Former US commander warns of Iran attack risks
Former US commander warns of Iran attack risks – Israel News, Ynetnews.
Admiral William Fallon says US-led military op could put Iranian nuclear program back several years, notes Israel less capable of strike and may face more difficult task than in Iraq, Syria
AFP
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A former US military commander warned Wednesday that a potential US strike against Iran would take weeks and probably only set back the country’s nuclear program by several years.
Admiral William Fallon, the former head of US Central Command which covers the Middle East, said that Iran posed concerns for both the United States and Israel but voiced hope for a diplomatic solution to the nuclear row.
“If the US were to put a full-fledged strike campaign in there, that would probably take several weeks, it could put this program back for several years,” Fallon said at the American Security Project, a research group.
Israel, which has not ruled out military action, has less capability than the United States and would face a more difficult task than in 1981 and 2007 when it secretly bombed nuclear sites in Iraq and Syria, Fallon said.
Iran’s suspected nuclear facilities are not a “pinpoint target” but are instead dispersed and largely underground, he said.
“The bottom line is, it’s not going to be a one-time shot. It’s not going to be like ’81 or even 2007,” Fallon said.
Strike as last resort
Fallon resigned as Central Command chief in 2008 and ended a four-decade military career after an article in Esquire magazine portrayed him as critical of then president George W. Bush’s stance on Iran.
Fallon joined other former US officials last year in signing a study that said military action should be a last resort on Iran and estimating that military strikes could set back the nuclear program by up to four years.
Other signatories included former senator Chuck Hagel, recently nominated by President Barack Obama to be defense secretary.
But Senator Chuck Schumer, a hawkish supporter of Israel who had initially wavered on supporting Hagel, said Hagel promised him that planning military contingencies on Iran would be his first priority at the Pentagon.
Iran denies Western charges it is developing nuclear weapons, saying its nuclear work is for peaceful purposes.
Experts from the UN International Atomic Energy Agency on Wednesday held talks in Tehran on addressing international concerns over Iran’s nuclear program that have triggered US-led economic sanctions.
A US think tank, the Institute for Science and International Security, said Monday that Iran was on track to be able to produce material for at least one nuclear bomb by mid-2014.
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WarSclerotic 
January 17, 2013 at 12:25 PM
“Admiral William Fallon, the former head of US Central Command which covers the Middle East, said that Iran posed concerns for both the United States and Israel but voiced hope for a diplomatic solution to the nuclear row.”
Wow Admiral, what a terrific strategy. Such a Moron!
“Strike as last resort”
Yeah, we have heared of that before.
When exactly will the US use this last resort?
Failure to specify when this option will be used does not give the Iranians a red line which they better should not cross.
And so since there is no red line to be crossed they continue merrily and full steam ahead to produce nukes and their delivery systems.
I really wonder when this “last resort” will be used.
When the Iranians put nuclear missiles in Venezuela?
When Iranian warships will roam the coasts of America?
When the first nuclear terrorist attack happens?
When the first Iranian warships dock in US harbors in a mission of love and peace?
When the US gets EMPed?.
With the current US administration I can not see that last resort being used except after a direct attack on the White House.
Obama told the truth when he said, that he has no strategy of containment.
He has no strategy of prevention.
He has no strategy of .containment.
He has no strategy at all.
January 17, 2013 at 3:04 PM
Obamas put alot of effort into removing senior commanders and replacing them with yes men.
January 17, 2013 at 3:48 PM
A strike should now be the first resort,obama has proved himself to be a liar and a fraudster and a cheat,his talk is just a stall he hopes the sooner iran gets nukes the sooner he can say oh deer to late we give up,i will go back to finishing arming al queda and my scum muslim brotherhood friends..
January 17, 2013 at 11:21 PM
Ever get the feeling you’ve read all this BS before?? Like old Yogi Berra said, “This is like deja vu all over again.”