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Israeli Iran Strike Feared

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The Associated Press

Published: July 3, 2008

WASHINGTON - WASHINGTON - An Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities would be a high-risk move that could destabilize the Middle East, the Pentagon's top military officer said Wednesday.

At a Defense Department news conference, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, refused to say what Israeli leaders told him during meetings last week about any intentions to strike Iran.

But asked whether he was concerned Israel would strike before the end of the year, he said, "This is a very unstable part of the world, and I don't need it to be more unstable."

The U.S. military is severely strained already by wars on two fronts - the nearly 7-year-old campaign in Afghanistan and more than five years in Iraq.

"Opening up a third front right now would be extremely stressful on us," Mullen said. He added that if a conflict began, he thinks Iran has the capability to interrupt ship traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

He would not say whether the Navy is stepping up its presence in the region, but asserted that Iran would not have the ability to sustain a blockade in the strait.

Mullen would not address military intelligence that some say indicates Iran will be able to acquire surface-to-air defense capabilities and have the ability to enrich enough uranium to create a nuclear bomb by the end of the year.

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