June 28, 2009
Posted: June 28th, 2009 02:38 PM ET


(CNN) - Despite some high-profile bombings in recent days, Iraq's security forces are ready to take over for U.S. forces this week to stabilize the nation's major cities, the U.S. commander in Iraq told CNN on Sunday.

Army Gen. Ray Odierno said he's seen a "constant improvement" in both the security situation and governance in Iraq to prepare for the June 30 deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw from major cities.

"They've been working for this for a long time," Odierno said on CNN's "State of the Union."

In a separate interview on "Fox News Sunday," Odierno said all U.S. troops already were out of Iraq's major cities before Tuesday's deadline.

"We have already moved out of the cities," Odierno said. "We've been slowly doing it over the last eight months. And the final units have moved out of the cities over the last several weeks."

The shift is part of the security agreement that former President George W. Bush's administration signed with Iraq.

In the CNN interview, Odierno blamed the recent violence in Iraq on "extremist elements using the timeframe and date to gain attention to themselves and divert attention from the success of Iraqi security forces."

The 131,000 U.S. troops in Iraq still will "maintain full coordination with Iraqi forces inside the cities" and continue to have intelligence capacity, Odierno said. With approval from the Iraqis, they also will carry out operations in major cities as necessary, he said.

Odierno said his goal is to help provide security that allows Iraq to hold planned national elections leading to the eventual removal of all U.S. troops by the end of 2011.

He said his biggest worry is a breakdown in stability such as a "consistent increase in violence" or a situation that Iraqi forces can't handle.

"I don't see that" happening, Odierno said. "I think we're on the right path."

Odierno also said Iran continues to "interfere" in Iraq, including training insurgents and paying surrogates. But he said his mission is limited to providing security within Iraq, no matter the provocation from Iran or elsewhere.

"I'm not authorized to do anything outside the borders of Iraq," he said.

Iran's government has repeatedly denied fomenting violence inside Iraq.

Updated: 2:38 p.m.

Filed under: Iran • Iraq • State of the Union


Donkey Party   June 28th, 2009 4:49 pm ET

To ZERO at 1:15pm -

Perfect screen name if it is a representation of your IQ. MORON!!!

joschmuk   June 28th, 2009 4:47 pm ET

"Odierno also said Iran continues to "interfere" in Iraq"

ha ha, that's a laugh. how about – "the US continues to interfere in Iraq"

Stay Active   June 28th, 2009 4:10 pm ET

Lets get out already. We cannot police the world. We have done enough damage.

Peter E   June 28th, 2009 3:35 pm ET

Have you noticed the starnge quiet from the liberals about Iraq? Now that Obama is the one keeping troops and paying for the wars, suddenly they realize 'oh, I guess it makes sense... if Obama does it.' Yes, the war in Iraq was unjustified, and never should have been started. But after Bush destabilized the country, we have no choice but to follow through, and stamp out the violence there. And it will take a lot more time and resources. That's what Obama realized, and that's what his maniac following is too hypocritic to admit.

renea   June 28th, 2009 3:28 pm ET

On the Iran issue President Obama said he was not going to interfere in their election but no some of the Republicans wanted him to do it anyway for their political gain now we see why President Obama didnt want to get involved in this I hope the Republicans that wanted this are happy now.

D. Tree   June 28th, 2009 3:21 pm ET

The Troops have done their job, its time to bring them home!

Let the politicians step in and do their part now.

Larry   June 28th, 2009 3:17 pm ET

@jaye

The Republicans love war because people get stinking wealthy on them.

There was no reason to attack Iraq, other than that. To get Bush's buddies wealthy.

Bush needs to be tried for crimes against humanity.

judasgoat   June 28th, 2009 3:14 pm ET

thanks for black listing my comments............ word press and cnn the truth hurts . hooray for first amendment rights. oh and for you jokers who say i should pack up and leave the US if iam not satisfied , look joker my ancestors [slaves] paided for my passage to this country you right wing JERK. and i don't have to go no where devil.

JayG   June 28th, 2009 2:51 pm ET

BRAD: U are an idiot, your own Obama is sitting there doing nothing about N.Korea and yet its still Bush'es fault?? When does this presidency become Obama's?

Freedom of Speech   June 28th, 2009 2:48 pm ET

Iraq is no where ready to take back it's country. THIS GENERAL IS ONLY SAYING WHAT OBAMA HAS TOLD HIM TO SAY. We as soldiers never finishing nothing at the cost of maiming our brethern and our comrades dying. IS IT AGAIN ALL FOR NOTHING. WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING IN THIS MAN'S ARMY. First Korea, second Viet Nam then Solmalya. Now it is Iraq. What's next? Will we run from Afghanistan with our tail between our legs. WAIKE UP AMERICA. The Hippie generation is overwith. Oney now we must suffer through your children running our goverment. PLEASE DEAR JESUS HELP THIS UN CHRISTIAN COUNTRY.

demon slayer   June 28th, 2009 2:36 pm ET

Obama is an idiot just like the rest of those demons in government. They don't care about anyone or anything except for their demonic masters. Just as these demons have spilled the blood of the innocent, so shall their foul blood be spilled upon this Earth.

ib   June 28th, 2009 2:33 pm ET

Of course; why would anyone be afraid of our weak president just look at what North Korea is doing with him; making him look weak and like an idiot.

amy   June 28th, 2009 2:21 pm ET

John King is the satellite host for Fox News.

Bill Jones   June 28th, 2009 2:16 pm ET

The insolence of this moron in the government issue clown suit complaining about "intefering in Iraq" is stunning.

patriot   June 28th, 2009 2:08 pm ET

every one of you sounds like a trator iran is secretlly paying for these things and we must be the heavy wieght that has the balls to interfear with radicalized goverments they will come her for you and do you really think that we hit first in 1979 look deeper into covert iranian action in that time .directed at the the biggest super power of the era
your beloved history books 99.9 percent is fabrication no oneder they dont tell american citecens or any citecens the truth you cant handle the real dark covert truth yes america is some dam bullies but id never defect talk trash or burn the flag of this awsome country for no reason not .even murder by the trilllions

Andrew   June 28th, 2009 2:01 pm ET

I love how some of the truly moronic posters try to compare what the US is doing in Iraq to what Iran is doing in Iraq. I love even more how they are US citizens who love to flame their native country, forgetting the fact that if the US was really as big, bad, and evil as they say, they wouldn't be able to say such things. Idiots.

Michael   June 28th, 2009 2:01 pm ET

Brad.... nuke North Korea?!?!!?!? So we have thousadns of nukes and they have .... what 10 at most?!? So we should kill hundres of thousands of North Koreans, just like we killed the Japanese during World War II?

didi   June 28th, 2009 2:00 pm ET

learn, Muslim nations do not tolerate....they help with each other....not interfering....religious fantasy....

Leslie DaSilva   June 28th, 2009 1:59 pm ET

The views here are so fantastic that absurd isn't even appropriate. Iran's continuing interest in the situation on its border is "interference," but our reaching 8000 miles across the world is "normal." This country is light years away from a rational foreign policy that's in harmony with the rest of the planet. And these views are shared by every mainsttream politician in Washington and most of our citizens. Apparently, wearing a white hat limits the capacity of ones brain to fuction.
--

Michael   June 28th, 2009 1:58 pm ET

Jay, I've heard that line so many times. You are insinuating that if Americans don't defend their country in any situation (even the most drastically stupid decisions) they are basically traitors and should just leave.

1. Do you really think you live in the freest nation in the World? You don't.

2. The US founders were the biggest critics of the British empire while many Americans at the time called them traitors for criticizing the British. They wanted freedom from the big bully of the time. Se any similarities with the US and Iraq? Our founders would have been devastated if they saw what the US had become.

3. Please read Noam Chomsky's book – Hegemony or Survival and Howard Zinn's Peoples History of the United States of America.... then we will talk rationally about what it means to be patriotic.

AZBill   June 28th, 2009 1:46 pm ET

Now I understand why stupid people watch CNN. Gosh, can't you people structure a sentence, not to mention all the typo's.
The hawk, (Letcommonsenseprevail) can at least spell even though his belicose policies have and will continue to fail. In the first place, it is our worldwide interventions, including Iran, (remember the Shah take- over of a democratic government by the CIA ) that has made Iran the wacko state it is today.
We should criticize the theocracy screwballs around the world.
But, we need to be vigilant with regards to our own religious ideologues here in the U.S., who would mirror their Islamic brothers, and would jump at a chance to control us with their Christian/Judaism beliefs and taboos. Remember, our last President said he took his advise and direction not from his father, but from his Heavenly Father. Wow.....

Jay   June 28th, 2009 1:39 pm ET

Everyone loves to bad mouth America at the same time they take advantage of all the freedoms it provides. Who's the hypocrite? If you don't like the way we do things here then pack your stuff and move to Iran.

jt   June 28th, 2009 1:32 pm ET

John King must be getting a second paycheck from the GOP.

Gordon   June 28th, 2009 1:23 pm ET

To: Letcommonsenseprevail...again.

What you mean is.......highly respected general under whom I served.

And,

....fact that you can't spell shows your intelligence.

Just a couple for YOUR info.

Zero.   June 28th, 2009 1:15 pm ET

Bringing Tony Blair on CNN. Putting words in his mouth to praise Obama won't prove anything. Obama will still have to deal with it Himself.. And he can't. Because he also is an Arab...

joseph   June 28th, 2009 1:06 pm ET

the absurdity of the invading/occupying force from the other side of the planet charging Iraq's neighbor with interference would be lol-hilarious if it wasn't somehow taken seriously.

someone said the bully finally needs to get punched in the mouth, suggesting Iran was the bully in their comments. they were right about one thing – the bully really does need to get punched in the mouth, and will. they were just wrong about who the real bully is.

Michael   June 28th, 2009 12:58 pm ET

Oh, ok I get it.... only the US can interfere in foreign countries. Hypocrisy has been part of our history... so why should we stop being hypocritical now. Shame on Iran.... Iraq is ours to do as we please!!! Just imagine If Iran had invaded Canada and killed hundreds of thousands of Canadians. What would the US do? Would they close their eyes and not defend their interests?

The problem with Americans is that we don't read about US History and don’t care about other countries. Therefore we never question the information we're given by our Corporate Media. I fear that our nation is headed for a very dark future.

Brad, California   June 28th, 2009 12:56 pm ET

Let them interfere, but stay out of Iran. Leave it to Israel to nuke Iran and finally put an end to the Middle East. Turn the sand oil fields into a glass ashtray. We would be forced to eliminate our foreign oil dependence and we could concentrate on building our own country and placing Americans first. Clinton was dumb to try to buy North Korea off, Bush was even dumber to continue paying. And Bush committed the ultimate act of stupidity by not nuking North Korea when they tested their first weapon. If Bush would have had the common sense to set the example and do North Korea then, Iran and its nuclear ambitions would not even be an issue today.

Steve J, Michigan   June 28th, 2009 12:53 pm ET

Iran has been interfering in Irag since day one, I'd also include Afgan. and Pakistan. I'm not sure what the solution is we sure don't need another war.. Maybe if all the other countries could for once unite Iran and NK could be forced to stop thier constant threats to other countries..

Steve-Michigan

Gordon   June 28th, 2009 12:46 pm ET

To: Letcommonsenseprevail–consider the content of the message
and don't be so petty about spelling you idiot.

Iran should supply whatever they feel is required to Iraq; after all,
we invaded and continue to occupy that sovereign nation. We tell
them what to do, when to do it and how to do it. I'm glad Iran has
the guts to stand up to this country.

Zero.   June 28th, 2009 12:39 pm ET

You don't need to worry Mr Obama. Israel, will do your job for you.
Mr Obama. As usual.

Andrew Stec   June 28th, 2009 12:38 pm ET

Iran is interfering in Iraq? SEEMS LIKE THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK.

Paul H   June 28th, 2009 12:06 pm ET

Iran has also detained Britain embassy employees. Not unlike the hostage crisis of the late 70's when the US embassy was taken over by the now existing government of Iran.
It's about time to punch the big bully in the mouth, but who's going to do it, and when?
Obama is trying to wait this out, but he has to man up, and get tough on these guys. It's already out of hand, but it's not to late to reassert ourselves and make something happen.
These are the kinds of issues that will be the down fall of this administration.

MBFLA   June 28th, 2009 12:04 pm ET

Why are we still interfering in Iraq? Leaving 50,000 troops is still an occupation.

Patrick Walker   June 28th, 2009 12:03 pm ET

So, the US is accusing Iran of interference in another country. Wow. How did this American general miss the forest for the trees...

Letcommonsenseprevail   June 28th, 2009 12:02 pm ET

@ Mark Rogers-this "intelligence" is from a highly-respected general whom I served under. He's a no-nonsense guy. So yes, this information is highly credible.

At the liberals who have posted on here, get a dictionary and learn how to spell. The fact that you can't spell only shows off your intelligence. Please refrain from making yourself look any dumber in the future, it makes it difficult to read your uninformed rants.

And finally, yes, the Iranians are providing the weapons, explosives, etc. to those in Iraq who wish to destabilize the government. What GEN Odierno said is 100% accurate. In order for it to stop, there needs to be a more active presence along the borders by Iraq's military. If they can secure their borders, then the internal violence definitely stop.

Iran Updates – June 28 « niacINsight   June 28th, 2009 11:47 am ET

[...] says Gen. Ray Odierno, Commander of US forces in Iraq. Today on CNN, Odierno said Iran continues to "interfere inside of Iraq." Although that activity is [...]

OBSERVER   June 28th, 2009 11:40 am ET

It is extremly siklly to think that the other contender for president of Iran is more pro American. That was never established. He would have to take orders from the religious leaders too. The reason Iran calls the USA the great DEVIL is because of the history of US involvement in their country. This is more reason to avoid the appearance of interfearence now. To the Repubican with the hurt feelings. No it is not just a Republican problem. But Repubicans have tended to support the industries of WAr and profit from them most.

OBSERVER   June 28th, 2009 11:35 am ET

There are a lot of factors that are hard to understand when your only point of reference is your own back yard. The world is a conplex set of values many of them are not shared by the USA. In order to be more effecdtive in dealing with world problems it is essential to see the world from a wider point of view. We are blessed with a presedent that is able to think before he reacts. He makaes every effort to see the problem from a point of view that is not just about supporting the war industry. National security is really not measured by counting bombs it is in the ability to form bonds and establish ties to countries that will enable them to grow and become partners rather than threats. It is said that people are like ropes your can lead them but you can't push them.

arc, Lugano CH   June 28th, 2009 11:34 am ET

RR June 28th, 2009 10:43 am ET
Good think our President is bending over backwards to make nice with the Ayatollah and Iran's government.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are entitled to your opinion but I beg to differ. President Obama isn't 'bending over backwards' as you eloquently put it. I believe President Obama has proceeded in an intelligent and cautions manner because there was little question as to who would win the Iranian election. It was Ahmadinejad's strategy all along to attempt to bait the United States into a political catch-22 in regards to accusing the west of interference; President McCain would have already given Ahmadinejad exactly what he wanted, and that could be a plethora of things none of which would help improve American diplomatic relations in the region.

Respectfully,

Jacob-WA   June 28th, 2009 11:29 am ET

From reading all the comments I have realized that us republicans are blamed for every war and quite possibly every problem in the world. Gee I wish I was as politically conscience and peaceful as a liberal. Wake up!! The Iranian government for years has called us the devil, that's why this election was so important. The rebellion group hasn't denounced the US. Its only a matter of time before they attack, but I guess it doesn't matter, its probably a republicans fault anyway.

OBSERVER   June 28th, 2009 11:23 am ET

Iraq needs to step up to the fact that they have to provide their own security. The USA should never gotten involved in the first place. The Republican Party seems to think the USA has lots of MONEY for wars in places we do not belown but they always say that the USA can't afford health care for AMRECANS. But then most Republicans are rich and can afford the best health care and the Republican Base is not able to think forthemselves and blindly go along with what the Republican talking heads tell them.

Mark Rogers   June 28th, 2009 11:22 am ET

And we should trust this "intelligence" because the "intelligence" about Iraq was soooo accurate. Haven't we meddled enough in that part of the world?

Jphilly   June 28th, 2009 11:20 am ET

This isn't anything new. Iran has been interfering in Iraq even under Bush's policies of isolation. Are focus should continue to be training Iraqi Forces and building up their infrastructure and government. Any military action we take must be focused solely on this interference and shouldn't be on Iran as a whole. We can't fight every brutal regime and oppressive government at once. Also Obama shouldn't have diplomacy with Iran until they have a government recognized by its own people.

Surly Scholar   June 28th, 2009 11:20 am ET

D. Tree is exactly right. To that end, it's possible that every single suicide bombing over the course of the war was the work of a Saudi, most likely a Wahabi militant.

Culturally, suicide bombing is a profoundly un-Iraqi act. Wahabists are the ultraconservative militant sect of Islam, based in Saudi Arabia, who invented the nonsense about the 72 virgins and encourage suicide bombing (it's really a hilariously bad interpretation of a single page in the Qur'an), and the Saudis pretty much started funneling those folks into the country the minute Iraq's borders became penetrable. And I imagine there's still plenty of them there.

Oh, and do remember that all the 9/11 hijackers were either Saudi militants, or foreign nationals recruited in Saudi Arabia. That country has been murdering our civilians and troops for quite a long time now. With Bush and his dubious connections to their royal family no longer a factor, I eagerly await Obama finally getting a little tougher on them.

OBSERVER   June 28th, 2009 11:18 am ET

Obama is taking the only path that a responsible person could take. By not making any moves that can be seen as aiding the protesters he can avoid the possible missunderstanding of USDA support like John McCain created in Georga war with Russa. That tyhpoe of mixed signals has been a recurreing theme in USA policies. To the point no one really trusts us.

eric   June 28th, 2009 11:14 am ET

A President Mccain would have long ago bombed Tehran. A President Palin will no doubt bomb Iran. The republicans want Obama's talks with the muslim world to fail.

D. Tree   June 28th, 2009 11:01 am ET

The plain facts are that Iran accounts for less than 2% of foreign fighters in Iraq. The majority of interference comes from Saudis.

Mark,B'ham,Al.   June 28th, 2009 10:55 am ET

The Mullahs make the Shaw look like a nice guy. If America thinks it can trust this Iranian Leadership we are bigger fools (I could think of a better list of words but then I would get censored.) than the rest of the world thinks we are. In the muslim world they respect strength over anyother character in leadership. We must keep showing our strength to keep our own safe. It is too bad we did not take care of Iran duing Jimmy Carter's Administration.

pa. independent   June 28th, 2009 10:49 am ET

I don't watch John King or his wife Dana Bash. They should be on Fox.

RR   June 28th, 2009 10:43 am ET

Good think our President is bending over backwards to make nice with the Ayatollah and Iran's government. It sure is paying off much better than Bush's policy of isolation!

Success   June 28th, 2009 10:38 am ET

Iran is simply the spear of the "axis of evil",in as much as I appreciate d pragmatic approach of this government.I seriously think d US should consider a quick & precise military action,especially when d lives of our soldiers & new allies are at stake.

Avi shlom   June 28th, 2009 10:28 am ET

little fuzzy match may help. If we have interest in Iraq that is 9000 miles away, then iqually Iran has interest in next day neighbour, I am not sure why the general is playing the victim, when could not tolerate a russian infulence in Cuba. General bring those innocent troops home and let Israel fight is own wars ion the region without our help.

jaye   June 28th, 2009 10:24 am ET

The republicans are looking for a rason to invade Iran – they love war.

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