GATES: NO GOING AFTER IRAN

From the story: President Bush's nominee to run the Pentagon would counsel against a military strike targeting Iran except as a last resort and says he does not think the Iranian regime would use nuclear weapons in a first strike against Israel (NY Sun) Hugh Hewitt notes “Not only did Mr. Gates answer Senator Byrd's hypotheticals in ways that had to encourage the mullahs of Iran and the thugs of Syria, he did so in addition to questioning the president's authority under the AUMF to pursue any terrorists operating out of Iranian or Syria.” (Townhall)