EGYPT: General David Petraeus, says in Egypt that Iran's rhetoric and activities in the region are encouraging Arab military cooperation with the U.S

Record ID: 1532042

  • Title: EGYPT: General David Petraeus, says in Egypt that Iran's rhetoric and activities in the region are encouraging Arab military cooperation with the U.S
  • Date: 17th June 2009
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JUNE 29, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EGYPTIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE VARIOUS OF PHOTO OP OF EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK MEETING WITH THE COMMANDER OF US CENTRAL COMMAND, GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS PETRAEUS ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM US EMBASSY STAFF AND US MILITARY OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (English) THE COMMANDER OF US CENTRAL COMMAND, GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS, SAYING: "And if anything, frankly, I think we have seen more cooperation and more interest in these different programs in part because of the activities of Iran, because of its rhetoric and because of its actions. You heard General Odierno yesterday in Iraq note that Iran has continued to arm, train, fund and equip and to direct the actions of some extremist elements inside Iraq that do continue to cause security problems for the land of the two rivers." PETRAEUS ON PODIUM 7 (SOUNDBITE) (English) THE COMMANDER OF US CENTRAL COMMAND, GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS, SAYING: "Certainly there is concern with the increase in these sensational attacks, where there have been major loss of life. But in general, again the level of attacks has been in that band of between 10 and fifteen and we believe that that will continue." PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) THE COMMANDER OF US CENTRAL COMMAND, GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS, SAYING: "We are in the process of more than doubling the number of our forces on the ground, more than doubling the number of helicopters, providing additional again, enablers, unmanned aircraft and so forth. We are also substantially increasing the number of civilians that we have on the ground. So if you will, there is a political surge that is going to match the military surge, and of course there are also between five and ten thousand additional non-US NATO forces that will also be going into the country. That should be adequate to help the Afghan forces secure the elections on 20 August, to begin the process of stopping the spiral downward in security and then begin to improve security in those areas in which the country has been particularly challenged." VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE AS PETRAEUS SAYS 'SHUKRAN' (GOODBYE IN ARABIC) PETRAEUS LEAVING ROOM
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2009 15:11
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA5IHM2UMUEI4I5QWILQ2EN0RV8
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The commander of U.S. Central Command said on Monday (June 29) during a visit to Cairo that Iran's rhetoric and activities in the region are encouraging the Arab states to increase their military cooperation with the United States.
    General David Petraeus, who is in charge of U.S. military forces in the greater Middle East and Central Asia, which includes Iraq and Afghanistan, held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and other officials a day after visiting Pakistan which is in the midst of an intense border war with the Taliban.
    Speaking to reporters after meeting Mubarak, Petraeus said that Iran's actions had encouraged the United State's regional allies to boost their military cooperation with the US.
    "If anything, frankly, I think we have seen more cooperation and more interest in these different programs in part because of the activities of Iran, because of its rhetoric and because of its actions. You heard General Odierno yesterday in Iraq note that Iran has continued to arm, train, fund and equip and to direct the actions of some extremist elements inside Iraq that do continue to cause security problems for the land of the two rivers," the U.S. general said.
    Petraeus also said that recent attacks by insurgents in Iraq, which have killed dozens in recent weeks, were worrying but that there was an overall decrease in levels of violence.
    "Certainly there is concern with the increase in these sensational attacks, where there have been major loss of life. But in general, again the level of attacks has been in that band of between 10 and fifteen and we believe that that will continue," he said, noting that there had been upward of 100 attacks a day until recent months.
    U.S. combat troops are scheduled to withdraw from Iraqi urban centres on Tuesday (June 30).
    Addressing the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, General Petraeus said that he hoped what he called the "downward spiral", could be stopped by a planned surge in the U.S. military and civilian presence in the country.
    "We are in the process of more than doubling the number of our forces on the ground, more than doubling the number of helicopters, providing additional again, enablers, unmanned aircraft and so forth. We are also substantially increasing the number of civilians that we have on the ground. So if you will, there is a political surge that is going to match the military surge, and of course there are also between five and ten thousand additional non-US NATO forces that will also be going into the country. That should be adequate to help the Afghan forces secure the elections on 20 August, to begin the process of stopping the spiral downward in security and then begin to improve security in those areas in which the country has been particularly challenged," he said.
    The August 20 vote in Afghanistan is seen as a crucial moment for Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government and for Washington, which is sending thousands of extra troops this year as part of President Barack Obama's new regional strategy to defeat al Qaeda and stabilise Afghanistan.
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