On Iran Strike, U.S. Should Not Be ‘Complicit’: General
Not Now Gen. Martin Dempsey says the U.S. should not be involved in any strike on Iran. Image by getty images
General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of U.S. armed forces, does not wish to be “complicit” in a unilateral Israeli strike on Iran.
The Guardian reported that Dempsey said in London that such an attack would “clearly delay but probably not destroy Iran’s nuclear program.” He added, “I don’t want to be complicit if they choose to do it.”
Dempsey was speaking with journalists while attending the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games. He is serving as head of the U.S. delegation to the competition.
The U.S. official said he did not know Iran’s nuclear intentions, as intelligence did not clearly reveal them, according to the Guardian. What was clear, Dempsey added, was that the “international coalition” applying pressure on Iran “could be undone if [Iran] was attacked prematurely.” Sanctions against Iran were having an effect, and they should be given more of an opportunity to succeed, he told the newspaper.
As for the Syrian uprising against the Assad regime, he told the Guardian that Washington was collaborating with that country’s neighbours, sharing intelligence and helping with military planning. The United States is supplying humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey.
Dempsey also warned of the implications of establishing a “humanitarian zone” inside Syria, as countries such as France have suggested. Syria was not Libya, he said. Last year that North African country overthrew its long-time dictator in part with the help of a “no-fly zone” set up by western countries to both provide cover for rebels and to protect civilians.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we need 500 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Our Goal: 500 gifts during our Passover Pledge Drive!
