From UK Times Online and Michael Smith of Downing Street Memo fame:
SOME of America’s most senior military commanders are prepared to resign if the White House orders a military strike against Iran, according to highly placed defence and intelligence sources.
Tension in the Gulf region has raised fears that an attack on Iran is becoming increasingly likely before President George Bush leaves office. The Sunday Times has learnt that up to five generals and admirals are willing to resign rather than approve what they consider would be a reckless attack.
My initial reaction was twofold: First, this is big news. And as I read I began to wonder, two, is 4 or 5 generals significant.
Immediately relevant to this is Hersh's latest claims (h/t TP.org) via Reuters:
Despite the Bush administration’s insistence it has no plans to go to war with Iran, a Pentagon panel has been created to plan a bombing attack that could be implemented within 24 hours of getting the go-ahead from President George W. Bush, The New Yorker magazine reported in its latest issue.
The special planning group was established within the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in recent months, according to an unidentified former U.S. intelligence official cited in the article by investigative reporter Seymour Hersh in the March 4 issue.
More from the UK Times article quoting British Intel:
"There is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of people question whether such an attack would be effective or even possible."
So which is it? No stomach or or internal panel planning war?
talk amongst yourselves...
Update [2007-2-24 22:56:38 by hfiend]: Changed title after peer review. Added Reuters link. Pointed out the significance of one of the co-authors.