HUDSONVILLE, MI (WHTC) – Retired U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, in Hudsonville for the annual Dutch-American Heritage Day celebraton Tuesday, spoke out for the first time about Friday’s terror attacks in France.
The attacks are a “game-changer” he said, stopping short of suggesting they are a modern-day 9-11.
“I’ve termed Syria a geopolitical Chernobyl that is spewing violence and instability and extremism and refugees, not just in the Mideast region.”
The response to the attacks doesn’t necessarily mean sending in U.S. troops, he said,
“We do not have to be the ground force and should not be it would not be sustainable, most likely.”
The response should be a mix of offensive, defensive and what he called nation-building efforts.
Another critical element, he said, is creating an environment of reconciliation — bringing together disparate tribes to fight militant groups like Al Queda and ISIS.
Petraeus praised traits he said he inherited from his Dutch father, who joined World War II as a Merchant Marine captain after Nazis invaded the Netherlands.The Dutch work ethic, stubbornness and innovation are qualities that helped him as a soldier who commanded troops in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, as the CIA’s and in his civilian business life, he said.
Dutch-American Heritage Day celebrates the long relationship between America and the Dutch. The celebration is held on or near Nov. 16 to commemorate that day in 1776 when Dutch forces became the first to return American forces salute, officially recognizing the United States.
Petraeus was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Dutch American Council, which organizes Dutch-American Heritage Day celebrations annually.
Former Holland Mayor Kurt Dykstra emceed the evening and accepted the West Michigan Dutch-American Leadership Award. He is currently president of Trinity Christian College in Illinois.
— Peg McNichol
