Gates Says U.S. Lacks Policy to Curb Iran -David Sanger & Thom Shanker
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates [pictured above] has warned in a secret three-page memorandum to top White House officials that the United States does not have an effective long-range policy for dealing with Iran’s steady progress toward nuclear capability, according to government officials familiar with the document.
He wrote the memo after Iran had let pass a 2009 deadline set by Mr. Obama to respond to his offers of diplomatic engagement.
Mr. Gates wrote of a variety of concerns, including the absence of an effective strategy should Iran choose the course that many government and outside analysts consider likely: Iran could assemble all the major parts it needs for a nuclear weapon...but stop just short of assembling a fully operational weapon.
In that case, Iran could becoming what strategists call a “virtual” nuclear weapons state.
[New York Times]
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Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates [pictured above] has warned in a secret three-page memorandum to top White House officials that the United States does not have an effective long-range policy for dealing with Iran’s steady progress toward nuclear capability, according to government officials familiar with the document.
He wrote the memo after Iran had let pass a 2009 deadline set by Mr. Obama to respond to his offers of diplomatic engagement.
Mr. Gates wrote of a variety of concerns, including the absence of an effective strategy should Iran choose the course that many government and outside analysts consider likely: Iran could assemble all the major parts it needs for a nuclear weapon...but stop just short of assembling a fully operational weapon.
In that case, Iran could becoming what strategists call a “virtual” nuclear weapons state.
[New York Times]
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