Anthony Zinni, MA - US - Iraq War - ProCon.org

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US - IRAQ WAR

Anthony Zinni, MA Biography
Title:	Retired Four Star General in the US Marine Corps
Position:	Con to the question "Should the US Have Attacked Iraq?"
Reasoning:	"Attacking Iraq now will cause a lot of problems... The Middle East peace process, in my mind, has to be a higher priority. Winning the war on terrorism has to be a higher priority. More directly, the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Central Asia need to be resolved, making sure Al Qaeda can't rise again from the ashes that are destroyed... The country that started this, Iran, is about to turn around, 180 degrees. We ought to be focused on that. The father of extremism, the home of the ayatollah -- the young people are ready to throw out the mullahs and turn around, become a secular society and throw off these ideas of extremism. That is more important and critical. They're the ones that funded Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations. That ought to be a focus. And I can give you many, many more before you get down to Saddam and Iraq." Comments of Gen. Anthony Zinni during a speech before the Florida Economic Club, www.npr.org, Aug. 23, 2002
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:	Experts Individuals with PhD's, JD's, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to the US - Iraq conflict. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to the US - Iraq conflict.
Involvement and Affiliations:	Retired Four Star General, US Marine Corps US Special Envoy to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, 2002 Sixth United States Commander in Chief, Central Command, Aug. 13, 1997 Commander in Chief, US Central Command, 1996- 2000 Conducted 'Operation Infinite Reach' against the terrorist infrastructure in Sudan and Afghanistan, 1998 Conducted 'Operation Resolute Response' in response to the Aug. 1998 terrorist bombing of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, 1998 Conducted 'Operation Noble Response' in response to flooding in Kenya, 1998 Head of Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base (Florida), responsible for 36,000 troops based in Saudi Arabia, 1997 Deputy Commander in Chief, US Central Command; at that time, the command became involved in Operation 'Desert Strike', a series of cruise missile attacks against surface-to-air missile sites and command centers in Iraq, Sep. 1996 Commanded the Combined Task Force for 'Operation United Shield', protecting the withdrawal of United Nations forces from Somalia, 1995 Commanding General, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, 1994-1996 Assistant to the US Special Envoy to Somalia during 'Operation Restore Hope,' 1993 Deputy Commanding General of the US Marine Corps Combat Development Command at Quantico, Virginia, 1992-1994 Directed the Unified Task Force Somalia for 'Operation Restore Hope' as head of the US force sent to protect aid supplies from local warlords, 1992-1993 Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding General of combined Task Force 'Private Comfort', a Kurdish relief effort in Turkey and Iraq, 1992
Education:	MA, Management and Supervision, Central Michigan University MA, International Relations, Salve Regina College BA, Economics, Villanova University, 1965 Attended The Basic School, Army Special Warfare School, Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College
Other:	Worked with the University of California's Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation Distinguished Senior Advisor. Center for Strategic and International Studies Worked with the Henry Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva Boardmember, Regents of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies Boardmember, Reves Center for International Studies at the College of William and Mary Fellow, Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group Fellow, Center for Defense Information Received honorary doctorates from William & Mary College and the Maine Maritime Museum Recipient of the following medals: Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star with Combat 'V' and gold star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat 'V' and gold star
Quoted in:	1. Should the US have attacked Iraq?

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