W.H.: Gen. Dempsey Didn’t Actually Say We Ignored His Iran Arms Embargo Advice

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

KARL: “The president and you have frequently made the case that the choice when it comes to Iran's nuclear program is the deal that has been negotiated or a March towards war. We now have heard from two top military officials that that is the choice but there are a range of options. Martin Dempsey said we have a range of operations, the chief of naval operations said there are other options besides going to war. What do you say to that. That seems in could tra discs to what you have been saying for months.”

EARNEST: “We have heard critics say suggest there are alternatives.”

KARL: “There are top military personnel saying there are other options.”

EARNEST: “General Dempsey said leaving the risk of a nuclear risk is superior trying to do it militarily.”

KARL: “-- Directly whether or not there are other options besides this deal and war and both of them said there are a range of options between those two that you kind of presented as the two options.”

EARNEST: “I didn't see every minute of the testimony and I didn't see any specific plan anyone has put forward. Let me explain the case why there is no other viable alternative and it's this. Since the deal has been announced a couple of weeks ago now, 86 countries have issued public statements in support of the agreement. That is an illustration of how isolated the United States would be if the Congress were to kill this deal. And let me explain to you -- I know there have been some who have suggested, well, the United States could merely re-impose sanctions. Let me explain why that isn't a viable option. 86 countries who have issued public support for the agreement include not just the other countries who are involved in negotiating, the members of the p-5 plus one, it includes the six countries that are currently allowed to import Iranian oil at restricted lower levels. So you'll recall there are a lot of countries who when these sanctions were initially announced, expressed some reservations about whether they are able or willing to go along with them and that's because their economies relied significantly on the ability to import Iranian oil. Certainly those six countries did eventually go along with the sanctions because they thought it was the best way to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. It's hard to imagine those six countries will re-impose sanctions unilaterally just because the Congress isn't satisfied with the agreement.”