Think Progress » Gates: War With Iran ‘Would Be Disastrous,’ It’s ‘The Last Thing We Need’

Admiral Fallon, who was the commander of CentCom in the middle east until 2 months ago, was fired from that position because he said there would be no war with Iran as long as he was in charge.  Last week, congress put Gen. Petraeus, Bush's yes man, in command of Cent Com.  This is an ominous sign.  But maybe, just maybe, Gates will stand in for Fallon and stop any attack on Iran.  Maybe.  Maybe the military will simply stand up and say no to this corrupted government and say, enough is enough.  How many Americans do we have to lose to keep oil at $140 and up for the oil industry and the bush oil cronies like cheney, condi, and halliburton?  If we attack Iran, the oil industry will get up to $400 a barrel for oil.  that would translate to about $8.00 a gallon for gasoline.  I suggest we all write to our congressmen and senators (links at the top of my blog page) and tell them not to allow this war with Iran to begin.  Judiciary committee chairman, John Conyers, has stated that is Bush insists on going to war with Iran, he will impeach him.  Russia has said that an attack on Iran is equivalent to an attack on them and they will not allow it.  What are these assholes thinking?  Is it worth it just to enrich a few oil barons at the top to allow this to happen?  How big of suckers do americans have to be to not realize what's happening here?  Just follow the money.  Who has benefited from the war in Iraq?  Certainly not the american people.  Terrorists attacks are up 7 fold since we invaded iraq.  It has cost of 3/4 of a trillion and expected to be 1.5 trillion by the time it's all over.  it's breaking our collective backs but the war profiteers have never had it better.  They are the ONLY ONE'S who benefit from these middle eastern wars.  The want it all and they want it at the highest price they can get.  If that means starting wars in every oil rich country, they'll be happy to oblige.  Venezuela is a great country with a beloved leader, yet you hear the oil industries microphone, the news media, spouting the horrors of hugo chavez.  That's because they want his oil and they are willing to let your children die for it.  It has nothing to do with democracy, freedom of liberty of the people of these countries.  IT'S ALL ABOUT OIL AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

In the most recent issue of the Army War College’s quarterly journal “Parameters,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote an article (pdf) titled “Reflections on Leadership,” in which he examines the “three principles of war for a democracy” espoused by General Fox Conner — “a tutor and mentor to both” General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General George Marshall.

Gates applied one of Conner’s principles — “never fight unless you have to” — to the current situation with Iran:

Conner’s axiom — never fight unless you have to — looms over policy discussions today regarding rogue nations like Iran that support terrorism; that is a destabilizing force throughout the Middle East and Southwest Asia and, in my judgment, is hell-bent on acquiring nuclear weapons. Another war in the Middle East is the last thing we need. In fact, I believe it would be disastrous on a number of levels.

Gates added that “the military option must be kept on the table” but his overall assessment echoes a recent statement by Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Admiral Michael Mullen. Last week on Fox News Sunday, Mullen said “I’m fighting two wars, and I don’t need a third one” in Iran. Watch it:

Think Progress » Gates: War With Iran ‘Would Be Disastrous,’ It’s ‘The Last Thing We Need’