Gates: No Plans for War with Iran

Is it possible Mr.Gates doesn't know about the plan to attack Iran? Or are they looking for some kind of excuse or provocation:

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that the United States is "not planning for a war with Iran."

Gates said he was reiterating what President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have said earlier. The defense chief spoke at a press conference with Gen Peter Pace, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.

But Gates said U.S. forces are "trying to counter" what Iranians are doing to U.S. forces in Iraq.

All these complaints about Iran killing Americans. Why are they complaining now? It is legitimate to attack occupying troops in a foreign country. When the Soviets occupied Afghanistan we supported Bin Laden and others. You didn't hear the Russians publicly demanding that we stop our support for the insurgency.