Petraeus’ Iraq Plan:  Finesse, Not Just Force

More American troops are being deployed to hot spots of insurgent activity near Baghdad, Gen. David Petraeus announced Thursday.  Petraeus, just beginning his tenure as U.S. military commander in Iraq, called for future negotiations with anti-government groups as well as those in support of the new Iraqi regime.  “Military action is necessary to help improve security,” he said, “but it is not sufficient. There needs to be a political aspect.”

BBC:

Gen. Petraeus said improving the situation in Iraq required more than armed force.

“There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to the insurgency of Iraq,” he said.

“Military action is necessary to help improve security… but it is not sufficient. There needs to be a political aspect.”

He said some groups “who have felt the new Iraq did not have a place for them” would have to be engaged in talks.

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