Iran: round up the usual hawks

The war drums are getting louder. Here’s what people are saying

NORMAN PODHORETZ, editor of the neo-conservative Commentary magazine
"I am very much worried by Iran gaining nuclear capacity. I am not advocating an invasion of Iran at this moment, although I wouldn't be heartbroken if it happened."

MICHAEL LEDEEN, advisor to Karl Rove and contributing editor to the National Review
"Iraq is just one battle in a larger war... Bringing down the regime in Iran is the central act, because Iran is the world's most dangerous terrorist country."

DONALD RUMSFELD, former Secretary for Defense
"All options - including the military one - are on the table. Any government that says Israel has no right to exist is making a statement about its possible behaviour in the future."

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Likud Party chairman
"[Israelis] must make it clear to the government, the Congress and the American public that a nuclear Iran is a threat to the US and the entire world, not only Israel."

JAMES WOOLSEY, former CIA director
"I'm not yet ready to suggest the use of military force... but one has to stay on alert that that time could come sooner rather than later."

PAT ROBERTSON, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network
"I'm not necessarily saying it's going to be nuclear. The Lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe it will be something like that."

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
"Iran's active pursuit of technology that could lead to nuclear weapons threatens to put a region already known for instability and violence under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust... We will confront this danger before it is too late."

BRIGADIER GENERAL ODED TIRA, Israeli Defence Force
"As an American strike in Iran is essential for our existence, we must pave the way by lobbying the Democratic Party (which is conducting itself foolishly) and US newspaper editors. We need to do this in order to turn the Iranian issue to a bipartisan one and unrelated to the Iraq failure."

WILLIAM KRISTOL, visiting professor at Harvard, founder of the neo-con movement
"On the outcome of the confrontation with Tehran, more than any other, rests the future of the Bush Doctrine - and, quite possibly, the Bush presidency - and prospects for a safer world."

HILLARY CLINTON, Democratic presidential candidate
"I don't believe you face threats like Iran and North Korea by outsourcing it to others and standing on the sidelines. But let's be clear about the threat we face now: A nuclear Iran is a danger to Israel, to its neighbours and beyond."

JOHN EDWARDS, Democratic presidential candidate
"It's important for America to confront the situation in Iran, because Iran is an enormous threat to Israel and to the Israeli people."

FIRST POSTED SEPTEMBER 4, 2007