Abizaid: US could be in Middle East for 50 years

Retired Army General cites rise of Sunni-Shi'ite extremism, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the world economy's dependency on Mideast oil.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
John Abizaid 224.88 (photo credit: AP)
John Abizaid 224.88
(photo credit: AP)
It might take as long as half a century before US troops can leave the volatile Middle East, according to retired Army Gen. John Abizaid. "Over time, we will have to shift the burden of the military fight from our forces directly to regional forces, and we will have to play an indirect role, but we shouldn't assume for even a minute that in the next 25 to 50 years the American military might be able to come home, relax and take it easy, because the strategic situation in the region doesn't seem to show that as being possible," Abizaid said Wednesday at Carnegie Mellon University. The rise of Sunni extremism, burgeoning Shi'ite extremism, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the world economy's dependency on Mideast oil will keep Americans in the Middle East for a long time, he said. "I'm not saying this is a war for oil, but I am saying that oil fuels an awful lot of geopolitical moves that political powers may have there," Abizaid said. "And it is absolutely essential that we in the United States of America figure out how, in the long run, to lessen our dependency on foreign energy." He reiterated comments made in September that the US needs to do a better job of coordinating economic, political and diplomatic means so the conflict can move from a military to a political issue. "I would characterize what we're doing now as 80 percent military, 20% diplomatic, economic, political, educational, informational, intelligence, etc.," Abizaid said. "You've got to take that equation and change it. Make it 80% those other things." Abizaid, who has dubbed the current conflict "The Long War," told The Associated Press in September it will take three to five years before Iraq's government is stable enough to operate on its own. Despite the strain on the armed forces, Abizaid said Wednesday it is important to maintain a professional military without re-establishing a draft.