SECOND GUY THIS WEEK – AT 9:23 A.M. ET:  Earlier this week, CIA director Leon Panetta warned that sanctions would not work against Iran, and that the Iranians were moving ahead with their nuclear program.  Now, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen adds his voice to those issuing warnings:

ASPEN, Colo. — Adm. Mike Mullen said Monday he believes Iran will continue to pursue nuclear weapons, even if sanctions against the country are increased.

Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said it would be "incredibly dangerous" for Iran to achieve nuclear weapons, and that there's "no reason to trust" Iran's assurances that it is only pursuing a peaceful nuclear program, especially after the discovery of the secret nuclear facility in Qom.

But he said a military strike against Iran would be "incredibly destabilizing" to the region, and that he believed U.S. ally Israel understands that. The admiral was responding to questions about whether he shared the assessment of CIA Director Leon Panetta, who said on Sunday that Iran likely has enough nuclear material to make two weapons, but is at least a year away from being able to carry that out.

That is the problem.  A nuclear Iran would be disastrous, but an attack on Iran would be destabilizing.  Of course, all attacks are destabilizing.   The fact is, we really have no realistic policy to deal with Iran, and the president of the United States seems indifferent.  (When does he not seem indifferent?)

Mullen said there was no reason to expect Iran to conform to international norms, given its past behavior, but he declined to describe what measures the U.S. was considering. He has often said that all options remain on the table.

With this president?  I doubt it.

When asked whether he thought Israel would give the United States time to see whether tougher sanctions or talks would produce more cooperation from Iran, he would only say that he believes the U.S. and Israel are "in synch" with their current policies.

I'm not sure of that.  The Israelis are not known to be suicidal.

June 29, 2010