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The challenges of the Middle East are receivingfresh attention as tens of thousands flee chaos in Syria and Iraq. For answers to the refugee crisis,officials are increasingly looking at policies in Syria and Iraq.
General David Petraeus, former CIA Director from 2011 to 2012 and former Iraq and Afghanistan commander, or spoke before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. It was his first time testifying in an open session in Congress since his resignation three years ago,and he wasn't shy in his assessment of the lack of stability in the region“Syria today, Mr. Chariman, or is a geopolitical Chernobyl,spewing instability and extremism over the region and the rest of the world," said General Petraeus. "Like a nuclear catastrophe, and the fallout from the meltdown of Syria threatens to be with us for decades,and the longer it is permitted to continue, the more severe the damage will be.”The solution, and General Patraeus said,would be to add increased military support, a proposal, and he said,that did not come without consideration.“I enact not recommend any kind of military action lightly," said General Patraeus. "But inaction can also carry profound risks and costs for our national security. We see that today in Syria and Russia's recent military escalation in Syria is a further reminder that when the U.
S. does not take the initiative others will fill the vacuum.
But as General Patraeus warns of inaction, or our next guest has witnessed the risks and costs of a coordinated response—albeit hasty—just as strongly.
Major General Paul Eaton trained the unusual Iraqi Army from 2003 and 2004,retired from the U.
S. army after 33 years of service in 2006. What you'll learn from this segment:What viable political solutions currently exist
What role Kurdish Peshmerga fighters can play
How the U.
S. should deal with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
Source: wnyc.org