Troops in Iraq blunt Iran's ambitions in the region

AP:

Army Gen. David Petraeus, who is to assume control of U.S. forces in the Middle East, says that a continued U.S. presence in Iraq is more likely to blunt, rather than inflame, Iran's growing influence in the region.

In a 46-page question-and-answer document submitted in advance of his confirmation hearing on Thursday, Petraeus says the U.S. must work on developing more leverage — primarily diplomatic or economic — to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear program. But, he notes, the U.S. must retain military strike options as a "last resort."

"A destabilized Iraq, rampant terrorism in the region and a nuclear-armed Middle East are not in any nation's long-term interest, including Iran's," according to the document, obtained by The Associated Press.

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When asked by the Senate panel whether a lengthy deployment in Iraq only strengthens Iran's influence in the region, Petraeus responded that the opposite was true. It "has the potential to counter malign Iranian influence against the government of Iraq, build common cause in the region and expose the extent of malign Iranian activities to the world," he wrote.

In his response to committee questions, Odierno said the greatest threat to stability in Iraq was the struggle for power among feuding sectarian groups, as well as meddling by Iran and al-Qaida.

"As U.S. forces in theater draw down, we must ensure that malign influences are unable to re-establish themselves through violence," Odierno wrote.

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Both of these guys will be the smartest person in the room when they give their testimony, yet they will patiently answer the inane questions of posturing know nothing senators most of which have been dead wrong about Iraq for the past year. Hopefully, these senators will be wise enough to listen to what the generals say and confirm them without delay.