US General's Three Stunning Admissions In The Mid-East

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    Perhaps the US military is starting to show some resistance to the crazy neocons in the US deep state, including Nikki Haley and Lindsey Graham.


    US CENTCOM Chief Comes Clean: General's Three Stunning Admissions In The Mid-East

    https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018...n-generals-three-stunning-admissions-mid-east

    "The top U.S. general in the Middle East testified before Congress this week and dropped several bombshells: from signalled support for the Iran nuclear deal, admitting the U.S. does not know what Saudi Arabia does with its bombs in Yemen and that Assad has won the Syrian Civil War.


    Iran:

    "U.S. Army General Joseph Votel said the Iran agreement, which President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw from, has played an important role in addressing Iran's nuclear program. JCPOA, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is the formal name of the accord reached with Iran in July 2015 in Vienna.

    ""There would be some concern (in the region), I think, about how we intended to address that particular threat if it was not being addressed through the JCPOA. ... Right now, I think it is in our interest" to stay in the deal, Votel said.

    When a lawmaker asked whether he agreed with Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford's position on the deal,  Votel said: "Yes, I share their position."


    "Iran has stayed within the deal’s restrictions since Trump took office but has fired diplomatic warning shots at Washington in recent weeks. It said on Monday that it could rapidly enrich uranium to a higher degree of purity if the deal collapsed."


    Syria:

    "Votel also discussed the situation in Syria at the hearing.

    "During the Syrian army's offensive in eastern Ghouta, more than 1,100 civilians have died. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, backed by Russia and Iran, say they are targeting "terrorist" groups shelling the capital.

    "U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned on Monday that Washington "remains prepared to act if we must," if the U.N. Security Council failed to act on Syria.

    "Votel said the best way to deter Russia, which backs Assad, was through political and diplomatic channels.

    "Republican Senator Lindsey Graham asked whether it was too strong to say that with Russia and Iran's help, Assad had "won" the civil war in Syria.

    "I do not think that is too strong of a statement," Votel said.

    "Graham also asked if the United States' policy on Syria was still to seek the removal of Assad from power.

    "I don't know that that's our particular policy at this particular point. Our focus remains on the defeat of ISIS," Votel said, using an acronym for Islamic State.


    Saudi Arabia:

    "In a stunning exchange with Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, Votel admitted that Centcom doesn't know where U.S. fuel and munitions are used in Yemen.

    "General Votel, does CENTCOM track the purpose of the missions it is refueling? In other words, where a U.S.-refueled aircraft is going, what targets it strikes, and the result of the mission?” Warren asked.

    “Senator, we do not,” Votel replied.

    The Senator followed up, citing reports that U.S. munitions have been used against civilians in Yemen, she asked, “General Votel, when you receive reports like this from credible media organizations or outside observers, is CENTCOM able to tell if U.S. fuel or U.S. munitions were used in that strike?

    “No, senator, I don’t believe we are,” he replied.

    "Showing surprise at the general's response, Warren concluded, “We need to be clear about this: Saudi Arabia’s the one receiving American weapons and American support. And that means we bear some responsibility here. And that means we need to hold our partners and our allies accountable for how those resources are used,” she said."
 
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