NATO's Former Commander Warns Of A Wider Religious War In The Middle East

Photo: Ret. Admiral James G. Stavridis, U.S. Navy. Wikipedia

Former NATO Commander Warns Of Wider War In Middle East -- Stars and Stripes

NATO’s former top military commander has warned that the widening sectarian conflict in Syria and Iraq could engulf a broader region in the Middle East, just as the religious wars in Europe did in the 16th and 17th centuries.

James Stavridis, who served as the alliance’s supreme commander until last year, said that although Syria and Iraq are the flashpoints of the conflict at the moment, Lebanon and other nearby nations could easily be sucked into a war. He said the conflicts present a direct security threat to Europe as well.

“I worry deeply about the potential for this Sunni-Shia conflict to widen into a truly regional war,” Stavridis said.

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My Comment: His analysis is probably right. The trend in the Middle East is to restart the Sunni-Shiite conflicts of old .... the only difference is that today's wars will be fought with far more dangerous and lethal weapons.

Pentagon To Show Softer Side To The World

SMART POWER: Adm. James Stavridis, picked to head US European Command, is known for combining diplomatic and military tactics. Miguel Angel Alvarez/Notimex/Newscom

From The Christian Science Monitor:

Gates picks an admiral with diplomatic skills to command US troops in Europe.

Washington - After seven years of war, American foreign policy has become nearly synonymous with the brawny side of its military. But the US armed forces may now be moving to show a different face to the world.

Last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates recommended an admiral better known for humanitarian and diplomatic initiatives than for muscle-flexing to assume a critical command post in Europe.

Adm. James Stavridis is an unusual choice to fill a job usually held by the Army. In his two years overseeing US military operations in South and Latin America, he has built a reputation for running a different kind of command – deploying hospital ships and soccer teams while contending with drug trafficking and corruption.

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My Comment: I would prefer a General Patton at the helm .... but that's just me.