War Hawk Petraeus Comes Out Of Retirement to Recommend Pouring Fuel on Syria's Fire

[unhappycamper]

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/09/23/war-hawk-petraeus-comes-out-retirement-recommend-pouring-fuel-syrias-fire



Observers say former general's prescription would require tens of thousands of troops and lead to full-scale war

War Hawk Petraeus Comes Out Of Retirement to Recommend Pouring Fuel on Syria's Fire
Sarah Lazare, staff writer
Wednesday, September 23, 2015

As the Obama administration's policies of regime change and armed intervention in Syria flounder, the retired general who oversaw the failed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan added his voice to the hawkish chorus calling for even more aggressive bombing and military action as he testified before lawmakers on Tuesday.

Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee, David Petraeus called for the U.S. and allies to use their air forces to create a "safe haven" in Syria for "moderate" rebels. Going further, he urged the U.S. to use military force to stop the air-launching of barrel bombs by the Assad regime, while simultaneously increasing attacks on ISIS.

"It is frequently said that there is no military solution to Syria or the other conflicts roiling the Middle East," said Petraeus. "This may be true, but it is also misleading. For, in every case, if there is to be any hope of a political settlement, a certain military and security context is required, and that context will not materialize on its own. We and our partners need to facilitate it—and over the past four years, we have not done so."

But expert critics note that the "military context" that Petraeus advocates for amounts to a dramatic and long-term escalation.

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War
Edwin Starr

War, huh yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, oh hoh, oh
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Absolutely nothing, listen to me

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'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
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When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives

I said
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What is it good for?
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