The LA Times is reporting that US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has told US Marines that any strike against Iran and its emerging nuclear capacities would be counter-productive in all but the short-term.
Secretary Gates warned that a strike against Iran would only "cement [the nation's] determination to have a nuclear program, and also build into the whole country an undying hatred of whoever hits them." He said that the only way of avoiding a nuclear Iran would be if "Iranians themselves decide it's too costly."
Israeli President Shimon Peres caused alarm in Washington at the weekend when he warned that Israel would strike Iran if President Obama's offer of dialogue with Tehran failed. Israel's President also said, however, that "we certainly cannot go it alone, without the US, and we definitely can't go against the US."
It is not clear if Israel's new Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, shares Peres' belief that America can veto action. The headline of a recent Natanyahu interview was: Stop Iran, Or I Will.
