By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service

General David Petraeus, Commander of the United States Central Command, warned that military missions against terrorist groups are comprehensive and require more than force.

 “Countering terrorism requires more than counter-terrorist operations,” said Petraeus today in a speech to the Center of a New American Security.  The General went on to discuss the implications of shifting military attention from Iraq to Afghanistan and Pakistan and how the U.S.’ experience in Iraq should optimize the efficiency of military operations in other countries.

“As we turn and shift our focus to Afghanistan and Pakistan it is very important to reflect on what we learned from Iraq and to remember that you have to apply what was learned there with a very nuanced understanding…of local circumstances,” said Petraeus.

Petraeus was one of the leading figures during the 2007 surge of U.S. troops in Iraq, a move that increased U.S. military capability in the Middle East by more than 20,000 soldiers and additional brigades. The surge was instrumental in the counterinsurgency mission that would help secure the region. Petraeus completed his work in Iraq by rebuilding the Iraqi army. 

Petraeus highlighted the success of the U.S. army in improving security conditions, stating “We’ve gone from a situation in which June of 2006 or 2007 saw 160 attacks per day on average. in Iraq it is now between 10 and 15 attacks per day and has been that way for about 6 months now; in fact in the low end of that in recent weeks.”

However, Petraeus did concede that last month was an exception. There were over 400 attacks in May, the highest in the country’s post-invasion history.

The General touched upon the peacekeeping role that the army has recently acquired with the Iraq mission and named the safety of the civilian population as a major priority.

“The overriding mission of a military force in counterinsurgency has to be to secure the people and…be seen as securing and serving them. This is hugely important,” said Petraeus.

Petraeus explained that once security has been established throughout the country, the U.S. would not be able to leave Afghanistan until they have assured that the established government follows a peace-ensuring criteria.

General David Petraeus, Commander of the U.S Central Command, mentioned cooperation with the media as an essential part of the fight against terrorism and insurgencies. Petraeus explained that the U.S military should be the first to make a truthful announcement to the media before the terrorists or insurgents do, so as to prevent propaganda. (0:36)

 

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By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Correspondent Michael Ruhl’s investigative report into the recent pandemic of piracy off of the Horn of Africa. The report focuses on why the piracy is taking place and what can be done to stop it. It includes perspectives from Somali Ambassador-at-large Abdi Awallah Jama, George Mason University Political Science Professor Hazel McFerson, Maersk-Alabama Captain Richard Phillips, and CENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus. (07:30)

 

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By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

General David Petraeus
Photo By Michael Ruhl

According to General David Petraeus, an educated American soldier that can bridge the cultural divide with the Muslim world can more effectively fight the War on Terror. This soldier would understand the social context they are operating within, and would understand the broad implications and consequences of military action.

General Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Central Command, discussed U.S. military strategy in the Middle East and South Asia while testifying today before Congress.

“While additional military forces clearly are necessary (in Afghanistan), they will not by themselves be sufficient to achieve our objective,” said the General. America’s objective, he said, is to make sure extremists do not have a haven from which to plan and execute another attack on the level of the 9-11 attacks.

A smarter military can better understand the necessary social infrastructure to facilitate lasting peace within a region. This combined with intelligent military action, international cooperation, the building of infrastructure and a swath of other initiatives will help America secure the region, according to Petraeus. “You cannot kill or capture your way out of an industrial strength insurgency,” the General said.

“We also need to expand just the basic knowledge of Afghanistan among our forces,” Petraeus said. He continued that greater knowledge will lead to a “nuanced and granular understanding” that will enable the Army to undertake the kind of sophisticated reconciliation processes in Afghanistan that were important in Iraq.

Congressman Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) agreed that soldiers should be educated, and brought attention to the U.S. Army’s Homestead Program. Dicks said this program involves an Officer taking a year off from active service to live in a country, learn the language, and understand the culture. Retired Army General John Abizaid did a program similar to this. Abizaid was former Commander of U.S. Central Command.

The U.S. Army could not be reached for comment on the current funding of the program, but Dicks expressed concern on the small number of individuals enrolled in it.

The necessary approach to success involves placing security in the hands of the Afghans, Petraeus said, which means helping them collectively realize that the biggest security threat in the region comes from dissident extremist elements within the country, most notably Al-Qaeda. He emphasized that America’s presence in Afghanistan is not permanent, and that Afghanistan’s government and economy must be encouraged by its citizens.

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

General David Petraeus says before Congress that it is important for soldiers to have an expanded understanding of Afghanistan, so that the army can function better as a whole. (01:18)

 

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In his speech addressing Congress before the full committee hearing on his nomination to be reappointed to grade of general and to be commander of the United States Central Command, General David Petraeus said there are four concerns. The first is violent extremism, including but not limited to al Qaida. Second, weapons of mass destruction and lack of transparency by countries such as Iran, which he said is a major cause of concern. Third, lack of sustainable economic development in the Middle East, which is a serious security concern, as poor communities can cause hotbeds of extremism. Fourth, narcotics and arms smuggling which can threaten legitimate operations and can help out terrorists. While this is not an exhaustive list, he said, this is a basic list. (more…)

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) says he thinks that it’s difficult to tell what absolute victory is, but victory is when the Iraqis can create an Iraq that is capable to provide their own stability. We can very easily define what defeat looks like, he says, and that’s to put our men and women on ships and bring them home prematurely and lose all we have gained. (0:44)

 

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Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) says that he thinks across the globe there is a lot of competition with the United States, and there are a lot of countries that are anti-American. They work very hard at creating a negative image of the United States, and we have an anchor of truth around our necks. For example, he says, in the hearing I attended to today, a protester in a costume stood up and every camera took a picture. Sitting behind General Petraeus were six men and women in uniform, and if you looked at their stories in each of their lives, there is courage, commitment, and sacrifice that would make us proud. If one of them gets up, none of their stories will be told. What is public opinion across this country? They never see the greatness of those men and women sitting behind General Petraeus. What most of the world sees is not a true representation of America. (2:14)

 

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After sitting here for an hour deciphering what Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) said at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I think I am more confused. I was desperately searching for the reference by Obama about talking to Iran, and finally found it. It is very difficult to figure out what Obama was even talking about. While I was listening to him in person, it was as if he were just saying stuff off of a list that someone told him he had to say. The topics he was randomly throwing in there, which no one else had brought up, were so confusing even General Petraeus didn’t know how to answer his question. Obama attempted to rephrase the question, and then gave up and just gave a miniature speech.

The way Obama spoke is so roundabout, and such a mess, that I think I have an ulcer just from trying to figure out what on earth he said. If this entire piece had been said by someone other than Obama, a presidential candidate, I would not have used one single quote because the entire thing almost makes him sound like he doesn’t have a clue what he is talking about. Although I am sure he most certainly does know what he is talking about, the multitudes of “um, uh, and er” in his speech, along with completely unclear questions for witnesses before the Senate, made it appear otherwise.

At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on “Iraq After the Surge: What Next?” General David Petraeus says if the progress [in Iraq] revolves around al-Qaida regaining lost ground and gaining influence and using that as a base to spread further, [questioned by Senator Richard Lugar, (R-IN)] we will stay after them tenaciously and stay after them every day. We’ve got the forces we need, I believe, and we’ve got our teeth into their jugular and we need to keep it there. (:41)

 

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