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ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT — US military chief General Martin Dempsey denounced ex-officers Tuesday for waging a campaign against President Barack Obama, arguing that soldiers had a duty to stay above the political fray. Wading into a potential minefield during a hotly contested White House race, Dempsey voiced his disapproval of a group of retired military members and CIA officers who have accused Obama of spilling sensitive national security details to help secure his re-election. Asked if the group's criticism was valid or useful, Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he would not comment on...

US Senator John McCain backed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu this week in a growing divergence of views with Washington on how to confront Iran's nuclear program. On Tuesday, Netanyahu charged that US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey was "unwilling to aid Israel" in ensuring Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. Netanyahu added that Dempsey's assertion a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities would be "destabilizing” for peace talks and “not prudent” for America’s efforts "served the Iranians." Siding with Netanyahu, McCain told reporters in Jerusalem “There should be no daylight between America and Israel in...

Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey said Tuesday that the United States can successfully attack Iran, if necessary. His biggest worry is that Iran will "miscalculate our resolve. Dempsey, speaking to CNN during a worldwide tour, spoke one day after Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta warned that the American government will not allow Iran to produce a nuclear weapon. He said that if Iran continues to enrich high-grade uranium, it could produce a nuclear weapon within a year, an estimate formerly given by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "My biggest worry is they [Iran] will miscalculate...

Top U.S. General: Military option on Iran 'executable if necessary' In an interview with CNN, General Martin Dempsey says miscalculation may draw the country into a prolonged conflict, which would be 'a tragedy for the region and the world.' By Haaretz Published 09:12 21.12.11 Latest update 09:12 21.12.11 The United States is capable of carrying out a military strike on Iran, according to U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey. In an interview with CNN, Dempsey stated that a military option would be "executable if necessary", but warned that the United States should not “miscalculate” its...

President Barack Obama moved Monday to complete an overhaul of the national security apparatus, selecting Army Gen. Martin Dempsey as his new Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman amid a winding down of the war in Iraq, protracted battle in Afghanistan and American assistance to the NATO-led effort against Libya's Moammar Gadhafi. Obama announced a new lineup of his top military leadership group in the Rose Garden of the White House just before venturing across the Potomac to pay tribute to the nation's war dead at Arlington National Cemetery. The Memorial Day announcements had been expected, although there was no immediate...

WASHINGTON — One of the Army's most Iraq-savvy generals is taking charge, at least temporarily, of arguably the most important command in the U.S. military, with responsibility for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a ceremony Friday at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey is to assume command of U.S. Central Command from Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, who announced unexpectedly on March 11 that he was quitting. Fallon cited press reports that he was at odds with President Bush over Iran policy. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has denied that Fallon was out of step...