War with Iran? Not if Robert Gates has anything to say about it.

[Bronco Bob]

On the issue of Iran’s nuclear program, Gates has been quietly counseling moderation, as well.
Among other moves, Gates has carefully quashed moves by hard-liners to launch provocative
operations inside Iran in response to Tehran’s meddling in Iraq. “I think that the general view is
we can manage this problem through better operations inside Iraq and on the border with Iran,
that we can take care of the Iranian threat or deal with the Iranian threat inside the borders of Iraq—
don't need to go across the border into Iran,” he told "Fox News Sunday" on Sept. 16.
According to sources in the defense-intelligence community who are familiar with
the various contingency plans for attacking Iran, Gates has had an impact there,
as well, killing the Air Force’s “thousand points of light” air campaign,
which would have involved an extensive target list. “He was a central element
in making sure that plan died,” said one of these sources. “What emerged
in its place was a much more scaled-down contingency plan.”
But Gates has also taken the lead in stressing that the administration will
continue to put diplomacy first.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21018179...wsweek/page/2/

[Rohirrim]

I guess we should worry if Gates suddenly decides to step down?

[Bronco Bob]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

I guess we should worry if Gates suddenly decides to step down?

Or dies in a mysterious plane crash.