Page 6 - Minister Alex Schwengle

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U.S. NEWSSaturday 26 September

New Joint Chiefs chairman facing war, service challenges

President Barack Obama, along with, from left, new Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford ed, combat-hardened offi- they need.
Jr., and Defense Secretary Ash Carter, applaud for retiring Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin cer, took over as Obama’s Obama praised Dempsey
Dempsey during his Armed Forces Full Honors Retirement Ceremony for Dempsey, Friday, Sept. top military adviser in Sep- as a leader who was com-
25, 2015, at Fort Myer in Arlington, Va. tember 2011, as the war mitted to insuring the mili-
in Afghanistan was begin- tary became a more ver-
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) ning to wind down and the satile and responsive force.
last U.S. troops were com- “I chose him because he
LOLITA C. BALDOR sibilities to Marine Gen. Jo- took place during an after- ing out of Iraq. At the time, had the steady hand we
Associated Press seph Dunford, who is taking noon of marching bands, one of his key concerns needed in this moment of
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gen. over at a crucial point, as Irish songs, speeches and was the impending budget transition -- as we tackle
Martin Dempsey stepped tensions surge with Rus- military pomp Friday, under cuts, and how the military emerging threats and sup-
down as the U.S. military’s sia, U.S. troops wage war cloudy skies at a base near services would get leaner port so many of our troops
top officer Friday, after four against militants in Iraq, Washington, with President without harming their read- as they transition to civil-
tumultuous years of war, Syria and Afghanistan, and Barack Obama and other iness for war. ian life,” Obama said. “But
budget cuts and the strains the effort to train and equip senior defense leaders and But times rapidly changed, perhaps most of all, I chose
of combat on a battle- Syrian rebels struggles to military commanders in the as he worked to help an Marty because he’s a
worn force. find a footing. audience. often divided administra- leader you can trust. Marty,
He turned over his respon- The transfer of responsibility Dempsey, a well-respect- tion reach agreements on you’ve always given it to
a number of contentious me straight. I can’t tell you
issues, including the pace how much I’ve appreci-
of the military drawdown in ated your candor and your
Afghanistan, the scope of counsel.”
the military missions in Iraq Dempsey, who keeps a ci-
and Syria, and the types of gar box filled with 132 cards
aid to provide Ukraine in its on his desk identifying each
battle against Russian sep- of the soldiers whose lives
aratists. were lost under his com-
At the same time, Dempsey mand in Iraq, ended his re-
also worked with the mili- marks with the three words
tary services to combat inscribed on the box.
the effects of years at war “It has been my privilege to
onU.S. forces, who have wear the cloth of our na-
seen suicides and sexual tion. To all who will continue
assaults spike, while vet- to serve after me, I ask only
erans struggle to find jobs this in parting,” Dempsey
and get the medical care said. “Make it matter.” q

American negotiator: US ready to discuss Syria with Iran

MATTHEW LEE developments in the Syr- political sensitivities in Iran meets with Russian Foreign naled that Assad could
AP Diplomatic Writer ian conflict. However, she to having these discussions Minister Sergey Lavrov on perhaps be a part of some
WASHINGTON (AP) — The also noted that there is re- and probably some limits Sunday in New York, a day kind of political transition
Obama administration is sistance to the idea within that are real, but it is impor- before President Barack that would lead the forma-
ready to open a dialogue Iran, which, along with tant to engage to the ex- Obama holds talks with tion of a new government.
with Iran about the situa- Russia, is a main supporter tent that we can.” Russian President Vladimir Sherman, who is stepping
tion in Syria, the top U.S. of Syrian President Bashar Kerry and Zarif are also ex- Putin. down from her post next
negotiator for the Iranian Assad. pected to discuss the im- U.S. officials say they are month, echoed that, say-
nuclear deal said on Friday. plementation of the nucle- not certain of Russia’s mo- ing it may be possible for
Under Secretary of State for She said the subject of ar agreement hashed out tives for the military buildup Assad to have a role in a
Political Affairs Wendy Sher- Syria had been raised infor- between Iran, the United but have said they would transition.
man said she expected mally on the sidelines of the States and five other world welcome a positive contri- “We do not think it is cred-
the topic would be on the nuclear negotiations that powers. bution to the fight against ible for Assad to remain for
agenda when Secretary of ended in July but never in The administration has long the Islamic State group that any length of time as the
State John Kerry meets on a structured way. called unsuccessfully for does not bolster Assad. leader of his country,” she
Saturday with Iranian For- “We’ve always been open Iran and Russia to end their The administration had said, adding: “We appreci-
eign Minister Mohammad to having discussions on support for Assad. In recent insisted that Assad must ate that there may be a po-
Javad Zarif at the United the margins as appropri- weeks Russia, in particu- leave power as he has no litical solution here where
Nations. ate,” she said. lar, has built up its military credibility to run the coun- Assad is there for some pe-
Sherman said such a discus- presence in the country. try. Over the past several riod of time in some capac-
sion would “make sense” “Not because we coor- That will be a major topic days, however, officials, ity while a transition takes
in the context of current dinate but we certainly of discussion when Kerry including Kerry, have sig- place.”q
know that there are paral-
lel interests. There are great