Lieberman, Bennett, And Kristol See Petraeus Hearing As ‘An Argument’ For ‘Going Into Iran’

[underpants]

Liveblogging the hearings for the Washington Post, Fiasco author Thomas Ricks pondered what Crocker could have intended with his “reassess” comment, considering that “there will be a new American president in place in less than a year“:

But he also said, “This would be an excellent time for them to reassess.” What does he mean by that? Why would Iran want to adjust their relationship now, when there will be a new American president in place in less than a year? Or is there some sort of implied threat there: You guys better get smart, or this president still has time to pound you?

It is unclear whether such a veiled threat was Crocker’s intention, but some on the right are certainly seeing his and Petraeus’s testimony as cause to begin talking about striking Iran again.

On his radio show this morning, Bill Bennett told the Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol — who had a personal meeting with President Bush yesterday — that a “conclusion” he drew was that the hearing was “less an argument for getting out of Iraq than going into Iran.” After suggesting that Iran may “have to pay some price at some point on their own soil,” Kristol said that President Bush authorizing an attack of some kind before he leaves office is not “out of the question”:

BENNETT: Do you think there’s any chance that, and we won’t ask you to reveal anything confidential, do you think there’s any chance that we might take some action against some aspect of the Ira…against Iran, let’s put it that way, before the president leaves office?

KRISTOL: We didn’t really talk about that, in all honesty, directly. I don’t think it’s out of the question. I think people are overdoing how much of a lame duck the president is.

Appearing on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show last night, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said that he wished the Bush administration would tell the Iranians that “unless they stop it, we’re going to take action.” “I’m not talking about all out war,” added Lieberman before saying, “they ought to believe that we’re going to hit those training camps.”
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/10/lieberman-bennett-kristol-iran/

[annabanana]

1. Well, they've gotten everything ELSE wrong, so this

really isn't a surprise. ANY of them would have used a sneeze as justification to drag Iran into it.

[mod mom]

2. Then fine-send LIEberman, Bennett and Kristol to Iran. I bet DU would even chip in on a 1 way ticket

:mad:

[underpants]

5. I am almost sure Bennett would take that bet

oh no I forgot his gambling addiction was to video poker. Yes he used to go to Vegas and spend millions of dollars sitting alone looking at a video screen.

Now THAT is sad.

[DCKit]

7. I'd hock my TeeVee, 'puter AND the bed to fund that neocon fieldtrip. n/t

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

8. bennett can bring his dominatrix along

[Lerkfish]

3. oh, of course they do

the idiots

[grassfed]

4. They're addicted to killing, maiming and terrifying defenseless women and children to look tough

[InternalDialogue]

6. Crocker could have dressed like a clown and pulled Twinkies out of his ass

and Kristol would have taken it as an argument for going into Iran.