No military solution to Iraq, U.S. general says
Pastor Dale Morgan
No military solution to Iraq, U.S. general says*
POSTED: 1753 GMT (0153 HKT), March 8, 2007
Story Highlights
• No military solution to violence without political action, says U.S.
commander
• Gen. David Petraeus says no immediate need to request more U.S. troops
• Peace prospects depend on political talks involving militant groups,
Petraeus says
• Petraeus gives first news conference in Iraq since taking command last
month
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The new commander of U.S. troops in Iraq has
warned that military force alone will not be enough to quell the
country's violent insurgency.
Speaking publicly Thursday for the first time since taking charge in
Baghdad last month, Gen. David Petraeus said military action was
necessary to improve security in Iraq but "not sufficient" to end
violence altogether.
"There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to the
insurgency of Iraq," Petraeus told a news conference, adding that
political negotiations were crucial to forging any lasting peace.
Petraeus said talks should include "some of those who have felt the new
Iraq did not have a place for them," and said a key challenge facing
Iraq's government was to identify "reconcilable" militant groups and
bring them inside the political process.
Petraeus took charge of the 140,000-strong U.S. force in Iraq last
month. Since a successful invasion in 2003, which quickly overthrew
Saddam Hussein's regime, U.S. forces have become bogged down by a
combination of attacks by terrorist groups such as al Qaeda in Iraq and
bloody sectarian fighting between Sunni and Shiite Iraqis.
On Thursday Petraeus said he saw no need to bolster troop numbers beyond
reinforcements announced by the White House for a renewed effort to
improve security in Baghdad and Anbar province. But he warned those
troops committed to the campaign would likely remain in place "beyond
the summer."
"This endeavor will take months -- not days or weeks to implement," he said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday announced plans to send
almost 5,000 additional troops to Iraq to serve as military police,
bringing the planned "surge" to 26,000.
"Right now we do not see other requests (for troops) looming out there.
That's not to say that some emerging mission or emerging task will not
require that, and if it does then we will ask for that," Petraeus said.
Democratic leaders in Congress have criticized the Bush administration's
decision to send extra troops to Iraq and called on the White House to
announce a timetable for American withdrawal. (Full story)
Iraqi civilian safety would be a top priority during the security
crackdown, Petraeus said, warning that militants had sought to intensify
sectarian violence in anticipation of the U.S.-led security crackdown.
"As citizens feel safer, conditions will be set for the resumption and
improvement of basic services," Petraeus said.
Petraeus' concerns about civilian safety come amidst a week filled with
bloody attacks meted against Shiite pilgrims by militants he called
"thugs with no soul."
More than 170 have been killed and nearly 300 wounded while making a
religious journey -- many by foot -- to the holy city of Karbala to
celebrate the holy day of Arbayeen, which falls on Saturday.