Obama’s Good Cop/Confused Cop Policy on Iran

James Phillips / April 23, 2010

The Obama Administration appears to be confused about its own policies regarding Iran’s nuclear challenge. Yesterday Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell denied that the administration had taken the military option off the table, contradicting a previous statement made by a high ranking Pentagon official. Undersecretary of Defense Michelle Flournoy had told a press conference in Singapore on Wednesday that “Military force is an option of last resort” and “It’s off the table in the near term.”

Morrell maintained that the administration had not changed its policy on Iran. “I don’t think that’s anything new,” Morrell said of Flournoy’s remarks. “It clearly is not our preference to go to war with Iran, to engage militarily with Iran.” He awkwardly added that “Nobody wishes to do that, but she also makes it clear it’s not off the table.” (more…)