The longer the wait the worse it will be. The more time they have ~ the more power they have to destroy Israel. This whole series of takeovers by the Muslim Brotherhood ~ is a well orchestrated plan to obliterate Israel and then the rest of the World ~ imposing mandatory joining of Islam or die. I choose Death over joining with them.

And your point is?
For Israel this is about the existence of Israel.

Iran has already killed 100s of American soldiers in Lebanon, Kobar and Iraq and unleashed 10s of thousands of rockets on Israel.
How dangerous will Iran be when they have a nuclear bomb?

"...could haunt Washington’s dealings in the Middle East for years to come."

Yeah, like the when Carter dumped the Shah? That's been haunting US for a mere forty plus years.

Really? What kind of crazy talk is that - what could possibly go wrong with an unprovoked attack on a country of 75 million people?

Gates should know about disasters because he was one as SecDef.

Actually, appeasing these insufferable cretins is having it's own disastrous consequences. These America-hating cave dwellers have infiltrated our countries politics and will soon be making more demands.

Ahmadinejad only knows force and the existence of Israel is indeed at stake. I wonder how much the muslims are paying Gates. Hmmmmmmm.

You mean if we don't let Iran develop their nukes, and then all of the other middle east countries, they won't like us?

Gates is just another DC putz. Oh please Mr Muslim Terrorest please please dont hate me.

I'm not sure I follow #4. A regime of hateful, religious nutjobs, attempting to develop a nuclear bomb for the expressly declared purpose of using it on Israel, is more than sufficient provocation.

The Enola Gay is fully restored at the Smithstonian.

Load up Little Man, fire the Enola up and begin a methodic elimination of the Islamofascists

Perhaps Gates should recall the 25 years of peace & the freedom which was resulting following Ghaddafi's response after Libya was bombed during Pres. Reagan's leadership? Strong American leadership FOR LIBERTY prevailed and freedom & prosperity ensued.

But now 0bama & Mrs. slick's dem policies have CHANGED all of that liberty, peace & goodwill which were slowly developing throughout the entire ME until, that is, the dems' pulled the rug out and unleashed the current whirlwind. Where is ANY leadership for Life & Liberty in the ME today among the current statist dem party?!! -YIKES!!! Their policies have tragically all failed.

...And what about our own southern border with Mexico?! Policy tragedy after tragedy!

Those in this Administration apparently either, 'forgot,' to read & comply with their oaths of office or they are totally inept & bankrupt of positive policies. ...Maybe both.

Note: This report is from, ''PressTV (Iran),'' and scroll down to read the comments below the article. ...Iran's current leaders make no secret of their future vile intentions.

Yep you're the coward you proved yourself to be as Secty of Defense...thanks, you can go quietly now.

The headline, and Gates, are technically correct. Which means nothing.

Not striking could well cost even more. We just don't know. And can't know.

To me the great unknown is Israeli strike capability. Do their subs really have nuclear armed missiles. Can their conventional bombs really destroy the Iranian facilities deep underground and so heavily defended.

And even more important. What does Israeli intelligence know that the US does not.

OTOH there is no doubt the US can obliterate anything or everything in Iran. The consequences would be political more than military. But they would be real.

Hope for a new regime or a power shift in Iran. Otherwise nuclear war is coming, only the details are lacking.

I can't see how this observation is useful.

Surgical strike on the unpopular leaders.