David Petraeus
David Petraeus
David Howell Petraeus AOis a retired American military officer and public official. He served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from September 6, 2011, until his resignation on November 9, 2012. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus was a highly decorated four-star general, serving over 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander of the International Security Assistance Forceand Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistanfrom July 4, 2010, to...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionWar Hero
Date of Birth7 November 1952
CountryUnited States of America
David Petraeus quotes about
Iran, as we have already discussed, has carried out very, very harmful activities inside Iraq. Funding, trainings, arming and, in some cases, even directing the activities of the special groups associated with the Jaish al-Mahdi and the Sadr Militia.
People often ask, why aren't you reading about what it is you're working on right now? And the truth is, you only get three pages a night before your eyelids close.
Reconciliation is what takes place, of course, at higher levels. President Karzai has been very clear about the red lines for reconciliation, accept the constitution, lay down their weapons, cut their ties with al Qaeda and essentially become productive or at least participating members of society in that regard.
The progress in Iraq is still fragile. And it could still be reversed. Iraq still faces innumerable challenges, and they will be evident during what will likely be a difficult process as the newly elected Council of Representatives selects the next prime minister, president, and speaker of the council.
The fact is that Iran doesn't want to see the Taliban come back any more than do most Afghan citizens.
I'm living the dream.
I am not a politician, and I will never be, and I say that with absolute conviction.
I think no commander ever is going to come out and say, 'I'm confident that we can do this.
This cannot be the United States being the air force for Shia militias, or a Shia on Sunni Arab fight.
The president and I sat down in the Oval Office, and he expressed very clearly that what he wants from me is my best professional military advice.
I just don't know whether it was all destroyed years ago - I mean, there's no question that there were chemical weapons years ago - whether they were destroyed right before the war, (or) whether they're still hidden.
There is no military solution to the challenges of Syria.
If you don't want to have to kill or capture every bad guy in the country, you have to reintegrate those who are willing to be reconciled and become part of the solution instead of a continued part of the problem. And then, above all, the resources.
Every civilian's death diminishes us, collectively.