Former CIA chief expects U.S. to attack Iran.

[Clarkie1]

HERZLIYA, Israel, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- A former head of the CIA, speaking in Israel, said that he expects diplomacy alone will not force Iran to stop developing nuclear weapons.

"There is a very substantial likelihood that if the diplomatic approach failed -- and I think it will -- and non-violent regime change won't work (in Iran), there is no alternative except for the U.S. to use force," said James Woolsey, according to The Jerusalem Post.

On Monday, Woolsey addressed a forum at the Herzliya Conference, an annual event held this year from Jan. 21-24.

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20070123-020613-4695r


Interestingly, John Edwards was at this same conference was sounding quite hawkish as well:

"The Iranian president’s statements such as his description of the Holocaust as a myth and his goals to wipe Israel off the map indicate that Iran is serious about its threats...Iran must know that the world won’t back down. The recent UN resolution ordering Iran to halt the enrichment of uranium was not enough. We need meaningful political and economic sanctions. We have muddled along for far too long. To ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons, we need to keep ALL options on the table, Let me reiterate – ALL options must remain on the table."

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Edwards_Iran_must_know_world_wont_0123.html


Word's such as those only reinforce the false idea that war with Iran is enivitable:

"So, I appeal to Joe Lieberman and James Woolsey and Marty Peretz and Jane Harman and Newt Gingrich and John Edwards and Ed Koch and all the rest of the pro-Israel anti-Iran hawks...please...calm down. Use your senses. Tell the truth. Don't inflame the situation. Regain the trust of the international community. And we can try to deal with the threat of an Iranian nuclear bomb is a sober manner."

http://www2.boomantribune.com/story/2007/1/25/132356/071


Wes Clark shares these thoughts on Iran:

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I do believe that the United States, as the most powerful country in the world, should always talk to adversaries. I’m not saying take the military option off the table – it’s an option, but it’s a lot better for everybody in the region if we don’t have to use the military option.

Sean Hannity: But do you…I agree with that, but do you really believe there’s even a smidgen of hope that the Holocaust denier, that the guy that threatens the US and Israel, do you really believe this madman is somebody that ultimately can be persuaded?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK:: Well I don’t think he’s the only…Sean, he’s not the only guy in Iran. I mean there are a lot of people in Iran who are…who really want to see a change in the situation in the region. We’ve got to reach around Ahmedinejad one way or another. We’ve got to show a different vision for the region. We’ve got to help those in Iran who want a different vision in the region come forward. That’s our obligation as the most powerful country in the world.

Sean Hannity: I think the single best security we will have against Iran is to have the biggest, strongest, toughest military and the means to back it up. Let me ask you this, sir. You said, you said…

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well you know the military is the last resort.

Sean Hannity: I agree. You said

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: If we could change people’s mind without using the military, we’ll all be a lot more secure.

Sean Hannity: I don’t believe you can change the mind of a madman like Ahmedinejad. I think that’s false hope.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I don’t think he’s the only guy in charge, Sean.

Sean Hannity: Well I think it’s false hope and naïve.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think you’re making the same mistake we made with Saddam. I think you’re trying to personalize a country around a single person.

Sean Hannity: I’m not. I’m not, but he’s their leader.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: and that was the mistake in Iraq.

Sean Hannity: He’s their voice.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He is one voice in Iran. That’s all.

http://securingamerica.com/node/2163


Clark has laid out a sane course for dealing with Iran, but will Democrats and Republicans be willing to follow it? Or will they, like John Edwards, James Woosley and others, pesonalize a country and our foreign policy around the rhetoric of one man, exagerrate the current threat, and make the same mistake we made in Iraq again?

[whistle]

1. Bush/Cheney will "wag the dog", because these people are rabit dogs

...and like the rabid dogs that they are, they will need to be rounded up and put into cages

[Parisle]

2. Woolsey is PNAC

--- Immediately following 9-11, Rumsfeld dispatched him to England to "locate" evidence that Iraq was implicated in the al-Queda attack. He was part of the original scam,.... Goddamn it,.. how can we allow that SOB to be running around saying shit like this?

[fightthegoodfightnow]

3. Good Grief

The war industry is already on to the next one. Good grief.

[BuyingThyme]

6. Yes, Good Grief! Welcome to DU, fightthegoodfightnow!

:hi:

[fightthegoodfightnow]

7. Thanks

Thanks for the welcome !!


More in the news

By Stella Dawson
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 was an "idiot decision" and Iraqi troops now need to secure Baghdad to ensure the country's future, Vice-President Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Thursday.
"Iraq was put under occupation, which was an idiot decision," Mahdi said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25522748.htm

[BuyingThyme]

9. Huh. I wonder if that VP speaks English.

I'd like to know what the word for idiot is. Probably the same as the word for Bush.

[newyawker99]

17. Hi fightthegoodfightnow!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[BuyingThyme]

4. There is a very substantial likelihood that if the diplomatic approach failed...

Diplomatic approach?

:silly:

[Clarkie1]

5. Yes indeed.

Excellent point.

[Unperson]

8. Neocon scum.

[mnhtnbb]

10. Edwards was NOT in attendance at the conference. He spoke via satellite.

[Clarkie1]

11. thanks for the clarification....

though I'm not clear what difference it makes.

[mnhtnbb]

14. To me, being asked to make a statement to a group is not the same

as participating in a conference with others.

Whether you agree with a group or not, it is good politics to keep the lines of communication open.

[magellan]

12. What's that about the demise of the neocons?

Hell no, they're just plying their wares in the background as usual, spoiling to start another war.

Woolsey should be stripped of his US citizenship.

[Leopolds Ghost]

13. Shouldn't we wait 10 years, as we've always done between wars to allow for promotion of officers?

War is necessary every 10 years for officers to be promoted.

Without war, our military command structure would literally
cease to function due to regulations requiring wartime service
to be a higher officer.

[Avalux]

15. Clark is this country's best chance to avert complete disaster in the ME.

I hope he runs, and I hope he becomes President.

[Marie26]

16. Edwards just lost my support for that.

I'm sure he's heart-broken.