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David Petraeus: Iran more of a threat than the Islamic State

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David PetraeusFormer CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus says the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is not the biggest threat facing the United States in Iraq.

“In fact, I would argue that the foremost threat to Iraq’s long-term stability and the broader regional equilibrium is not the Islamic State; rather, it is Shiite militias, many backed by — and some guided by — Iran,” Petraeus said in written comments to The Washington Post’s Beirut bureau chief, Liz Sly.

The Iranian regime “is ultimately part of the problem, not the solution” to the region’s issues, Petraeus said.

The retired general offered his take on the situation, saying that Iraq needs “all of the elements” that were a part of the counterinsurgency campaign during the troop surge in 2007 and 2008. He cautioned that merely pushing ISIL out of Iraq could make the Iranian-backed militias the most powerful force in the country, which he said would be harmful to regional U.S. interests.

Petraeus said he has “several thoughts” on Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani being in Iraq, but most of them “probably aren’t suitable for publication in a family newspaper like yours.”

Qassem Suleimani , the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards elite the Quds Force, has been described by the intelligence community as the “most powerful operative in the Middle East today and the sole Iranian authority on Iraq.” He has been organizing Iraqi forces and have become the de facto leader of Iraqi Shiite militias that are the backbone of the fight. He was reportedly injured earlier this year in Samara and was flown for treatment in Tehran but returned earlier this month to lead the battle for retaking Tikrit , Saddam Hussein's hometown, from Islamic State
Qassem Suleimani , the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards elite the Quds Force, has been described by the intelligence community as the “most powerful operative in the Middle East today and the sole Iranian authority on Iraq.” He has been organizing Iraqi forces and have become the de facto leader of Iraqi Shiite militias that are the backbone of the fight. He was reportedly injured earlier this year in Samara and was flown for treatment in Tehran but returned earlier this month to lead the battle for retaking Tikrit , Saddam Hussein’s hometown, from Islamic State

“What I will say is that he is very capable and resourceful individual, a worthy adversary,” he added. “He has played his hand well. But this is a long game, so let’s see how events transpire.”

The White House confirmed Monday that the administration is consulting Petraeus for advice on how to deal with threats posed by ISIL, despite his recent admission that he shared classified information with his mistress.

“He is, I think, legitimately regarded as an expert, when it comes to the security situation in Iraq,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. “So I think it makes a lot of sense for senior administration officials to, on occasion, consult him for advice.”

Petraeus, who served as commander during the Iraq troop surge, visited the country last week for the first time in more than three years to attend the Sulaimani Forum, in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The former general also expressed concern for the situation in Syria, which he called “a geopolitical Chernobyl.”

“Until it is capped, it is going to continue to spew radioactive instability and extremist ideology over the entire region,” he warned.

Politico

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17 responses to “David Petraeus: Iran more of a threat than the Islamic State”

  1. arzatna1 Avatar
    arzatna1

    The Kurdish leader said it first
    I think the US should let Iran and ISIL fight on their own without any help ( no airstrikes )
    This way we could hit 2 birds with one stone
    The world and the entire region will be better off without these 2 evils

    1. Caribbean Avatar
      Caribbean

      2 birds with one stone? Isis against Iran? Israel with all the high-tech weapons can’t challenge Iran in the ring, how the hell Isis can step in the ring with mighty Iran

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Maybe ‘The Supremes’ of Iran were using these … similar to the ‘blog-site-killers’, I’m sure.
    http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Mar-20/291571-half-ton-of-radioactive-maxi-pads-seized-at-beirut-airport.ashx

    1. spactataor Avatar
      spactataor

      is this a call to arms? are you informing your fellow hasbaras here to go there and make pro Israeli comments commander 5th?. is it like calling the cavalry to save the day there because they’re killing you at that site???

    2. spactataor Avatar
      spactataor

      @5th; Rudy up there needs your help in locating the sea of foam in the great state using the god theory for clues.

  3. Reasonableman Avatar
    Reasonableman

    Too bad. Hezballah and iran have been removed from the list of terrorist organisation by the USA.
    If you didn’t already know, that means USA has given the green light for the cards to be played.
    As for these sanctions, they may have worked in iraq but with a black market as big as irans its a big miss.

    In the west you have a free pass to fight for the pkk(listed as a terrorist organisation) if you are a whiteman and it doesn’t matter even government officials can join them against IS or against anyone selective to pose a threat (and it doesnt have to be a security threat).

    So we will soon see it NORMAL to join groups like hezballah and the quds and dissolved iraqi army. Even though The USA has been submitted sufficient evidence that these groups are just as if not more malicious as IS.

    The aim is to cause instability, as terrorists groups like the USA thrive off it.

    1. wargame1 Avatar
      wargame1

      Iran is playing the ISIS card . Their ultimate goal is to capture those areas which fall to the sunni rebel hand before those Daesh dogs even came in. The idea is to let the Daesh dogs go inside and then it will be used by Iran as a pretext to capture those land. I hope the sunni resistance regroup themselves free from those Daesh dogs.

      1. Reasonableman Avatar
        Reasonableman

        InshaAllah the fighting stops soon.

        On a side note, you will find this video interesting.
        https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p8zmeZ7fAaQ

        Abu bassir at tartusi requests aljowlani to leave AQ.

        1. wargame1 Avatar
          wargame1

          Very good argument from this person. Great video.

      2. kirEis Avatar
        kirEis

        Old shit game only the players change. Shits are worse than snakes!

        1. wargame1 Avatar
          wargame1

          David Petraeus could break the code of Taqqiyah as he was there for some period and he understands the game very well.

  4. Fauzia45 Avatar
    Fauzia45

    The biggest threat are all these militant extreme sectarian militias and their masters!!!!!

  5. spactataor Avatar
    spactataor

    And between Iran and Israel, who is the bigger threat? I say Israel, Israel is will and always will be enemy # 1

  6. spactataor Avatar
    spactataor

    This page is controlled by Ziovermin Hasbarat trolling shills. wow never have I seen so many Zionist commentators on one article, it looks like rats on a piece of cheese. Mention Iran, and the ZIOVermin are all over the article, as If Israel is remotely better than Iran.both religious states one shia, one Jewish. same policies same hopes for domination. both killers both a major destructive power. the Zionists love to bash Iran and make them seem as if they’re helll bent on destroying the region, forgetting that they’re just as horrible if not more.

    1. Rudy1947 Avatar
      Rudy1947

      Iran is not hëll bent on destroying the region, just controlling it a little at a time.

      1. spactataor Avatar
        spactataor

        well it aint happening my ZioVermin. someone is in the waiting mode for you . fingers ready at the trigger. i guess you didn;t learn your lessons well.

      2. spactataor Avatar
        spactataor

        same turd cut in half

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