French chief-of-staff Gen. Georgelin: "Military intervention in Iran no longer viable"

AP/ here

"Military intervention is no longer a viable option to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability, French chief-of-staff Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin said Thursday.

Speaking in Washington, Georgelin told an audience that he believes a military operation would be too risky. Georgelin was answering a question after a speech in Washington on NATO and stressed that the comment was his opinion.

Georgelin said it would be difficult to plan an operation in Iran "because we are not sure in one shot to be able to solve a problem." He added: "if you fail in one shot, it is a catastrophe."

Georgelin was in the United States to attend a ceremony Wednesday as a French general become the first non-American officer to permanently fill a NATO command post.