Quotes by John Abizaid

About John Abizaid:

John Philip Abizaid is a retired United States Army general and former U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander, overseeing American military operations in a 27-country region, from the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, to South and Central Asia, covering much of the Middle East. CENTCOM oversees 250,000 US troops. Abizaid succeeded General Tommy Franks as Commander, USCENTCOM, on July 7, 2003, and was also elevated to the rank of four-star general the same week. He was succeeded by Admiral William J. Fallon on March 16, 2007.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Well, the reports are correct that we're conducting very robust military operations on the Afghan side of the border in areas where we think al-Qaida is operating and Taliban remnants are.

John Abizaid

But clearly the fact that we've gone from zero Iraqi security forces on duty in May to up to 200,000 today is an enormous accomplishment, but it's not enough.

John Abizaid

Clearly the Secretary of Defense, my boss, would like nothing better than to get Osama bin Laden and to get... to ensure the complete defeat of al-Qaida, because we know that al-Qaida is planning operations against the United States even as we speak ...

John Abizaid

You know as well as I do that counterinsurgency is a very nuanced type of military operation.

John Abizaid

In other words, for every 10 enemy you kill you bring on 20 new recruits to their anti-coalition cause then essentially you are working against yourself.

John Abizaid

The United States is the most powerful nation on Earth and it just can't walk away from the Middle East and central Asia and the Horn of Africa.

John Abizaid

Nobody's more mindful of the sacrifices of our troops than those of us that command them.

John Abizaid

I don't believe Iran is a suicide state.

John Abizaid

We need to make it very clear to the Iranians, the same way we made it clear to the Soviet Union and China, that their first use of nuclear weapons would result in the devastation of their nation.

John Abizaid

Undoubtedly, there are members of the former regime that are cooperating in some fashion and then there are extremists that are within Iraq that are cooperating with them.

John Abizaid

It's also natural in that part of the world to blame what people view as the... as the most important authority in the region, and that currently is the United States of America.

John Abizaid

Oh, the transition concerns me because as we move towards an important political event, it's clear to me that the terrorists and insurgents will move as hard as they can to disrupt this process.

John Abizaid

Capturing any member of any terrorist cell or any insurgent cell that we may happen to come across is always very, very valuable, and the thing that interests me is that in most instances after a time, people talk and they tell us what they know.

John Abizaid

You don't build a new power plant in the United States overnight. It takes years to build.

John Abizaid

The power to prevent violence is a power that no police force seems to have anywhere in the United States.

John Abizaid

But I am satisfied that the information that we have that this is the work of Zarqawi, is accurate.

John Abizaid

Author Bio

  • NameJohn Abizaid
  • DescriptionArmy general
  • BornApril 1, 1951
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionOfficer
  • AwardsBronze Star Medal; Legionnaire Of Legion Of Merit; Honourary Cross Of The Bundeswehr In Gold