Petraeus: Troops in Iraq Help Blunt Iran Threat

Primetime Politics ^ | May 21, 2008 | Anne Flaherty

[moderatewolverine]

Army Gen. David Petraeus, who is to assume control of U.S. forces in the Middle East, says that a continued U.S. presence in Iraq is more likely to blunt, rather than inflame, Iran's growing influence in the region.

In a 46-page question-and-answer document submitted in advance of his confirmation hearing on Thursday, Petraeus says the U.S. must work on developing more leverage — primarily diplomatic or economic — to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear program. But, he notes, the U.S. must retain military strike options as a "last resort."

"A destabilized Iraq, rampant terrorism in the region and a nuclear-armed Middle East are not in any nation's long-term interest, including Iran's," according to the document, obtained by The Associated Press.

Last month, President Bush picked Petraeus, a four-star general, to replace Navy Adm. William J. Fallon as chief of U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla. The command's area of responsibility includes some of the most troubling hotspots: Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Lebanon, parts of Africa and Afghanistan.

[HawaiianGecko]

That doesn't fit Obama's theory that Iraq is more dangerous because of our troops in Iraq.  So later this evening, Petraeus will be called a racist and the subject cannot be spoken of because it's not what Obama thinks is important to the American public.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

“Aggressive diplomacy” will bring Iran to its knees. /bs

[pissant]

Indeed they do. In Afghanistan as well.