An Open Letter to President Donald Trump on U.S. Tensions with Iran

[Bahram Esfandiari]

Dear Mr. President,

We write to you to express our deep concern with the current escalation with Iran in the Arabian Gulf. The mutual animosity between the United States and Iran, the accelerated deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the region, and reports of Iranian preparations for attacks on U.S. military and diplomatic facilities are highly concerning and make for a potentially deadly confrontation. A war with Iran, either by choice or miscalculation, would produce dramatic repercussions in an already destabilized Middle East and drag the United States into another armed conflict at immense financial, human, and geopolitical cost.

As national security professionals with extensive careers in the U.S. armed forces and diplomatic service, we have witnessed first-hand how quickly disputes can spiral out of control. The lack of direct communication between U.S. and Iranian political and military leaders during a time of heightened rhetoric only increases the possibility of a miscalculation resulting in unintended military conflict. Washington and Tehran are talking past each other and taking actions the other views as dangerously provocative at best and the beginning of forceful action at worst.

We were heartened by your reported desire to avoid war with Iran in favor of other tools, including common-sense diplomacy. While economic sanctions against Iran have had the beneficial effect of reducing financial support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, these, as well as military threats against Iran have thus far proved ineffective in changing the regime’s behavior and have likely reaffirmed the beliefs of Tehran’s hardline elements that compromise with the United States is impossible.

As President and Commander-in-Chief, you have considerable power at your disposal to immediately reduce the dangerous levels of regional tension. Crisis de-escalation measures should be established with the Iranian leadership at the senior levels of government as a prelude to exploratory diplomacy on matters of mutual concern. The protection of U.S. national interests in the Middle East and the safety of our friends and allies requires thoughtful statesmanship and aggressive diplomacy rather than unnecessary armed conflict.



Sincerely,

Rear Adm. Sandy Adams, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Clara Adams-Ender, U.S. Army (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Ricardo Aponte, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Vice Adm. Donald Arthur, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Donna Barbisch, U.S. Army (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Roosevelt Barfield, U.S. Army (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Donald C. Bulduc, U.S. Army (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Stephen A. Cheney, U.S. Marine Corps (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Julia Cleckley, U.S. Army (ret.)
Ambassador Herman J. Cohen (ret.)
Rear Adm. Christopher Cole, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Peter Cooke, U.S. Army (ret.)
Vice Adm. Dirk Debbink, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Brig. Gen. James H. Doty Jr, U.S. Army (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, U.S. Army (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Mari K Eder, U.S. Army (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Robert J. Felderma U.S. Army (ret.)
Vice Adm. Michael Franken, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Lt. Gen. Walter Gaskin, U.S. Marine Corps (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Robert A. Glacel, U.S. Army (ret.)
Rear Adm. Stephen Glass, JAGC, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Vice Adm. Kevin P. Green, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Richard S. Haddad, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Irv Halter, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Rear Adm. Jan Hamby. U.S. Navy (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Bob Harding, U.S. Army (ret.)
Rear Adm. Charles Harr, MD, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Rear Adm. Len Hering, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Donald D. Harvel, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Major General Sanford E. Holman, U.S. Army (ret.)
Ambassador Richard Holwill, (ret.)
Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, (ret.)
Ambassador Cameron Hume, (ret.)
Brig. Gen. David R. Irvine, U.S. Army (ret.)
Lt. Gen. Arlen D. Jameson, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Ambassador Dennis Jett, (ret.)
Brig. Gen. John H. Johns, U.S. Army (ret.)
Ambassador Patrick Kennedy, (ret.)
Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, U.S. Army (ret.)
Ambassador Jimmy Kolker, (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Dennis Laich, U.S. Army (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Steven J. Lepper, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Phil Leventis, U.S. Army (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Donald Loranger, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Randy Manner, U.S. Army (ret.)
Ambassador Edward Marks, (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Frederick H. Martin, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Carlos E. Martinez, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Mr. J. R. McBrien, Senior Executive Service, Treasury (ret.)
Lt. Gen. John W. Morgan III, U.S. Army (ret.)
Maj. Gen. David Morris, U.S. Army (ret.)
Adm. John Nathman, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Brig. Gen. J. Scott O’Meara, U.S. Marine Corps (ret.)
Rear Adm. David Oliver, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson, U.S. Army (ret.)
Ambassador Richard G. Olson, (ret.)
Lt. Gen. Charles P. Otstott, U.S. Army (ret.)
Rear Adm. Glenn Phillips, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Phillips, U.S. Army (ret.)
Maj. Gen. John Phillips, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock, U.S. Army (ret.)
Ambassador Charles Ray, (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Ronald Rokosz, U.S. Army (ret.)
Brig. Gen. John M. Schuster, U.S. Army (ret.)
Rear Adm. Joe Sestak, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Paul Smith, U.S. Army (ret.)
Rear Adm. Michael E. Smith, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Francis X. Taylor, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Maj. Gen. F. Andrew Turley, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Ambassador Edward Walker, (ret.)
Brig. Gen. George Walls, U.S. Marine Corps (ret.)
Brig. Gen. John Watkins, U.S. Army (ret.)
Lt. Gen. Willie Williams, U.S. Marine Corps (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Dan Woodward, U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Brig. Gen. Stephen N. Xenakis, U.S. Army (ret.)
Maj. Gen. David T. Zabecki, U.S. Army (ret.)

 

[Bahram Esfandiari]

This is for all the snot nosed idiots on this Forum who think that war with Iran will be cake walk. Just have a look at the ranks of the retired Military personnel who have signed the letter above. You can be sure that they have a much better understanding of what a war with Iran will look like!

 

[khansaheeb]

This is for all the snot nosed idiots on this Forum who think that war with Iran will be cake walk. Just have a look at the ranks of the retired Military personnel who have signed the letter above. You can be sure that they have a much better understanding of what a war with Iran will look like!

All they are saying is "not in our name". Iranian defenses will be demolished within a week but the war could drag on for months. The only thing President Trumps to calculate is the payback to Israel once Iran targets Tel-Aviv. Unless the Iranian populace is prepared the human costs will be substantial the pain even greater than that of Iraq. But neighboring countries won't let Iran be defeated and may well get dragged in to the war. Pakistan can't stay neutral for long, India will use this as an opportunity for an coordinated attack on Pakistan and China will not standby. Russia just wants to funnel arms and see the US in another quagmire. The Euro poodles will itch to join to live their past glory.

 

[Clutch]

This is for all the snot nosed idiots on this Forum who think that war with Iran will be cake walk. Just have a look at the ranks of the retired Military personnel who have signed the letter above. You can be sure that they have a much better understanding of what a war with Iran will look like!

They are all retired Lefties who signed that letter .... Real men of the US armed forces will follow orders and hopefully bring the rouge nation of Iran to its knees.

 

[Bahram Esfandiari]

They are all retired Lefties who signed that letter .... Real men of the US armed forces will follow orders and hopefully bring the rouge nation of Iran to its knees.

I'm starting to think that's your actual picture with your clenched fists!

 

[khansaheeb]

I'm starting to think that's your actual picture with your clenched fists!

His image is more like:-

 

[GWXP]

These guys should also write a letter to AIPAC demanding it to cease dragging USA into wars in the Middle East

 

[khansaheeb]

These guys should also write a letter to AIPAC demanding it to cease dragging USA into wars in the Middle East

They are not that powerful, they may lose their pensions.

 

[GWXP]

Letter from these guys means little when we think of those who influence US policy in the Middle East

Also, we can prepare a separate list of those who ruled Washington during Bush era --those who got USA into a war in Iraq in 2003-----THESE ARE THE BIGGEST PROPONENTS OF DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST---WANT TO BRING IT WITH GUNS AND DESTRUCTION

Paul Wolfowitz- Jew, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense---Architect of the Iraq War

Scooter Libby-Jew, former Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs, Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the United States and Assistant to the USA President -Strong and influential advocate of the Iraq War

Richard Perle- Jew, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs, former Chairman of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee- Influential advocate of the Iraq War

Douglas J. Feith- Jew, former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy for United States president- Architect of the Iraq War

David Wurmser- - former chief adviser on Middle East to US Vice President Dick Cheney---Advocate of the Iraq War----his Jewish wife Meyrav Wurmser is an Israeli national and together with Mossad's Col. Yigal Carmon is a founder of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) that spreads propaganda presenting Arabs in a highly negative light.

Bernard Lewis- Jew, influential historian and intellectual, advocate of the Iraq War, provided advise on Iraq to Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld and Bush

Elliott Abrams- Jew, former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director on the National Security Council for Near East , former Deputy National Security Advisor for Global Democracy Strategy---Key architect of the Iraq War

Bill Kristol- Jew, influential political analyst, advocate of the Iraq War

Eric S. Edelman- Jew, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, former Principal Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs- advocate for the Iraq War

Abram Shulsky- Jew, former Director of the Office of Special Plans-provided wrong intelligence about danger from Iraq, weapons of mass destruction and terrorism

Michael Ledeen-Jew, former consultant to the United States National Security Council, the United States Department of State, and the United States Department of Defense. Advocate of the Iraq War---said that USA should bring democracy and that destruction and casualties in Iraq doesn't matter and that USA should destroy 1-2 Muslim countries every 5-10 years.

Charles Krauthammer- Jew, influential political commentator, advocate of the Iraq War

Add to this Jews in the media--- David Frum, Max Boot, Lawrence F. Kaplan, Jonah Goldberg, and Alan Wald

And AIPAC's influence on Congress and media lobbying for invasion of Iraq

Destruction of Iraq and Syria----Everything was done for improving strategic position of Israel in the region and to guarantee its long-term survival, while DONKEYS in USA are told that US cares about democracy--like if US should care....-cares so much that it can spend 3trl dollars, destroy countries and kill a million people

Today Jews in USA try to do everything they can to force Trump to "bring democracy" to Iran...with massive and destructive air campaign of course...

Indeed, the tail wagging the dog

 

[HAIDER]

tension is pretty much dissolved now.

Iran Confirms Meeting Between Zarif And Sen Feinstein

 

[GWXP]

tension is pretty much dissolved now.

Iran Confirms Meeting Between Zarif And Sen Feinstein

Senator Feinstein....LOL...another Jewish senator-she is Jew from Poland...Good Luck Zarif...Be sure you negotiate with USA and not with Israel.

 

[jamal18]

They are all retired Lefties who signed that letter .... Real men of the US armed forces will follow orders and hopefully bring the rouge nation of Iran to its knees.

You've cornered the market in talking bullshit.

 

[jamal18]

Senator Feinstein....LOL...another Jewish senator-she is Jew from Poland...Good Luck Zarif...Be sure you negotiate with USA and not with Israel.

Bud, you've just answered your own question! Zarif is negotiating with Senator Feinstein = Israel!

 

[Aramagedon]

US a 150 years old country mixed from 72 nations cannot defeat a 7500 years old country.

 

[EpiiC]

US a 150 years old country mixed from 72 nations cannot defeat a 7500 years old country.

US Became the largest economy in the world in 1890..... just over 100 years old at that...... US has more impressive history than Iran..... It's one of the most amazing success stories in history.... in 1879 US economy had already surpassed U.K economy for good and overtook China in 1890 too..... United States can defeat Iran if it wants to.....