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Top U.S. admiral says strike on Iran means turmoil
Reuters UK ^ | Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:42pm BST

Posted on 07/20/2008 3:38:54 PM PDT by Perdogg

White House military adviser Adm. Mike Mullen said on Sunday he was concerned that any U.S. or Israeli strike on Iran carried a notable risk of more turmoil in the Middle East.

"I think it would be significant. I worry about it a lot," Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the "Fox News Sunday" television program.

(Excerpt) Read more at uk.reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Israel; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: airstrikes; geopolitics; iran; iraniannukes; jointchiefs; middleeast; mikemullen; proliferation

1 posted on 07/20/2008 3:38:54 PM PDT by Perdogg
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To: Flavius; Munz; SJackson; Ernest_at_the_Beach

ping


2 posted on 07/20/2008 3:39:55 PM PDT by Perdogg
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To: Perdogg

He’s right. We should continue to cower and appease as we’ve done the past 8 years. After all, no bombs have gone off yet, right?


3 posted on 07/20/2008 3:41:24 PM PDT by spyone
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To: Perdogg

However, Iran detonating a nuke in Israel or the U.S. would be cause for massive celebrations in the Middle East.


4 posted on 07/20/2008 3:41:55 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (The U.S. Constitution was not written to protect those who want to destroy America.)
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To: Perdogg
I worry about it a lot," Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

That is his job. He is the assigned worrier.

5 posted on 07/20/2008 3:42:59 PM PDT by RightWhale (I will veto each and every beer)
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To: Perdogg

Ya think?


6 posted on 07/20/2008 3:43:22 PM PDT by REDWOOD99
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To: Perdogg

7 posted on 07/20/2008 3:45:35 PM PDT by rlmorel (Clinging bitterly to Guns and God in Massachusetts...:)
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To: Perdogg

Did you see the uniform ADM Mullen was wearing? Summer Dress Khaki ... I thought that was phased out long ago ...


8 posted on 07/20/2008 3:57:16 PM PDT by Ken522
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To: Ken522

Yeah..I guess the CJCS can wear anything he likes. But that was my favorite uniform. Especially when we still wore brown shoes..it just doesn’t go with black.


9 posted on 07/20/2008 3:59:24 PM PDT by Oldexpat (Drill Here, Drill There..we must drill everywhere.)
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To: Perdogg

Brilliant theory.

War = Turmoil.

I breathlessly await his discovery that pregnancy = baby.


10 posted on 07/20/2008 4:18:25 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: Oldexpat; Ken522

Funny you guys noticed the uniform.. thought it was out a long time ago. I said the same thing to my wife.... it looked best with the black shoulder boards with two big stripes and one little one.. and me in it !!!!
(8^0


11 posted on 07/20/2008 4:36:06 PM PDT by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: Perdogg

I sure do miss the good ‘ol days when Generals kept their comments to themselves or their superiors.


12 posted on 07/20/2008 4:43:39 PM PDT by Egon (The difference between Theory and Practice: In Theory, there is no difference.)
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To: Egon

Sorry. In this case Admiral— same comment applies.


13 posted on 07/20/2008 4:44:37 PM PDT by Egon (The difference between Theory and Practice: In Theory, there is no difference.)
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To: Perdogg
Top U.S. admiral says strike on Iran means turmoil

I'm just an ignorant ordinary civilian, but am I wrong in thinking that this type of opinion is reserved, in times of war (and we are in a war with islam, by whatever name), for sharing privately with the Commander-in-Chief and his cabinet and advisors?

Looks to me as clearly a public political foray outside of the normal military and political channels, damaging the national security.

Just saying.

14 posted on 07/20/2008 4:54:58 PM PDT by Publius6961 (You're Government, it's not your money, and you never have to show a profit.)
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To: RightWhale
That is his job. He is the assigned worrier.

His job is public blabbermouth?
What planet are you from?

15 posted on 07/20/2008 4:56:11 PM PDT by Publius6961 (You're Government, it's not your money, and you never have to show a profit.)
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To: Perdogg

Who cares? With the Muslim oil stranglehold wacking Iran makes more sense than before. It will be like taking a plastic ant farm and shaking it a few times


16 posted on 07/20/2008 4:58:43 PM PDT by dennisw (That Muhammad was a charlatan. Islam is a hoax, an imperialistic ideology, disguised as religion.)
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To: Egon

White House Military advisor, ADM Mike Mullen....etc....
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Does CJCS wear BOTH hats now?
At least he should be referred to as the SENIOR White House Military Advisor.
I seem to remember there being a White House Military Advisor AND a Chair of the JCS.

Not really trying to pick nits but get tired of these so called ‘news people’ putting down whatever they please as they ‘fracture’ Military Terms and Traditions, and there are no Editors or Publishers smart enough to make the correction


17 posted on 07/20/2008 5:01:10 PM PDT by xrmusn
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To: Perdogg
Top U.S. admiral says strike on Iran means turmoil

No Sh!t? What was his first clue? He sure has a flair for the obvious. Putz.

18 posted on 07/20/2008 5:11:54 PM PDT by GoldenPup
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

----------------------------

19 posted on 07/20/2008 5:13:43 PM PDT by SJackson (I was introduced to dog meat (tough), snake meat (tougher), roasted grasshopper (crunchy), BH Obama)
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To: Egon

“I sure do miss the good ‘ol days when Generals kept their comments to themselves or their superiors.”

I miss the good ol’ days when generals and admirals weren’t timid little wimps. Give me the likes of Patton and Jackson any day!


20 posted on 07/20/2008 5:36:48 PM PDT by ought-six ( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: Perdogg

So Mullen understands that war is not pleasant. I like that in a chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


21 posted on 07/20/2008 8:18:40 PM PDT by SmithL (Drill Dammit!)
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To: SmithL

What is Mullen supposed to say? That it is a great idea and he hopes Israel attacks Iran tomorrow?

I think it all comes down after election day . . especially if Obama wins the election.


22 posted on 07/20/2008 9:43:36 PM PDT by WilliamReading
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To: Perdogg
It's only a matter of time. I'm thinkin' the next 'new-moon', but I think that every month, Perdogg.

Who in this world would let Imanutjob actually have nuclear weapons? ............... FRegards

23 posted on 07/20/2008 10:13:13 PM PDT by gonzo ("Shall Not Be Infringed" - use it now!! ... FRegards)
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To: Perdogg

Top U.S. Admiral says he doesn’t want his sailors to have to fight in the Persian Gulf (why did he and they enlist - just for the pensions and VA health benefits). We have some top officers that epitomize the Peter Principal - rising to their level of incompetence.


24 posted on 07/21/2008 4:44:32 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: Perdogg
any U.S. or Israeli strike on Iran carried a notable risk of more turmoil in the Middle East

Oh it could get real messy. This would have to be a huge operation over a wide area with many possible scenarios. I hope they are considering them. Don't think Imawhackjob is just going to sit there and not retaliate. The question is how.

25 posted on 07/21/2008 4:51:15 AM PDT by McGruff (Either way. We're screwed.)
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To: Perdogg

Yeah, war usually does cause turmoil.....brilliant, Adm. Mullen.


26 posted on 07/21/2008 7:11:27 AM PDT by jch10
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To: WilliamReading
I think he should say something like:
...the risk of doing nothing is also big.
And I agree with your analysis.
27 posted on 07/21/2008 7:28:35 AM PDT by SmithL (Drill Dammit!)
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To: All; Steel Wolf
First of all, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is not going to sit down for a 20-minute interview with Mike Wallace without explicit permission from the White House, if not actually at the White House's direction. Also, he clearly had been made aware of what to say and what not to say during the interview.

I saw the entire interview. As usual, the MSM (Reuters in this case) ignored the points the Admiral was really making, and pulled a quote out of context that they could use to further their anti-war, anti-US-military cause.

The Admiral was clearly there to present the Administration's position on the Iran situation, i.e., that Iran would be very dangerous with nuclear weapons, and must not be allowed to get them. He also made clear that Iran was not expected to tamely submit, and there would be considerable 'blowback', as he put it, in the middle east and other places around the world. That was the statement Reuters cherry-picked to mention. But there was no backing away from the need to neutralize Iran. He was just making the point that it wouldn't without cost.

He also successfully resisted attempts by Wallace to get him the comment on political or election matters.

All in all an interesting interview, delivered by a very bright man, unquestionably operating under orders from the White House.

28 posted on 07/21/2008 8:05:53 AM PDT by MrNatural ("...You want the truth!?...")
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To: Perdogg

Although I *think* the other ME nations might be happy that we attack and dismantle Iran’s Nuclear threat, who knows with these people.

We really need more covert ops on the ground prior to this point mobilizing the population against Iran before we attack .. I mean LONG before. Unfortunately Comrade Clinton did away with 90% of these people who could have done this job. We would have been ready for this now if not for that lying deviant.


29 posted on 07/21/2008 8:20:12 AM PDT by Munz (Infiltrate Interrogate Eradicate NEXT!)
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To: MrNatural

Chris Wallace ... not the old curmudgeon, Mike Wallace.


30 posted on 07/21/2008 8:22:23 AM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
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To: Munz

We also need to have started the ‘energy independence’ campaign in earnest before blowing the tinpot islamofascists off the face of the earth. Our strategic reserve is not sufficient to carry US through the astronomical rise in per barreel if the Iranian islamo-madmen close the straits of Hormuz. SinkEmperor clintoon started this hot war response to islamofascists (missles up a camel’s butt posturing, way back when) without doing a single thing to prepare the nation for war, because democraps think it can be waged as a ‘law-enforcement’ campaign. W opened the debate over off-shore drilling and ANWR for a specific reason. Let’s not lose sight of that reality in the rush to drop bombs on deserving demons. We need to do it in our timing ...


31 posted on 07/21/2008 8:28:16 AM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
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To: MHGinTN

I couldn’t agree more with you if I had stated that myself.
Although Clinton was quick to bring us to hot spots they were only for two reasons. A quick response to make him look good and give the economy a boost fast. Then he bailed every time.
All he succeeded in was making himself look good at the time. The long lasting recriminations were that America was left looking like we would only go in, stir things up then leave fast when the heat was on. He fostered long lasting hatred for America with these people we left for dead. He gave our enemies reason to believe that we didn’t have the stomach for prolonged war.

Clinton should have dealt with terrorism head on in Mogadishu instead of bailing out. He should have foreseen what everyone was talking about as far back as Carter and done something serious about energy independence and strengthening our reserves, making more available. He should have kept our military and intelligence services at least where they were when he took over, instead of cutting them to the core. Instead he cut everything, turned acts of war into law enforcement matters and went for quick fixes to make himself look good at the expense of our children’s futures.

Yet he is hailed by so many democraps as their savior. When the sheetheatds see that, they think all American presidents are like that. They believe that we are a self centered, self absorbed country with no backbone.

With all the support for Obama and his promises of handouts without thinking of the future and our freedom, they may be right.

(rant off)


32 posted on 07/21/2008 9:03:11 AM PDT by Munz (Infiltrate Interrogate Eradicate NEXT!)
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To: MHGinTN

Of course, it was Chris not Mike (slaps own face)

Thanks for the correction -


33 posted on 07/21/2008 4:09:25 PM PDT by MrNatural ("...You want the truth!?...")
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