Still laughing off Iran war talk?

Here's a guy who's not laughing off the Seymour Hersh reports of preparations by Israel, aided by elements of the US government, to go to war against Iran.

The BBC on comments by Admiral Michael Mullen, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

Tensions have risen amid reports Israel may be planning a possible strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

Iran denies its nuclear programme is anything other than peaceful.

It has been clear for some time that Adm Mullen does not want to attack Iran, but his latest remarks suggest that he is fighting hard behind the scenes for both the US and Israel to think carefully about the consequences of an attack before considering mounting it.

He said opening up a third front, after Iraq and Afghanistan, would be "extremely stressful, very challenging, with consequences that would be difficult to predict".

In response to a question about an Israeli attack on Iran, rather than American action, Adm Mullen appeared to suggest that the US could not avoid becoming involved.

"My position with regard to the Iranian regime hasn't changed. They remain a destabilising factor in the region," he said.

"But I'm convinced that the solution still lies in using other elements of national power to change Iranian behaviour, including diplomatic, financial and international pressure."

He called for dialogue between the US and Tehran.