- The top US military commander describes how Washington
would engage Iran militarily amid simmering talks of war on the country.
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- In a weekend interview with Charlie Rose, Admiral Mike
Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said although he is concerned
with the 'consequences' of a military action against Iran, the army could
rely on a 'very strong strategic reserve'.
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- "We have the capacity to do it but we are stretched.
My ground forces are very stressed, very worn On the other hand we've got
a very strong strategic reserve in our Air Force and in our Navy and in
fact that's a part of the world, it's a maritime part of the world, where
the emphasis would certainly be on those two forces," explained Adm.
Mullen.
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- His remarks come as Israeli Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi
is currently in the US to discuss "the Iranian threat" with the
heads of the defense establishment and the US Secretary of State's special
adviser for the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia, Dennis Ross, according
to Israeli media.
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- The US and Israel accuse Iran, a signatory to the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of having military objectives in its pursuit
of nuclear technology.
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- While Israel repeatedly threatens to launch aerial strikes
against Iran's nuclear infrastructure, the US -- under the previous administration
as well as the current one -- warns that the use of military option remains
on the table to retard the country's nuclear program.
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- As Western doubts linger over the success of any Israeli
military plan against Iran as well as Tehran's retaliation warnings, the
US is expected to be involved -- voluntarily or forcibly -- in a potential
war against Iran.
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- Adm. Mullen argued that a war against Iran would set
off "unintended" outcomes and endanger US interests in the oil-rich
region.
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- "What I worry about in terms of an attack on Iran
is in addition to the immediate effect, the effect of the attack, it's
the unintended consequences," Mullen said. "So I worry about
the responses and I worry about it escalating in ways that we couldn't
predict."
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- "So that kind of option generates a much higher
level of risk in terms of outcomes in the region and it really concerns
me," he added.
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- Earlier reports suggested that Israel's Prime Minister-designate,
Benjamin Netanyahu, anticipates being involved in a "major military
confrontation in the next few months".
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- <http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=85168§ionid=3510303>Netanyahu
is known as "Mr. Iran" in Israeli circles as he has long pledged
to do "everything that is necessary" to stop the progress of
Tehran's nuclear program once and for all.
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- Iran contends that its only goal is to make use of the
civilian applications of the nuclear technology and has warned that it
would not hesitate to take all necessary measures to defend its national
interests.
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- Meanwhile in the White House, President Barack Obama
is believed to be drawing up plans to engage Iran in diplomacy over the
disputed nuclear program.
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- http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=88715§ionid=351020104
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