Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell gave a quick availability after a ceremony with the Secretary of Defense laying a wreath on a memorial for Mexican WWII veterans. Despite the desire from Pentagon public affairs that emphasis be placed on the trip to Mexico, the subject stayed squarely on the Middle East.

Morell said that everyone from the Secretary of Defense to the Chairman if the Joint Chiefs of Staff has acknowledged what a problem Iranian involvement in Iraq is and is determined to deal with it inside Iraq.

Morrell said that he is not aware of ramping up or revision of war plans for Iran. The focus of U.S. efforts is that Iranian arms and training of terrorists by Iran be dealt with within the confines of Iraq, Morrell said. He warned against the perception of an uptick in Iranian actions in Iraq, though he said, “We are seeing evidence that it continues.”

He also said that since the Basra incursion the Iraqi military has made great strides since the fighting a few weeks ago. One example of progress was the development of a concerned local citizens group called “sons of Basra,” paid by the Iraqi government to protect their neighborhoods.

During a press availability during his trip to Mexico City, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that the Iraqi government is unifying behind Prime Minister Maliki for his decision to go after illegal Shiite militias in Iraq. (1:32)

 

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During a press briefing at the Pentagon Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen says that he is concerned about Iran’s involvement in Iraq and that recent intelligence suggests that weapons caches recently found in Iraq contain weapons that are newly manufactured. (0:33)

 

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Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen gave a press conference at the Pentagon today summing up their testimony on Capitol Hill in addition to the marathon testimony by Multinational Forces Iraq commander, Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.

Gates said that before this period of reporting back to the Congress and the Bush administration he had hoped that he, Petraeus, the Joint Chiefs, and the former head of Central Command Adm. Fallon would have a chance to speak their mind on Iraq and Afghanistan as decisions are made about the way forward. Gates said that it just so happened that all involved ended up on the same page as far as relying on information from Gen. Petraeus about conditions on the ground and making decisions based on his reports. Gates reiterated what he has said on Capitol Hill, that it is important not to “get the end game wrong in Iraq”

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Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, says that there is the impression that Iranian influence has increased after the fighting in Basra between Iraqi security forces and illegal Shiite militias. (0:33)

 

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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen says that he feels Muqtada al Sadr is an enigma who has been helpful to peace in Iraq, but also has proved a negative influence in the last few weeks in attacks in Basra. (0:40)

 

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Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Republican nominee for president, questions Gen. David Petraeus, commander of Multinational Forces Iraq about recent operations in Basra where roughly 1,000 Iraqi security forces deserted or underperformed. (0:51)

 

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