Mullen: Striking Iran should be last resort

Mullen: Striking Iran should be last resort
By John T. Bennett - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 25, 2007 21:21:00 EDT

America’s highest-ranking military official says U.S. officials must remain mindful of the damage that could be wrought if Washington ignites a third hot war in the Middle East by striking Iran, but he added that military options “cannot be taken off the table.”

Hours after Washington announced a new package of sanctions against Iran in the standoff over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions Thursday, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said “the diplomatic approach is a very important one.”

For leaders in Washington, it is important they avoid ruling out eventually using military strikes to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. But, he said to a gathering at a Center for a New American Security-sponsored forum in Washington, military action against Iran should be considered “a last option.”

Eventually using military force cannot be ruled out because of Iran’s support for terrorist and extremist groups and Washington’s charges that Tehran is helping mount attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq, he said. Those alleged Iranian-backed attacks “are now spreading to Afghanistan,” Mullen said.

Even still, Mullen warned, “we have to be mindful of the risks that would by engaging in a third conflict” in the region.

Right now, he said, the focus should be on “bringing together the international community to a solution that is constructive, not destructive. ... Whatever pressure can be used, should be — diplomatic, financial, whatever.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/army_mullen071025w/