Michael Hayden, a CIA chief under President George W. Bush, says that during his tenure a strike was "way down the list" of options. But he tells CNN's
"State of the Union" that such action now "seems inexorable."
He predicts Iran will build its program to the point where it's just below having an actual weapon. Hayden says that would be as destabilizing to the
region as the real thing.
U.S. officials have said military action remains an option if sanctions fail to deter Iran.
Iran says its nuclear work is for peaceful purposes such as power generation.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former CIA director says military action against Iran now seems more likely because no matter what the U.S. does
diplomatically, Tehran keeps pushing ahead with its suspected nuclear program.
Michael Hayden, a CIA chief under President George W. Bush, says that during his tenure a strike was "way down the list" of options. But he tells CNN's
"State of the Union" that such action now "seems inexorable."
He predicts Iran will build its program to the point where it's just below having an actual weapon. Hayden says that would be as destabilizing to the
region as the real thing.
U.S. officials have said military action remains an option if sanctions fail to deter Iran.
Iran says its nuclear work is for peaceful purposes such as power generation.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100725/ap_on_go_ot/us_us_iran
Strike on Iran Becoming More
Likely, Former CIA Chief Says
Published July 25, 2010
WASHINGTON -- A former CIA director says military action against Iran now seems more likely because no matter what the U.S. does diplomatically,
Tehran keeps pushing ahead with its suspected nuclear program.
Michael Hayden, a CIA chief under President George W. Bush, says that during his tenure a strike was "way down the list" of options. But he tells CNN's
"State of the Union" that such action now "seems inexorable."
He predicts Iran will build its program to the point where it's just below having an actual weapon. Hayden says that would be as destabilizing to the
region as the real thing.
U.S. officials have said military action remains an option if sanctions fail to deter Iran.
Iran says its nuclear work is for peaceful purposes such as power generation
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/25/strike-iran-likely-hayden-says/
Military action against Iran not
worst outcome: ex-CIA chief
WASHINGTON (AFP) – A former CIA director said Sunday he had come around to the view that military action against Iran's nuclear program "may not be
the worst of the possible outcomes."
Michael Hayden, a retired US Air Force general and spy chief under president George W. Bush, said in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" that
sanctions have not succeeded in stopping the Islamic republic from pursuing nuclear weapons.
He expressed concern that Iran "will get itself to the step right below the nuclear weapon, the permanent breakout stage, so the needle is not in the red
for the international community.
"And that will be as destabilizing as them actually having a weapon," he said.
Hayden said that when he was in office the so-called "kinetic option," a euphemism for air strikes, was "way down on our list."
"In my personal thinking, and I need to emphasize that, I have begun to consider that may not be the worst of the possible outcomes."
In April the Pentagon said that while a military strike against Iran was off the table for the "near term," such action had not been ruled out.
The UN Security Council imposed a fourth set of sanctions on Iran in June, but Tehran, which insists its nuclear program has peaceful aims, has
rejected demands that it halt a uranium enrichment program, which the West fears is aimed at producing fuel for atomic bombs.
The United States and the European Union have moved to further squeeze Tehran by imposing unilateral sanctions against the country's energy sector.
The EU sanctions go into effect on Monday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100725/wl_mideast_afp/usirannuclearmilitary_20100725191459
Ex-CIA chief: Strike
on Iran seems more
likely now
Sun Jul 25, 12:31 pm ET
WASHINGTON – A former CIA director, Michael Hayden, says military action against Iran now seems more
likely because no matter what the U.S. does diplomatically, Tehran keeps pushing ahead with its suspected
nuclear program.
on Iran seems more
likely now
Sun Jul 25, 12:31 pm ET
WASHINGTON – A former CIA director, Michael Hayden, says military action against Iran now seems more
likely because no matter what the U.S. does diplomatically, Tehran keeps pushing ahead with its suspected
nuclear program.
