Middle Eastern Security Challenges for Our New President

After spending years serving in the Middle East, retired Gen. John Abizaid took a few hours Wednesday night to discuss security challenges in the region with about 150 students, professors and community members at Avaya Auditorium at the University of Texas. Abizaid emphasized four strategic issues: the rise of Sunni Islamic extremism, Shiites in Iran, the Arab/Israeli conflict and the world's reliance on oil. "It's clear that the next president will have to deal with this part of the world," said Abizaid, who served 34 years in the military. "The issue is how do we stay there and shape the outcome." By preventing extremist movements from gaining power and by bridging the cultural gap, Abizaid said, many conflicts could be avoided. "The vast majority of Muslims don't want extremists to win," he said. "We must demand Muslim countries become more accountable to their people ... count on them wanting to resist." Abizaid also addressed the Arab/Israeli conflict, saying that past U.S. presidents have left that conflict to the end of their presidencies and often run out of time to fully pursue the situation, something he said he hopes won't occur with Barack Obama's presidency. A question-and-answer session was open to the audience. Abizaid also mingled with the group, even chatting with a student in Arabic. Abizaid was the longest-serving commander of the U.S. Central Command, the command responsible for overseeing U.S. military operations in the area, including Iraq and Afghanistan. He held the post from 2003 to 2007. Abizaid, whose family is from Lebanon, served in the combat zones of Grenada, Lebanon, Kurdistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. He retired in May 2007. He's still optimistic about the future. "A lot of people have come to the conclusion we're already in World War III," Abizaid said. "I don't share that conclusion."