What's up with this. General John Abizaid, former head of Central command who took over from Tommy Franks, and served in that position longer than any other general (2003- to 2007) :
There are ways to live with a nuclear Iran," Abizaid said in remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank. "Let's face it, we lived with a nuclear Soviet Union, we've lived with a nuclear China, and we're living with (other) nuclear powers as well."
Here is the full link to the AP story.
No general, retired or not, speaks in this fashion without a purpose. Follow below to see what that might be.
In my view, this is a huge signal that there are people in the government, specifically organized around Cheney, who would seek out war with Iran as a way to salvage their disaster in Iraq. It is kind of like doubling down a losing bet, or an alcoholic thinking one last drink is the answer.
I think there are many in and out of government who are scared shitless over the way in which Bush and Cheney may actually seek war with Iran.
They do not have the power to stop them. All they can do is from the inside try and alert America to what is going on.
This is a major development, and every democratic presidential candidate should seize on this speech as showing a way towards realism. There is a radical fringe in this country seeking wider war to absolve their failures, and they must be stopped.
The dems have to abandon the republican frame that adjusting to a possible nuclear Iran is weakness. Like so many things Bush touches, under his watch non-proliferation has been largely destroyed, and the countries he singled out as possible targets naturally go nuclear, as Korea already has, and as Iran is attempting.
I think the General is doing us a major favor trying to lay out this position, and we need to follow up on it.