Defeating Islamic State Would Requite Attacks in Syria – Dempsey

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey said defeating the Islamic State would not be possible without attacking its fighters in Syria. Gen. Dempsey made his remarks today during a joint news conference with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon.

The Islamic State has reportedly as many as 17,000 fighters who can move across the Iraq-Syria border with impunity, The New York Times said today, quoting U.S. military and civilian officials. U.S. warplanes have conducted 90 airstrikes against IS positions since 8 August, including 20 since they beheaded James Foley, an American journalist.

American officials said that the United States was conducting reconnaissance over Syria, but that attacks by drones or manned strike aircraft on Islamic State positions in Syria had not been ordered. (The New York Times, 21 August)

Other important points covered by Gen. Dempsey and Secretary Hagel at the news conference on Islamic State (IS):

• Hagel: IS is as sophisticated and well-funded as any group that we have seen. They're beyond just a terrorist group.

• Hagel: “Terrorism is not new to the world...sophistication of terrorism and ideology married now with resources presents a whole new dynamic.”

• Hagel: IS poses threats greater than 9/11; “This is beyond anything that we've seen. We must prepare for everything.”

• Hagel: Evidence is clear — IS is barbaric. They are an imminent threat.

• Dempsey: This is an organization that has an apocalyptic vision that will eventually have to be defeated. 

• Hagel and Dempsey: Assad is absolutely part of the problem not the solution to IS in Syria. IS must be defeated in Syria as well as Iraq. 

File photo: An image taken on 9 June 2014 shows Islamic State militants waving their flag on the Syrian-Iraqi border after destroying the berm marking the frontier between the two countries. (AFP)

Hagel Says U.S. Will Not Let Iran Build Nuclear Weapon

U.S. Secretary of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told Israeli leaders on Friday that the U.S. “will do what we must” to prevent Israel’s greatest fear of a nuclear-armed Iran.

“I want to assure you of the United States’ commitment to ensuring Iran does not get a nuclear weapon - and that America will do what we must to live up to that commitment,” Hagel made the pledge in a statement at talks in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (AP, 16 May)

Hagel was wrapping up a four-day Middle East visit that began Tuesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he met with defense ministers from Persian Gulf states. He told those U.S. allies that “under no circumstance” will the U.S. sacrifice their interests in order to make a nuclear deal with Iran.

In Israel, Hagel made a brief visit Thursday to an air base where U.S. and Israeli forces were preparing to begin a missile defense exercise, dubbed “Juniper Cobra,” using computer simulation of potential attack scenarios and post-attack disaster responses.

Photo credit: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin, right, with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. Jeruslem, Friday, 16 May 2014. (Mandel Ngan/Pool/AP)

U.S. Commitment to Middle East Security Enduring – Hagel

The United States has a proven and enduring commitment to Middle East security, backed by diplomatic engagement and a fierce array of warplanes, ships, tanks, artillery and 35,000 troops, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said during a major speech at Manama Dialogue, a regional security forum in Bahrain today.

“We know diplomacy cannot operate in a vacuum,” Hagel said. “Our success will continue to hinge on America's military power, and the credibility of our assurances to our allies and partners in the Middle East.” (Reuters, 7 December)

Hagel's remarks came at a time of heightened uncertainties and tensions in the relationship between Washington and its longtime Gulf Arab partners. Leaders in the region are worried the United States will lose focus on the Middle East.

Hagel said the interim agreement the six major powers reached with Iran over its nuclear program had “not diminished our focus on the challenges posed by Iran.”

“Iran has been a profoundly destabilizing influence, and a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an unacceptable threat to regional and global stability,” Hagel said. (Reuters, 7 December)

Hagel added that the accord “bought time for meaningful negotiation, not for deception” and that U.S. diplomacy would ultimately be backed up by the military commitments and cooperation it has with regional partners.

To underscore the scope of the U.S. security commitment to the region, Hagel outlined the array of American military forces in the area, including more than 35,000 military personnel “in and immediately around the Gulf.” Included in that figure were 10,000 Army soldiers with tanks, artillery and helicopters.

He said the United States has deployed its most advanced fighter aircraft in the region, including the radar-evading F-22.

More than 40 Navy vessels patrol the waters nearby, including an aircraft carrier and its supporting warships, Hagel said. U.S. Navy ships have steamed through the narrow Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the gulf some 50 times in the past six months in the name of ensuring freedom of navigation.

Hagel also cited the United States military facilities in the region, including Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and the combined air operations center in Qatar.

Photo credit: U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (R) meets with United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed in Manama, December 6, 2013.

U.S. Entering Accord with Iran ‘Very Cleared Eyed’ - Hagel

Standing on the massive deck of the Navy's USS Ponce, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the United States is entering the new nuclear pact with Iran “very clear eyed.” Hagel added that it remains to be seen whether Tehran is serious about keeping its nuclear development peaceful.

Referring to the next six months when the interim agreement will be in force, before a final deal could be worked out, Hagel said the time span presents a “very wise opportunity” to gauge Iranian intentions.

“(The next six months) present a very wise opportunity to see if the Iranians are serious about following through with commitments they have said they would make about not developing their nuclear capabilities,” Hagel told a crowd of Navy sailors and civilian mariners on the Ponce, which was docked at the U.S. base in Manama. (AP, 6 December)

“We are not going to change any of our military posture in this area or any part of the world during that six-month period. We will keep the same kind of strong assets, the same exercises, the same partnerships, the same focus on our strategic interests as we did before we entered into this six month period,” Hagel added.

Hagel’s visit to Bahrain comes less than two weeks after six major powers and Iran signed the Geneva agreement, practically freezing parts of Iranian nuclear program in exchange for some relief from sanctions.

The Ponce, which Hagel chose to use as the venue for his speech, was a former amphibious transport ship that was retrofitted to become a floating staging base. Its key ability is to provide a base for special operations forces that can then be quickly deployed into the region.

Navy has concluded that the Ponce has been a successful experiment, and have ordered the construction of four new ones at a projected cost of more than $2.1 billion. The first, called a Mobile Landing Platform, has been delivered to the fleet and the second MLP is under construction. (AP)

Photo credit: U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to military service members aboard the USS Ponce in Manama, Bahrain. Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. (Mark Wilson/Pool/AP) 

Iran Army Warns U.S. of 'Harsh Consequences' over Syria

Iranian armed forces deputy chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri, warned the U.S. of “harsh consequences” if it intervenes in Syria over the chemical attacks.

“If the United States crosses this red line, there will be harsh consequences for the White House,” Gen. Jazayeri said on Sunday. (Fars News Agency, 25 August)

“The terrorist war under way in Syria was planned by the United States and reactionary countries in the region against the resistance front (against Israel),” Jazayeri added. “Despite this, the government and people of Syria have achieved huge successes.Those who add fire to the oil will not escape the vengeance of the people,” he added. (Fars News Agency, 25 August)

Last year, President Barack Obama warned the use of chemical weapons in Syria would cross a “red line” and have “enormous consequences.” Today, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the U.S. military was ready to take action against Syria if ordered by the president.

“President Obama has asked the Defense Department to prepare options for all contingencies. We have done that,” Hagel told reporters in Malaysia. “Again, we are prepared to exercise whatever option, if he decides to employ one of those options,” Hagel added. (AFP, 25 August)

The rebels say Syrian armed forces unleashed a chemical attack Wednesday on areas southwest and east of the capital, killing hundreds of people. Assad’s government denies the accusations, blaming the rebels for the attack.

File photo: Iranian armed forces deputy chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri. (IRNA)

Hagel: Iran Needs to Resolve Concerns on Nuclear Program

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said on Monday that it is imperative that Iran quickly resolves concerns about its nuclear program. Hagel made the comments after meeting with Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Safar Abiyev at the Pentagon.

“Secretary Hagel raised the recent inauguration of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani and reiterated that it is imperative that Iran take quick steps to resolve the international community’s deep concerns over its nuclear program,” said Pentagon Press Secretary George Little. (U.S. Defense Department/AFP, 6 Auguast)

The White House said on Sunday that Iran will find the United States a “willing partner” if Rouhani is prepared for serious talks on its nuclear program. Rouhani answered the call by saying in his first news conference today in Tehran that Iran was ready for swift and substantial talks on the country’s nuclear program.

Photo credit: U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel welcomes Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev to the Pentagon, August 5, 2013. (Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo/DoD)

U.S. Ready to Cooperate with Rouhani - Hagel

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said on Friday that the U.S. is ready to cooperate with Iran's new president if Iran wants so.

“If Iran remains committed to its obligations on nuclear program and cooperates with the United Nations Security Council, it can consider the United States its partner,” said
Hagel. (Radio Farda, 22 June)

Photo credit: U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (Radio Farda)

Kerry Calls Iran Nuclear Talks “Useful”

Calls for Bilateral Talks with Iran

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Iran nuclear talks in Almaty was “useful” and added that if Iran engages seriously it could lead to longer-term, comprehensive agreement. Kerry also said the U.S. is prepared to engage in bilateral discussions with Iran. (Reuters, 27 February)

Note: With Chuck Hagel sworn in as Secretary of Defense earlier this morning, Iran now faces a national security team in Washington that is led by Obama, Kerry and Hagel. If the Iranians ever wanted to resolve their differences with the U.S., this is the best opportunity ever.

The ending of the Almaty talks on a positive note, as reported earlier, and the agreement between Iran and six world powers to meet frequently and soon could indeed be the first steps in ending the nuclear dispute and normalization of relations with Iran.

File photo: Secretary of State John Kerry (left) and Chuck Hagel who was sworn in as Secretary of Defense on 27 February (politico.com)