One of the most interesting bits of news to come out over the weekend was this report by Mark Perry, at Foreign Policy, that Gen. David Petraeus put in a request to Joint Chiefs chair Adm. Mike Mullen that his Central Command (CENTCOM), take over responsibility for the Palestinian occupied territories in the West Bank and Gaza. Those areas, along with the entire Levant, fall under EUCOM. Petraeus was frustrated by the U.S. inability to make any progress on what is the major flashpoint for Arab anger, the Israeli-Palestinian issue, when his constituency is predominantly Arab, says Perry.
CNAS’s Levant expert, Andrew Exum, for one, says such a move makes eminent sense from a strategy perspective, “it doesn’t make sense to decouple what’s going on with respect to the Middle East Peace Process and the command in charge of the Middle East.” But he also highlights some of the difficulties such a move would entail: “What is the optic we send when a senior commander of U.S. troops in the region makes a visit to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt… and then caps his trip off with a visit to Israel?” He notes EUCOM would vigorously resist the move as a further dilution of its already wan influence.
Petraeus testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee this morning on the CENTCOM budget request. Hopefully there will be at least one Senator of curious mind present who might compel the general to explain his thinking on the matter and publicly make the case for why such a move makes strategic sense.
Update: Well, Petraeus touched on the Israel-Palestinian issue in response to a question from Sen. John McCain, and it was a bit of a punt. He said at “various times” CENTCOM “staff members” have discussed asking that the Palestinian territories be included in the CENTCOM AO, although he himself has never made a formal request to the White House for such a change. He did call for some signs of progress in the peace process as it would make his job easier.
– Greg
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Maybe he will bring up how Israel spies on the US almost as much as Chine and Russia do. Oh yea, we can't mention that. No body has any balls anymore ….
There are very few socially redeeming qualities to growing older but one is that I remember things others may not. I recall reading through a book with a photo of the Okla American Terrorist bombed building with out doubt the building until I put on my glasses and saw it was the British Building in Israel. It seems that the British were supposed to keep the peace in the area and the Israelis sent letter bombs and blew the fingers off the British secretaries and finally blew up their entire headquarters. The whole front of the building was gone;
The problem is that the American Jewish community is hard right while in Israel there is a respectable group that seem willing to consider a 2 state system and our Congress is totally with out power to even mention that problem in any meaningful way for fear of irritating the incredibility powerful American Jewish Lobby in Congress .
You are senile. The British had no right to control the Jewish homeland as defined by the League of Nations. Israel will never allow a Fakestinian state because the Fakestinians are not a real people and don't need or want a country. They just want to exterminate every Jew in Israel. No matter what the imbecile , incompetent Paetraus believes, he obviously is too stupid to realize there cannot be 2 states since the Arabs only what all Jews out of the Middle East. This is not about real estate. All you dense people, think if Israel doesn't build some apartments there will be peace. How stupid can you be? The Fakestinians want only one think : genocide. It's too bad the fact Jews will not commit suicide inconveniences the incompetent Patreaus.
After reading the bile by "jaythehistorian", who is obviously an Israeli and clearly a "priviliged" Israeli rather than an Arab one.
And this is what we think are America's allies? From the very first statement of our American Constitution, where it is acknowledged that all men were created equal, and every word thereafter, up to and including it's very last sentence, our American Constitution stands in proud contradiction to everything which the state of Israel represents.
American Israelis, with two passports, but who prefer to serve in Israel,s military rather than in their own country, are traitors, and should be stripped of their US citizenship.
And "jaythehistorian", you zionist lot indoctrinate yourself into a frenzy until you all end up believing that Zionist mythology that the whole world wants to destroy Israel – the truth is Israel wants to destroy Palestine and the USA is finally listening to people like Petreaus and coming out of it's slumber.
And who exactly are you to determine whether the Palestinians are a people and what they want? Comments like that, and the sorry reasoning behind it are what is going to contribute to the Middle East burning for many, many generations to come.
That is to noones advantage regardless of their religion.
Reason. There is no reason to be found with irrational individuals. That being said, I see no reason the US should subsidize either side. Nor why whille pete needs to be employed in civilian areas.
Does petraeus think he is better soldier than Israeli one? what a big mistake!!!
trying to confront israel military like that way is really stupid.look IDF had always finished its wars not US .IDF special services had reached their goals when in operation not US one!!!! look Osma is still in the run despite the fact US got a real occasion to catch or to kill him!!!!
Another person who mistakenly believes there is something honorable about Israel – landouzy, Israel got a really good hiding from Hezbollah just the other day, a really really good hiding, which is why AIPAC are trying to hoodwink our Congess into fighting more of their wars for them. (think Iran)
As Petreaus says, "I am not for sale" and it is time we stopped fighting Israel's wars and brought our boys and girls safely back home.
And yes, Petreaus is a better soldier than anything you lot have ever produced, hell, even our most lowly footsoldiers are a superior calibre to your lot whoi have become accostomed to fighting 6 month old babies and nursing mothers.
Gentlemen,from a strictly military perspective, any US/UN/Coalition action in the land of israel, or against israel, will be coordinated through CENTCOM. Sort of what happened during operation Desrt Shield/ Storm all in the name of peace in the middle east
Why is that the angriest bloggers – swearing, lots of !!!'s – are also the ones who cannot spell?
No problem if US with Obama and petraeus want to try confront IDF militarily.It will be a disaster for them.Desert shield/Storm would not happened if Saddam pushed from Saudia or prevented US building its forces !!!
Don't push your luck landouzy, and I sincerely hope you are not one of those US citizens with an Israeli passport. Why is it you lot all want US citizenship but will support only Israel?
If it were any other country it would be considered treason.
Chosen? I don't think so!
of course it will be a disaster! however, that fact wont prevent the current US Administration from attempting it
Here is a man who has not been bought by our Congress.
General, bon chance! and may the wind be always at your back.
You will never walk alone because every true American walks proudly with you!
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of course it will be a disaster! however, that fact wont prevent the current US Administration from attempting it