Posted on 10/10/2002 12:29:16 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Gen. Zinni Says Containing Iraq Can Work
Thu Oct 10, 1:05 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The former commander of U.S. forces in the Gulf spoke out on Thursday against attacking Iraq, saying a policy of containment would work and Washington had at least five higher priorities in the Middle East.
"I think this wolf (Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)) can be left for another shot. There are plenty of wolves on the sled," said retired Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni. "I'm not convinced we need to do this now. I believe he is ... containable at this moment," he told the annual meeting of the Middle East Institute, a Washington think-tank. Zinni has been an outspoken critic of an attack on Iraq, and is familiar with Middle Eastern leaders and has been a mediator between Israelis and Palestinians. Under the Democratic Clinton administration, Zinni was commander-in-chief of the U.S. Central Command, which runs American forces in the Middle East. The Republican Bush administration sent him to the Middle East to try to arrange a truce between Israel and the Palestinians. Zinni said in his experience fighting rarely accomplished what politicians intended. "If we look at this (attacking Iraq) as the beginning of a chain of events that means that we intend to do this through violent action, we're on the wrong course," he said. "First of all, I don't see that that's necessary. Secondly, I think that war and violence are a very last resort and we have to be careful how we apply it, especially now, in our position in the world," he said. He said the U.S. priorities in the Middle East should be putting Middle East peace talks back on track, ensuring that Iran continues to move toward reform, helping Afghanistan (news - web sites) and other central Asian states, patching up relations with Arab states and reopening dialogue with the people of the region. "I would take those priorities before this one (Iraq). My personal view is I think this isn't number one, it's maybe sixth or seventh," he added.
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When? In twelve more years?
Remember, he was selected for his previous position by Gore's boss.
A major part of the damage done to this nation by der Sinkmaster was at the General Officer level in our military. ALL general officer promotions have always required political approval. Slick's contribution was to put political correctness ahead of merit.
In the penultimate paragraph Mylroie concludes: "Given how decisive America's defeat of Iraq seemed in 1991, Saddam has accomplished a significant part of his program. He has secured the critical goal of ending UN weapons inspections, and he is now free to rebuild an arsenal of unconventional armaments. he has also succeeded in thoroughly confusing America as to the nature of the terrorist threat it has faced since the World Trade Center bombing. He is free, it would appear, to carry out more terrorist attacks, possibly even unconventional terrorism, as long as he can make it appear to be the work of a loose network of Muslim extremists." And thus Laurie Mylroie predicts Saddam Hussein will continue to attack American citizens and interests. At a minimum, we should expect attempted bombings and other attacks in the year 2001 and beyond. And so, the question about Saddam Hussein remains, what is to be done?The dust jacket of Study of Revenge lists laudatory comments from former Director of Central Intelligence R. James Woolsey, former Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard N. Perle, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Paul Wolfowitz, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Jeanne J. Kirkpatrick, former CIA chief of counterterrorism Vincent Cannistraro, and the former director of the New York FBI Office James M. Fox. And these comments are well-earned. Study of Revenge reads well and it sets a new high standard for investigative literature; it is the product of thorough and painstaking research, and its conclusions are sobering.
Middle East Intelligence Bulletin, January, 2001
Who sent the anthrax, Admiral?
A complete moron who oversaw the Middle East while Clinton was in office. Need I say more.
Semper Fi....unless it isnt politically expedient huh? Nitwit.
Zinni was picked because it was believed the Arabs would see him as a sympathetic envoy. The hope was that an envoy they thought was sympathetic to their side would lead them to be reasonable. Didn't work.
What I said about Clinton stands.
I respect your service and opinions. Do you think I'm being unfair in criticising Gen. Zinni?
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