Petraeus to Ashkenazi: I never said Israeli policy endangers U.S.

[Jefferson23]

Commander of the U.S. Military's Central Command Gen. David Petraeus phoned his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, this week to deny reports that he had blamed Israeli policy for the failure in a regional solution and for endangering U.S. interests.

Earlier this month, Petraeus warned the Pentagon that "America's relationship with Israel is important, but not as important as the lives of America's soldiers," in a posting on the Foreign Policy Web site.

In a 56-page report, the Central Command had written: "The enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbors present distinct challenges to our ability to advance our interests," the CENTCOM report read.


Petraeus told reporters on Thursday that the report ? which he claimed had been taken out of context - had been drafted because: "We noted in there that there was a perception at times that America sides with Israel and so forth. And I mean, that is a perception. It is there. I don't think that's disputable."


"But I think people inferred from what that said and then repeated it a couple of times and bloggers picked it up and spun it," he added. "And I think that has been unhelpful, frankly."

Responding to questions regarding that report, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warned that the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict gave enemies of the two allies the opportunity to "exploit" the lack of a political settlement.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159165.html

[BunkerHill24]

1. Petraeus: Sorry I said it. I'll never , ever say something like that again, Okey? Sorry!

[Jefferson23]

3. Nothing in the report has changed, not one word.

[Purveyor]

2. Well if he didn't, he damn well should have. eom