Gen. Dempsey on
Iraqi Crisis
In
an interview today with All Things Considered,
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iranian goals
in Iraq are not going to be “completely aligned” with those of the U.S., and “we're
very clear about that.”
“We will
look at Iran with a cold eye on where and when we may need to operate in the
same space and toward what is potentially the same goal of countering the ISIL.
“I'm not
predicting that it's entirely impossible that we would at any point act
collaboratively with Iran...But there's a long way to go between here and
there, in my judgment,” Gen. Dempsey said. (NPR, 27 June)
Dempsey also
said the primary goal of the U.S. assessment team sent to Iraq was to determine
if the Iraqi security forces “can be a credible partner moving forward.” He
added that the team of advisors needs to “get a look under the hood” of the
Iraqi security forces to determine if they “remain committed to national unity,
[what is] the sectarian makeup ... and the morale of the force, as well as
understanding what capabilities, weapon systems, ammunition, etc., they have.”
“We're
flying a great deal [of] manned and unmanned ... intelligence and
reconnaissance assets, and we're building a picture so that if the decision
were made to support the Iraqi security forces as they confront [ISIL], we
could do so," Dempsey added.
He
nonetheless expressed concern that the U.S. not operating in a way as “taking
one side or another,” referring to Shia and Sunni adversaries.
“Then ...
with Iraq, if it chooses to establish this national unity government," he
said, "we will be deliberating on how to push back [ISIL] and take steps to
lead to its eventual defeat.” Dempsey said.
File photo: Joint Chief of
Staff General Martin Dempsey at a news conference at the Pentagon, December
2013. (NPR)
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