Hayden said that the likelihood of a U.S. strike on Iran has risen in face of Tehran's defiance to halt its contentions nuclear program, saying "We engage. They continue to move forward."
"We vote for sanctions. They continue to move forward. We try to deter, to dissuade. They continue to move forward," he added.
The former CIA chief predicted Iran, in defiance of the international community, planned to "get itself to that step right below a nuclear weapon, that permanent breakout stage, so the needle isn’t quite in the red for the international community."
Hayden said that reaching even that level would be "as destabilizing to the region as actually having a weapon."
On Saturday, several key Iranian officials estimated that the United States and Israel would not dare attempt a military strike of Iran's nuclear sites, adding that they were confident that Iranian forces would easily repel such an attempt, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.
Hayden also called homegrown terrorism "a devil of a problem" and the most serious threat facing American citizens. "In a democracy it’s incredibly difficult,” he said. “Look, we’ve all made our compromises with al-Qaeda and the al-Qaeda kinds of attacks.
"But how do you build a security structure that guards you against American citizens who are beginning to change in their thinking up to a point where they become a threat to the security of other Americans? That’s a devil of a problem."
Hayden said that the next step the intelligence community would take to combat homegrown terrorists would inevitably begin to infringe on the privacy of Americans, and that was still too steep of a price to pay.
"What are you or your viewers willing to pay?" he asked CNN interviewer Candy Crowley. “How much would you allow us commerce or privacy or convenience in order to get down to that level of granularity. And frankly, I think American political culture. I think you and I, as citizens, would be uncomfortable going very far in that direction. That what makes this such a devilish problem."
4 comments:
Beating the drums of war.
Shameful and unnecessary
What's shameful and unnecessary is Iran's march towards possession of nuclear weapons. For a country that CLAIMS it needs nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, it sure does expend a LOT of energy to conceal its "peaceful" research, building underground facilities, refusing UN inspections, buying and producing equipment that is mainly used for the production of nuclear weapons, and ---AND --- rushing towards long range ballistic missile capabilities....all for what??? Electricity??? I just wonder if there are going to be enough virgins in their heaven for all the Muslims that are going to be killed when Israel and the United States blows half of that country into the Stone Age, because THATS what they are asking for and THATS whats coming for them in the very near future...it is an inevitable outcome. Israel cannot, and will not, allow that country, who's official policy is to deny the legitimacy of the State of Israel and to promote the total destruction of the Jewish nation. the scary thing? Obama will likey attack Israel for doing it... in order to show solidarity with the Muslims....and NASA will give them rocket info to help them blow more stuff up (and to "feel good about themselves").
Imclain,
You are buying what the MSM is selling. Awaken my friend. Obama is an Israeli tool. Like all American President. They own us.
Wake up please wake up
12:08...Facts, my friend, facts...Iran thumbs its nose at the entire international community when, in unison, they demand inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities. They are willing to endure painful sanctions in order to avoid UN inspections. They hide their nuclear facilities in secret, fortified, underground installations. FACTS. They have officially stated that the elimination and destruction of Israel is proper and worthy goal of all Muslims. They purchase (and attempt to produce) materials and machinery that have use primarily in the manufacture of nuclear weapons, NOT electricity.is We(the United States),and other
nations have offered to help them in that endeavor. The trade-off? Iran must allow independent inspections. Iran ALWAYS says NO. Why? They are not interested in "electricity" --- they want nuclear weapons. And you know why. And they are also scaring the heck out of other Muslim nations in the Middle East with that pursuit. Those nations know that when Iran gets these weapons, its a game changer and Israel will, without question, destroy Iran. But Muslims WANT to die...they don't care if others who DON'T want to die yet come along with them. They are careless murderers in the name of some crazy God they worship that says "kill in MY name and I will bless you". And kill they do, with relish and glee, mostly other Muslims. And the world is supposed to stand by while these nut cases get the means to kill MILLIONS(!!)? Spin THAT, my friend.
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