Crocker calls for caution in Iraq

Crocker, who served as ambassador to Iraq from March 2007 through February 2009, previously served as ambassador to Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon. In the lecture, he recounted his experiences in the Middle East and recommended that the United States exercise caution when planning military operations.

“The process of disengagement may very well lead to the empowerment of forces even more dangerous,” Crocker explained. “[Be] slow to get in, slower yet to disengage.”

Crocker expressed a generally optimistic view about the United States’ involvement in Iraq, though.

“We saw something of a virtuous cycle beginning in 2007 [in Iraq] replacing the vicious cycle,” he said, citing the military surge, the new mission in population security and the clamping down on sectarian violence.

Crocker also said that, when formulating a military approach against another country, it is crucial to consider that country’s political background. He cited Iran as an example, explaning, “It doesn’t matter who rules Tehran,” because the nation has a “self-perception” as a regional superpower and “will still have an interest in nuclear weapon capability.”

“Iran can still create considerable mischief,” he said.

He added that it is important for the United States to continue to negotiate with Iran, especially since “there is no country more complex in the Middle East … and there is no country about which we know less.”

Negotiations, however, are not always successful, he said, pointing out that the “process of negotiation does not lend itself to be done well in the light of publicity.”

“That’s what we did with Iraq, and I can’t think of anything more unproductive,” Crocker said of the exposed talks between Iraq and the United States.

Many students in the audience expressed positive reactions to Crocker’s speech, though Monica SanMiguel GS, who is half-Iranian, said she thought parts of his speech were “very representative of how it’s convenient to pigeonhole Iran in a certain light.” She cited Crocker’s assertion that “Iran can still create considerable mischief and it’s something we and Iraq should be on the watch for” as an example of stereotyping.

Paul Kreitman GS said he found the speech to be “very diplomatic.” But he added that “[Crocker] seemed to be speaking from the perspective of, ‘We’re already in Iran and Afghanistan, so we should stay, otherwise our enemies will take it as weakness,’ but [he] never addressed why we should be there in the first place.”

Aaron Jackson GS, however, said he appreciated gaining insight from an actual diplomat.