Byrd to Gates: "Do you support an attack on Iran?"

[npincus]

Gates: "an absolute last resort,... first options should be diplomacy... work with our allies... we have seen in Iraq once war is unleashed it becomes unpredictable... consequences of war with Iran could be quite dramatic"

"Do you support an attack on Syria?"

"No sir, I do not."

more...

asking about consequences of an attack on Iran

[npincus]

1. more: OBL vs. Hussein:

Byrd:"OBL is still on the loose... whois responsible for the 9-11 attacksL Sadaam Hussein or OBL?

Gates: "OBL"

Byrd: "Who has represented the greater threat to the US: Hussein or OBL"

gates: "OBL"

Byrd: "How do you intend to catch OBL?"

Gates: "...OBL more of a symbol than active planner or organizer of attacks... important to contiue search but his ability to organize and plan attacks is limited now,,, important to keep him on the run..."

[acmejack]

2. Gates is quite well prepared.

He is very smooth and will be extremely hard to pin down. Plus, he is nobody's fool.

[acmavm]

3. No, he's not. That's one of the reasons he didn't see a day

behind bars for some of his previous work.

[acmejack]

8. I thought his famous (and convenient) memory lapses

Were his salvation. I didn't say he was respectable, I certainly am no admirer of Mr. Gates. I enjoyed an extended Indian Ocean tour thanks to their machinations. OTH, few of us can say they have been to Massirah. It's simulated lunar landscape is charming, as were our hosts-"Stay in the tent or you will be shot".

[acmejack]

6. It makes me ill to see the skunk Pat Roberts up there on the dais.

The man is a positive embarrassment. "We take nothing at face value" with you Mr Roberts, for you have no credibility!

[xchrom]

4. what i hear there is there is some notion

of attacking iran.

it may be farther down the list as an option -- but it's still an option.

and as some one who participated in iran contra -- i think further destabilizing actions are not at all unappealing to gates.

but he would be more covert about them.

that is still fucked up.

[npincus]

7. not getting that interpretation at all

unfortunately, I can't type very fast! And my short-term memory sucks!

But he cited a very long list in detail of all the consequences of military conflict with Iran, and clearly understands that atacking Iran would put us in deep shit. When the transcript is out, you can get it verbatim.

:)

[The Count]

5. Great! And also...scary. The answers on Iran give me deja vu...