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Home Front: Politix
CJCS Dempsey: I don't want to be complicit in Israeli strike on Iran
2012-08-31
Posted by:Floluger Ulaing2909

#11  Umm, General, news flash for ya - the Iranians are going to blame us anyways. Just hope you have a plan in place to protect our boys if the shit goes down and the IAF hits the towel-heads. Not sure if Iran will take it or do something stupid and try to attack U.S. positions in the CENTCOM AOR.

Posted by: Broadhead6   2012-08-31 16:13  

#10  They're really just playing with numbers now.

According to the UN inspectors Iran now has about 155 pounds of low-enriched uranium (20% concentration). That amount of material could be enriched to about 39 pounds of 80% uranium in a matter of a couple of months. No doubt that is EXACTLY why Iran is currently boosting their centrifuges at Fordo. Fordo is the endgame for waepon production.

According to Wikipedia, the first bomb on Hiroshima used about 141 pounds of 80% uranium. So if we work on the latest UN figures, Iran is already about 30% of the way to a bomb.

If you make a wild guess that maybe - just maybe - the Iranians are AHEAD of the UN estimates, then they're probably around 60-75% of the way to their first bomb.

The ball is now entirely in Israel's court. They either go with a nuclear-armed Middle East, or they don't.
Posted by: Raider   2012-08-31 14:58  

#9  
"The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is ... the principal military advisor to the President of the United States. While the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff outranks all other officers, he does not have operational command authority over the Armed Forces; however, the Chairman does assist the President and the Secretary of Defense in exercising their command functions."
Wikipedia

I think Gen Dempsey is just speaking for the administration. Obama cannot be as candid because he wants to get reelected.
Posted by: Floluger Ulaing2909   2012-08-31 14:47  

#8  Call it what you will.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2012-08-31 13:50  

#7  Can we have a surprise meter please?

p.s. Nimble Spemble, just because Bibi went to Harvard doesn't make him one of your metro "elites"---he doesn't throw fits.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2012-08-31 13:32  

#6  Be interesting to know if this was said before or after Bibi threw a fit.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2012-08-31 12:36  

#5  Well then, general, resignation is always an option.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2012-08-31 11:18  

#4  which he believes won't stop Tehran's nuclear program

I keep hearing this. Okay bozo, what WILL stop the program? Those oh so porus intn'l sanctions?
I really think that there are a lot of high level folks that would not be all that unhappy with an Iranian bomb cause it would put those uppity Jews in their place.
Posted by: AlanC   2012-08-31 11:17  

#3  Certainly a general would be reluctant to get involved in a war. But using 'complicit' is a curious turn of phrase given the word usually refers to illegal acts.

Yet another case of timing and who is saying it being more interesting than the actual statement.
Posted by: SteveS   2012-08-31 10:55  

#2  Two weeks ago, the US general stressed that an Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear facilities could only delay its nuclear program.

So "delaying" Armageddon is a bad thing ?
Posted by: Besoeker   2012-08-31 09:13  

#1  And it allows me the chance to not do anything.
Posted by: Sonny Hitler6196   2012-08-31 09:12  

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