Asked on Face the Nation about a New York Times report that Iran has already acquired “sufficient information to be able to design and produce a workable” atom bomb, National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones (Ret.) tried to downplay the specifics.
“Whether they know how to do it or not is a matter of some conjecture,” he said. “What we’re watching is, ‘What is their intent?'”
Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, also tried to downplay the Times report on Meet the Press this morning, instead emphasizing the progress made in “intense negotiations” between the U.S. and Iran.
Jones also appeared earlier today on CNN’s State of the Union and declared that despite a deadly attack that killed eight U.S. soldiers, the war in Afghanistan is far from lost.
Jones offered a few more details on Face the Nation.
Asked about President Obama’s meeting Friday with Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan who believes tens of thousands more U.S. troops are needed to win the war, Jones said, “The two had a good meeting. It was a good opportunity for them to get to know each other a little bit better. And I’m sure they exchanged very direct views.”
Jones said the President and his top advisers have two more meetings on Afghanistan strategy scheduled for this week. Taking time to deliberate on the proper strategy is important, Jones said, adding that “no one has suggested that we’re about to leave Afghanistan.”
