Petraeus tells Congress U.S. should strike Assad regime

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus on Tuesday told the Senate Armed Services Committee the United States has been "ineffective or absent" in its handling of recent conflicts in Iraq and Syria.

Petraeus, architect of the 2007 U.S. military "surge" in Iraq, and former CIA director was invited by Republicans on the committee to talk about American policy in the Middle East. He began with an apology for the leak of classified information to his mistress that ended his political career, but the former general's harshest words were saved for the Obama administration and the situation in Syria.

"When the U.S. does not take the initiative, others will fill the vacuum," Petraeus said. "Often in ways that are harmful to our interests."

Petraeus called Syria a "geopolitical Chernobyl" that has destabilized the entire region and said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's attacks on civilians have been the underlining cause of the rise of the Islamic State -- also identified as IS, ISIS and ISIL -- and refugee crisis. He urged a strong military commitment to the region.

"Sunni Arabs will not be willing partners against the Islamic State unless we commit to protect them and the broader Syrian population against all enemies, not just ISIS," Petraeus said. "Tell Assad that the use of barrel bombs must end -- and if they continue, we will stop the Syrian air force from flying."

Petraeus also called for the creation of Sunni "enclaves" where moderate rebels would be "protected by coalition air power" and refugees could relocate.

Diplomacy is unworkable with Assad, Petraeus said, despite the risk of U.S. military involvement.

He compared the embattled country to "a nuclear disaster."

"The fallout from the meltdown of Syria threatens to be with us for decades, and the longer it is permitted to continue, the more severe the damage will be."