US mulls air strikes against Iran
Dated 11/4/2006
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Washington: With concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions growing and diplomatic discussions yielding precious little so far, the Bush administration has not ruled out the possibility of military action against the Tehran.
While President George Bush's administration says its priority is to find a diplomatic solution to the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme, the prominent New Yorker magazine suggests the US is planning air strikes against the country.
Writing in the New Yorker magazine, investigative journalist Seymor Hersh said according to a single, unnamed source, the White House wants to keep not only a 'military' option on the table, but a nuclear one as well.
"There are many people in the administration who think the President and the vice-president and others in the so-called neo-conservative White House want this and that they think it's almost messianic," says Seymor Hersh.
But the Bush administration insists its priority is a diplomatic solution.
"We believe there has been much overstatement in the American press in the last several days with regard to the use of military force in Iran," says Bill Frist, US Senate Majority leader.
But the Opposition is already seething.
"That is another example of the move-from-the-hip, shoot-from-the-hip cowboy diplomacy of this administration," blasts Senator John Kerry, a 2004 Presidential candidate.
Iran, meanwhile, dubs the alleged US 'plans' as psychological warfare.
"We consider military strike planning (against Iran) as psychological warfare stemming from America's anger and failures," observes Hamid Reza Asefi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman.
UN weapons inspectors are visiting Iran to inspect the country's two main nuclear facilities. And their report will probably decide America's course of action.
