US strikes on Iran would risk 'major war'

2012-09-13 - http://www.news24.com/World/News/US-strikes-on-Iran-would-risk-major-war-20120913

Washington - US military strikes on Iran would shake the regime's political control and damage its ability to launch counterstrikes, but the Iranians probably would manage to retaliate, directly and through surrogates, in ways that risked igniting all-out war in the Middle East, according to an assessment of an attack's costs and benefits.

The assessment said extended US strikes could destroy Iran's most important nuclear facilities and damage its military forces but would only delay — not stop — the Islamic republic's pursuit of a nuclear bomb.

"You can't kill intellectual power," said retired Army Lieutenant General Frank Kearney, who endorsed the report. He is a former deputy director at the National Counterterrorism Centre and former deputy commander of US Special Operations Command.

The report compiled by former government officials, national security experts and retired military officers is to be publicly released on Thursday.