US army leader lists success, challenges in Iraq
Iraq-USA, Politics, 5/27/2008

The man responsible for overseeing US and coalition operations in Iraq is preparing to take on the much broader mission of marshaling all US military efforts in the region extending from the Middle East to Central Asia.

General David Petraeus will assume his new role in September -- if confirmed by the Senate -- taking on the leadership of a command that has been on a war footing for nearly seven years. He was nominated following Admiral William Fallon's resignation as head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) in March.

Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee May 22 that the number of security incidents in Iraq has dropped to the lowest level in four years and is expected to drop again by the end of May. If that trend continues, he indicated that he likely would be able to recommend a reduction in the number of US forces deployed to Iraq -- now hovering around 160,000 -- sometime after the summer.

Petraeus, who has served nearly four years in Iraq, also told committee members that the provincial elections scheduled for Iraq in October probably will be delayed until November.

If he is confirmed, Petraeus' main focus at CENTCOM will be on conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Afghanistan, in particular, will require substantial assistance from the international community for a number of years, Petraeus said, especially in offering alternative employment to poppy farmers.

Afghanistan faces a resilient Taliban, he said, which seeks to force the withdrawal of the international coalition, the overthrow of the legitimate Kabul government and the establishment of safe havens for terrorists.

But Petraeus will have to maintain a broader perspective well beyond the conflicts in these two countries to promote regional stability across more than two dozen nations in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa. He said he will concentrate on the transnational concerns posed by violent extremism; the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related technology; the prevalence of piracy, drug trafficking and arms smuggling; and the need for greater economic development in many countries.

Petraeus warned, for example, that Iranian and Syrian efforts to develop nuclear facilities could destabilize the Middle East and spark a regional arms race.

The general also pointed to the destabilizing influence Iran has had in Iraq, Lebanon and even Afghanistan by providing equipment, training and funding to insurgents. Iran is seeking influence throughout the broader region, he said, "by pursuing a nuclear capability and by supporting terrorist proxies and surrogates in the Palestinian Territories, southern Lebanon, Iraq, and western Afghanistan." Petraeus also said Iran is trying to intimidate nearby Gulf states through its naval and missile power.

US efforts regarding Iran should "involve generating international cooperation and building regional consensus to counter malign Iranian influence and destabilizing activities," he said, "while also striving to promote more constructive engagement, if that is possible." He expressed hope that Iran would change its posture and said the United States is looking for signs of change.

Once he assumes command of CENTCOM -- headquartered at MacDill Air Force base in Tampa, Florida -- Petraeus said he would travel to the Afghan-Pakistan region to meet with the new Pakistani army chief of staff, who has instituted positive military reforms and sought constructive engagement with the US military. Pakistan needs additional US and coalition support, he added, as it formulates its counterinsurgency strategy and seeks to eliminate extremist sanctuaries in the Northwest Frontier province.

Petraeus was accompanied by Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno, who has been nominated to succeed Petraeus when he moves to CENTCOM. Odierno has served in Iraq for two years.

Senator Carl Levin told the committee that the confirmation of Odierno and Petraeus would provide unprecedented continuity of senior leadership for the Iraq operation.

Odierno said he anticipates a continued partnership with the US Agency for International Development to provide the humanitarian assistance that has been requested by the Iraqi government. The military also can help track internally displaced persons and ensure that provincial reconstruction teams are tackling worthwhile projects.

In response to written questions submitted by committee members, Odierno said he agrees that the United States should not seek permanent military bases in Iraq and that the Iraqi government should assume greater responsibility for paying reconstruction costs.

Petraeus said he will approach the existing challenges in the region by trying to build partnerships and by pursuing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Comprehensive solutions will be sought, he said, by addressing root causes of problems, "not just their manifestations." The nominee said US forces will stand ready to deter aggression, defeat hostile forces and respond to crises.

Previous Stories:
  Iraqi government, al-Mahdi Army agree to a cease-fire   (5/13/2008)
  Blackwater returns to Iraq   (5/13/2008)
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