Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., December 13, 2008 Kislev 16, 5769 | | Israel Time: 12:43 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File
United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (Reuters)
Last update - 00:00 28/07/2008
Pentagon chief: War with Iran would be 'disastrous'
By Amir Oren, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: U.S., Iran, Israel 

A war with Iran would be "disastrous on a number of levels," according to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

In an article appearing in the latest issue of Parameters, the U.S. Army War College quarterly, Gates wrote that with the army already bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, "another war in the Middle East is the last thing we need" - despite the fact that Iran "supports terrorism," is "a destabilizing force throughout the Middle East and Southwest Asia and, in my judgment, is hell-bent on acquiring nuclear weapons."

Nevertheless, he continued, "the military option must be kept on the table, given the destabilizing policies of the regime and the risks inherent in a future Iranian nuclear threat, either directly or through nuclear proliferation."
Advertisement
Gates offered these remarks on Iran as commentary on how to apply an axiom uttered by General Fox Connor in the early 20th century: "Never fight unless you have to." But this is not the first time he has warned against war with Iran; he also did so in a speech at West Point, the U.S. military academy, three months ago. The current article is based on that speech.

Any statement by Gates bears special importance because Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential hopeful who generally opposes the current administration's foreign and defense policy, has praised Gates lavishly and even hinted that he might ask him to retain his post under an Obama presidency.

Meanwhile, in another document bearing his signature that is due to be published soon, the 2008 National Defense Strategy, Gates omits Israel from the list of the United States' main allies.

The National Defense Strategy is an official document that reflects the secretary's directives to the armed forces. It replaces the version issued in 2005 by Gates' predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld. Although Gates signed off on the document about a month ago, it has yet to be published officially; however, a copy appears on the Inside Defense Web site.

In this document, too, Gates wrote that Iran's support for terror, efforts to undermine the nascent democracies in Iraq and Afghanistan and pursuit of nuclear weapons constitute a serious challenge to the security of the region ¬ one that U.S. policy must address.

However, he also used the document to discuss America's allies.

"Our closest allies - the U.K., Australia, and Canada. Other long standing alliances NATO, Japan and South Korea foremost among them. We will work to expand and strengthen other relationships, including with India," the document states.

But Israel, which has been listed in other documents as an important U.S. ally, does not appear in this document at all.

The possibility that Gates might retain his post should Obama win the presidency in November emerged from an interview that the Democratic candidate gave to Defense News earlier this month.

"Secretary Gates has brought a level of realism and professionalism and planning to the job that is worthy of praise," the publication quoted Obama as saying. "But whether that means he would continue in that position, or would even want to, I think that's something that will be determined later. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself."

Related articles:
  • Report: Ex-Mossad chief says strike on Iran could 'affect us for 100 years'
  • Iran convoy attacked reportedly while taking arms to Hezbollah
  • Obama to PM: Iran action legitimate only if talks fail
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Off with your seat!
    Likud committee bumps Feiglin down to 36th on party ticket.
    Trotting for the Globe
    Israeli animated feature 'Waltz with Bashir' nominated for Golden Globe award.
      1.   Assessment of Baker clone 01:18  |  Brod 28/07/08
      2.   Israel is on its own 01:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/07/08
      3.   And the plot thickens... 01:31  |  BBSNews 28/07/08
      4.   More and more US officials hedging for jobs 01:32  |  Christopher 28/07/08
      5.   Zionists Not Ally 01:36  |  Dovy 28/07/08
      6.   Olmert has been a disaster for Israel 01:36  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/07/08
      7.   oh, well 01:43  |  potobac 28/07/08
      8.   War With Iran Not Needed 01:46  |  C.A. Fulghum 28/07/08
      9.   Cipora #1 02:09  |  Brod 28/07/08
      10.   Well , USA has got the point finally 02:22  |  Persian Hero 28/07/08
      11.   #8 Captain Fulghum 02:49  |  gearoid 28/07/08
      12.   Cipora J.Kohn (#2) is absolutely right. 03:28  |  Vittorio 28/07/08
      13.   #8. C. A. Fulghum. And the "Hitler" Bush? 04:01  |  Maureen Ann 28/07/08
      14.   Did Israel Offer Troops? 04:45  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/07/08
      15.   The Pentagon answers 05:06  |  Mark Lincoln 28/07/08
      16.   war with iran 05:37  |  Shmuelshachor 28/07/08
      17.   Cristopher, terrorist rule. 05:41  |  KYOT 28/07/08
      18.   Mothers, behold your son 05:52  |  Shimon Cleopas 28/07/08
      19.   Of course, the military option is not the preferred one 06:08  |  US CITIZEN 28/07/08
      20.   Mark of Lewiston-Israeli troops in Afghanistan? 06:48  |  Stephen in New York 28/07/08
      21.   How do you know Mark, that Israel didn`t? 06:59  |  Jacob Blues 28/07/08
      22.   If Iran named a specific day and time it would nuke Israel, 07:13  |  Dr. L. Brnd 28/07/08
      23.   #7 Potobac - Have you looked at Turkey today? 07:19  |  * BEN JABO 28/07/08
      24.   DANGER, MAXIMUM DANGER 07:19  |  Paris 28/07/08
      25.   #14, Mark of Lewiston 07:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/07/08
      26.   #14 Mark of Lewiston 07:24  |  * BEN JABO 28/07/08
      27.   Only America and Israel have the potential capacity and will... 07:27  |  Jean Van Daem 28/07/08
      28.   Israels insatiable greed for land 07:31  |  Natallie Durson 28/07/08
      29.   War and More Wars in the Middle East 07:32  |  Salam Israel!! 28/07/08
      30.   Gates Etcetera... 07:42  |  Yosemite 28/07/08
      31.   Brod #1 and # 9 07:44  |  BOB KING 28/07/08
      32.   18 Jacob - I Don`t, I`m Asking 07:45  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/07/08
      33.   TO: Maureen Ann #13 Response 07:50  |  C.A. Fulghum 28/07/08
      34.   You pick between two wars 07:59  |  Tolik 28/07/08
      35.   Pentagon chief: War with Iran `disastrous on number of levels 08:01  |  martin list, m.d. 28/07/08
      36.   TO: gearoid 08:01  |  General Fulghum 28/07/08
      37.   17 Stephen - Please do Explain 08:05  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/07/08
      38.   # 2 to cipora re: "closest aliies" 08:08  |  eric 28/07/08
      39.   Then we will fight nuclear Iran 08:15  |  Tolik 28/07/08
      40.   # 9 to brod re: manipulation and pressure 08:16  |  eric 28/07/08
      41.   ECONOMIC DISASTER IGNORED ? 08:36  |  Arik Silverman 28/07/08
      42.   Same pacifist, defeatist tune as in pre WW2 08:42  |  nuchem 28/07/08
      43.   # 14 to mark of lewiston re: "troop offers" 08:45  |  eric 28/07/08
      44.   24/25 Cipora and Ben - Yea, I`m Cynical 08:49  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/07/08
      45.   Haaretz Headline July 2020: War with Iran still possible.... 08:54  |  Iranian-American 28/07/08
      46.   As always, the $64,000 question remains, is Iran a rational playr 09:18  |  Jacob Blues 28/07/08
      47.   #26 Jean Van Daem 09:23  |  maoriboy 28/07/08
      48.   Israel`s "greed" natalie?? The Arabs control 99.4% of ME land!! 09:39  |  Dr. L. Brnd 28/07/08
      49.   #40, Mark of Lewiston 09:41  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/07/08
      50.   TO FACE TODAYS IRAN = TO WAKE SILENCE ISLAM WORLD UP 09:46  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/07/08
      51.   TODAYS TERROR COMES FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 09:48  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/07/08
      52.   #36, eric 09:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/07/08
      53.   Gates recognises that Israel is the friend only of itself 09:54  |  Clickfool 28/07/08
      54.   For Cipora # 2 09:59  |  Clickfool 28/07/08
      55.   ISRAEL ISN`T THE US ALLY, OF COURSE 10:09  |  indrajaya 28/07/08
      56.   #2 No Cipora 10:10  |  Edith 28/07/08
      57.   potobac 7 10:40  |  ChanahS 28/07/08
      58.   Mark of Lewiston 14 10:41  |  ChanahS 28/07/08
      59.   # 14 to mark of lewiston re: "troop offers" (2nd try) 10:44  |  eric 28/07/08
      60.   mark #14 good point, why isnt israel helping in afghanistan? 10:45  |  save afghanistan 28/07/08
      61.   Mark of Lewiston 31 10:46  |  ChanahS 28/07/08
      62.   In a nutshell, the truth is... 10:47  |  Esther 28/07/08
      63.   Mark of Lewiston 41 <