In an interview with the Late Edition of CNN on Sunday March 9,Former deputy commander of the MNFI, Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, replying to a question about Iran’s role in Iraq said:I still think we have to continue to put pressure on the Iranian government to ensure that the funding, the equipping and the training of Iranian surrogates operating within Iraq who still conduct attacks against both Iraqis and coalition forces, they are trying to destabilize in some ways the government of Iraq for the long term. And I suggest that we just have to continue to pressure them. And hopefully behind closed doors, the Iraqi government did that today.

Q: From the U.S. military perspective, is there any concern that you would see in this warm reception for Ahmadinejad in Iraq?
ODIERNO: So I think as their neighbor, it’s important that they do that, again. But they should pressure them to ensure that they stop funding, training and sending arms into Iraq, which does in fact have a destabilizing factor in Iraq.
We are still finding Iranian-made mortars, rockets, explosive-form projectiles within Iraq. So to me, they still are contributing to some of the instability.
So it is in fact important that we continue to pressure them to play a productive role in Iraq, not a nonproductive one.

Q: This visit was announced weeks in advance. It was a high-profile visit, and then he sorted flaunted it walking around the streets of Baghdad, in and out of the green zone, the most secure part of the Iraqi capital. When an American leader, including an American president, comes, you were not even supposed to report it until he’s there on the ground. Sometimes, they’re wheels up on the way back before we can report it. What exactly is going on right now?
ODIERNO: Well, I would just say, again, you know, what are the threats in Baghdad now? We know that a majority of the threats over the last six months inside of Baghdad have come from Shia extremist groups. Those who tend to be funded and armed by Iran.
So, I would argue that maybe that’s why he felt somewhat safe walking through Baghdad. So I would say when we go into Iraq, you know, with our leaders, we’re extra-cautious. We will continue to be extra-cautious. To me it doesn’t mean much at all in terms of relationships or anything else.