks are led by Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, who is urging Mr Bush to keep the military option “on the table”. He is also pressing the Pentagon to examine specific war plans — including, it is rumoured, covert action.

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


www.stopiranwar.com

[Demeter]

1. Intervention For the Bush Drunk

The last enabler has bit the dust, George! Now are you gonna listen?

[MissWaverly]

2. I wish somebody would intervene

why isn't more being done to convince Bush that Iran attack is not the way to go, where
is his party on this, why do they allow Cheney to run things.

:-(

[Clarkie1]

3. We need to keep up the pressure.

Please sign this petition if you have not already.

www.stopiranwar.com

[MissWaverly]

5. Yes, I did my part

We all need to stand up, I have written my senator Barbara Mikulski about Iraq, I am
hoping that the Senate steps up the plate on Iraq like the House did.

[Felinity]

4. K&R

Who else is on Darth's side? Outside his staff?

[calimary]

6. The PNAC, the war profiteers, the HELL-iburtons and Raytheons and

Bechtels, the Armageddon hard-on crowd and various CRAP-ture creeps. And probably also Satan himself. Oh, no. Sorry. His name already came up. He's the guy married to lynne cheney. By thy friends art thou known...