Saturday, July 14, 2007
Bush Will Act on Iran
Vice President "Cheney has limited capital left, but if he wanted to use all his capital on this one issue, he could still have an impact," Patrick Cronin, director of studies at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Britain's Guardian newspaper.
And what issue is he speaking of? An attack on Iran.
President Bush had, as recently as last year, favored and international approach to containing Iran and its nuclear threat - a position espoused by Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Sec. Robert Gates. Although Rice did tell the Voice of America, when asked if the United States should consider military action in Iran, that President Bush "is never going to take his options off the table."
But the Guardian now reports that Bush has lately been listening more to Dick Cheney's point of view, which entails military action.
A well-placed source in Washington told the Guardian: "Bush is not going to leave office with Iran still in limbo," adding, "The balance has tilted. There is cause for concern."
The Guardian's source in Washington explained that as of now, Bush and Cheney do not trust potential successors from either political party to deal with Iran decisively.
Any reluctance to strike, however, originates with Israel. "The red line is not in Iran. The red line is in Israel. If Israel is adamant it will attack, the U.S. will have to take decisive action," Cronin adds. "The choices are: tell Israel no, let Israel do the job, or do the job yourself."
Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs said last week he had received approval from the U.S. and Europe for an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
"If we start military operations against Iran alone, then Europe and the U.S. will support us,” Avigdor Lieberman said following a meeting with NATO and European Union officials.
The United States says Iran is intent on building a nuclear weapon and is arming insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Vice President "Cheney has limited capital left, but if he wanted to use all his capital on this one issue, he could still have an impact," Patrick Cronin, director of studies at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Britain's Guardian newspaper.
And what issue is he speaking of? An attack on Iran.
President Bush had, as recently as last year, favored and international approach to containing Iran and its nuclear threat - a position espoused by Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Sec. Robert Gates. Although Rice did tell the Voice of America, when asked if the United States should consider military action in Iran, that President Bush "is never going to take his options off the table."
But the Guardian now reports that Bush has lately been listening more to Dick Cheney's point of view, which entails military action.
A well-placed source in Washington told the Guardian: "Bush is not going to leave office with Iran still in limbo," adding, "The balance has tilted. There is cause for concern."
The Guardian's source in Washington explained that as of now, Bush and Cheney do not trust potential successors from either political party to deal with Iran decisively.
Any reluctance to strike, however, originates with Israel. "The red line is not in Iran. The red line is in Israel. If Israel is adamant it will attack, the U.S. will have to take decisive action," Cronin adds. "The choices are: tell Israel no, let Israel do the job, or do the job yourself."
Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs said last week he had received approval from the U.S. and Europe for an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
"If we start military operations against Iran alone, then Europe and the U.S. will support us,” Avigdor Lieberman said following a meeting with NATO and European Union officials.
The United States says Iran is intent on building a nuclear weapon and is arming insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.
