Gen. Dempsey: Iraq Coordination With Iran ‘Not Impossible’

Pentagon Had Previously Ruled Out Military Coordination

by Jason Ditz,

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey contradicted previous comments from the Pentagon today, saying he believes it is “not impossible” that the US will begin coordinating its military operations in Iraq with Iran.

The Pentagon had previously insisted that there wouldnever be any coordination with Iran, but Gen. Dempsey conceded in today’s interview that there could be situations where, with both sides’ interests coinciding, they could work together.

Gen. Dempsey sought to downplay the significance of this, saying he was clear the US and Iran had different overall interests in Iraq, but the difference realistically seems minimal, with both angling for a situation where a Shi’ite-dominated government remains in power and controlling the entirety of Iraq’s borders.

US officials have suggested previously there were more eager to see Prime Minister Maliki go than Iran was, though Iran’s interest in Maliki has always been in continuing Shi’ite rule, ensuring an ally in Iraq, and all indications are that whoever replaces Maliki will be another Shi’ite, likely one with even closer ties to Iran.

http://news.antiwar.com/2014/06/27/gen-dempsey-iraq-coordination-with-iran-not-impossible/