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.
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.”
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...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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The president may not want war with Iran, but he does want to push the regime into submission and tout U.S. military dominance to his base.
Meanwhile, thousands of Iraqi anti-government protesters call on both Iran and America to leave the country.
There's no justification for Qassem Soleimani's assassination, and if we avoid another war in the Middle East, we'll have Tehran to thank.
As a candidate in 2016, he praised war crimes and expressed a desire to commit some of his own. No one can claim surprise or betrayal now.
However Iran chooses to respond to the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, America's influence in the region is guaranteed to deteriorate.
Rocket falls near U.S. Embassy in Iraq hours after funeral for Qassem Soleimani at which crowd chants "Death to America, death to Israel."
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