A memo from Defense Secretary Robert Gates to the White House warns that the United States lacks a nimble long-term plan for dealing with Iran’s nuclear program. One senior official in the Obama administration described the memo as “a wake-up call.” Don’t you feel safer?

From Newsmax.com

A memo from Defense Secretary Robert Gates to the White House warned that the United States lacks a nimble long-term plan for dealing with Iran’s nuclear program, according to a published report.

Gates wrote the three-page memo in January and it set off efforts in the Pentagon, White House and intelligence agencies to come up with new options, including the use of the military, The New York Times said in its Sunday editions, quoting unnamed government officials.

White House officials Saturday night strongly disagreed with the comments that the memo caused a reconsideration of the administration’s approach to Iran.

“It is absolutely false that any memo touched off a reassessment of our options,” National Security Council spokesman Benjamin Rhodes told The Associated Press. “This administration has been planning for all contingencies regarding Iran for many months.”

One senior official described the memo as “a wake-up call,” the paper reported. But the recipient of the document, Gen. James Jones, President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, told the newspaper in an interview that the administration has a plan that “anticipates the full range of contingencies.”

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell, who did not confirm the memo Saturday night, said the White House has reviewed many Iran options.

“The secretary believes the president and his national security team have spent an extraordinary amount of time and effort considering and preparing for the full range of contingencies with respect to Iran,” Morrell said.

The U.S. is pressing for new international sanctions against Iran. The memo contemplates a situation in which sanctions and diplomacy fail to dissuade Iran from pursuing nuclear capability, the Times said.

Obama set a deadline of the end of 2009 for Iran to respond to his offer of dialogue to resolve concerns about Iran’s accelerated nuclear development.

FULL STORY

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