Air force chief: U.S. Air Force is ready to strike Iran

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said that the US is preparing a plan to strike Iranian nuclear targets in the event that sanctions fail to persuade Tehran to halt its atomic program or if Iran fails to prove its nuclear development program is geared solely towards peaceful purposes.

“What we can do, you wouldn't want to be in the area,” Schwartz warned.

In a meeting with defense reporters on Wednesday, Schwartz was asked whether Iranian nuclear sites are immune to U.S. air power.

Schwartz replied, "It goes without saying that strike is about physics. The deeper you go the harder it gets."

According to the Bloomberg news agency, Washington has begun escalating warnings that the United States may join Israel should a strike against the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities be deemed absolutely necessary.

Meanwhile, White House spokesman Jay Carney at his Wednesday press conference warned that any military strike against Iran will bring greater instability to the region, which would be a threat to America’s security in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Washington does not have conclusive evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and that has given the United States the time and latitude to continue the policy we have applied since the president took office," Carney added.

The warning came days before a planned meeting on March 5 between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Iranian nuclear program will be the main topic of discussion therein.

The United States, Israel and some of Arab countries accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Last month , Press TV reported that Iran has promised a crushing response to any military strike against the country, warning that any such attack against its facilities could result in a war that would spread beyond the Middle East.

More as it becomes available.

Sources: http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/03/01/197868.html

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/153320