New CENTCOM Chief: Stop All This War Talk

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Just so he didn’t feel left out, Admiral Bill Fallon, the incoming head of U.S. Central Command, gave an interview to the Associated Press telling the press to stop talking about a possible war with Iran:

“Some in the world are talking some fear of alleged imminent attack by the U.S. on Iran,” Fallon said. It “serves no good purpose, (is) unhelpful, distracting and just serving to up the ante of fear and uncertainty.” …

Fallon reiterated U.S. allegations that Iran is responsible for supporting some of the violence in Iraq. But he expressed hope Tehran would change course and start to play a constructive role.

“Of significant note, I believe, is the role that Iran is playing directly or indirectly, in fomenting, perpetuating, instability inside Iraq,” Fallon said.

Fallon said he believed Iran could help lower violence in Iraq and Afghanistan – countries on either side of Tehran’s borders – but he hadn’t yet seen any sign Iran was willing to lend its assistance.

“I believe that Iran could and should be playing a significant part. How that comes about remains to be seen,” Fallon said. “But the idea that we have yet another conflict in this region strikes me as not where we want to go, and not what we want to be engaged in.”

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