Gates: We'd Rather Not Talk About Containing a Nuclear Iran

Oh, this is not good:

Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that all options are still on the table if Iran were to go nuclear, but he thinks there is still "some time to continue working this problem," conceivably through the use of economic sanctions.

"I don't think we're prepared to even talk about containing a nuclear Iran. I think we're -- we -- our view still is we -- we do not accept the idea of Iran having nuclear weapons. And our policies and our efforts are all aimed at preventing that from happening," he said.

Gates said "targeted economic pressures" has "real potential" to add difficulties to the Islamic Republic, whose government is growing increasingly isolated.

Sanctions, sanctions...y'know I'm having trouble coming up with an example where economic sanctions worked to keep a country from doing what it wants to do in the face of U.S. or international opposition. Just doesn't seem to be an effective use of foreign policy.

Boy, I wish somebody'd ask the President about that. He's supposed to be pretty smart, right?

posted by Gabriel Malor at 02:02 PM

| Access Comments