Sunday, April 18, 2010

JCS Chairman Reiterates that Wishful Thinking Remains Official U.S. Policy on Iran

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave a completely useless address today, where he reiterated what everyone already knows regarding the Obama administration's policy -- or lack thereof -- toward Iran's nuclear program.

"The diplomatic, the engagement piece, the sanctions piece, all those things, from my perspective, need to be addressed to possibly have Iran change its mind about where it's headed."
I guess he hasn't noticed the abject failure of that approach. But hey, let's keep pretending. Wishful thinking is great. It removes the need to actually face reality, especially when reality looks pretty ugly. 

Since the Obama administration is powerless to force Iran to get rid of its nuclear aspirations, why not prepare a policy of deterrence?

"There are those that say, 'Come on, Mullen, get over that. They're going to get it. Let's deal with it,'" Mullen said.
People actually think that the government should prepare for something that looks inevitable. Imagine that. But Mullen rejects that out of hand. He's committed to the wishful thinking policy. He actually started talking about all the bad things that might happen if Iran gets nuclear weapons -- as if the people advocating deterrence aren't aware of the drawbacks. Those, such as myself, who have called for a deterrence policy toward Iran, aren't doing so because we are thrilled with the idea of Iran getting nuclear weapons, but because it appears to be the only realistic option. But facing reality isn't part of Obama's foreign policy. In Obama-world, if you talk enough things will magically turn your way. That's their policy and they're sticking to it.

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