February 11, 2009 3:03 PM

Petraeus Nominated For U.S. Command

(AP)  Army Gen. David Petraeus, the four-star general who led troops in Iraq for the past year, will be nominated by President George W. Bush to be the next commander of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday.

Gates also announced that Bush will nominate Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno to replace Petraeus in Baghdad.

Central Command oversees the wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

If confirmed by the Senate, Petraeus would replace Navy Adm. William Fallon, who abruptly stepped down in March after a magazine reported that he was at odds with Mr. Bush over Iran policy. Fallon said the report, while not true, had become a distraction.

Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, currently commander of the Army's 3rd Corps based in the U.S., finished in February a 15-month tour as the top deputy to Petraeus in Baghdad.

Petraeus, 55, is widely hailed by the Bush administration and members of Congress for developing and implementing a new strategy in Iraq, including the deployment of some 30,000 additional troops, that dramatically improved security.

Central Command, whose headquarters is in the state of Florida, is responsible for U.S. military operations throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa.

Fallon relinquished the command March 28 to his top deputy, Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, and retired from the Navy earlier this month.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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by ioweign April 24, 2008 7:08 PM EDT
Petraeus is the Peter Principal Poster Pinup...
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by ioweign April 24, 2008 7:06 PM EDT
I guess the obvious question is - How have your Personally sacrificed? General Petraeus has, but I am guessing you would know nothing of that.

Posted by JERSupporter at 12:54 PM : Apr 24, 2008

Wow - and in the next breath you will tell all that it is a volunteer Army. Fallon was right when he called Petraeus a "Azzz Kizzer"...
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by prinzowhales April 24, 2008 6:16 PM EDT
Betrayus even looks like some kind of rodentia...If dogs take on the characteristics of their owners as popular fancy would have it...this fellow must have a hairless chihuahua at home...
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by jersupporter April 24, 2008 3:54 PM EDT
You (General Petraeus) can always sit around and say how right the war was and that the sacrifice was well worth it. Posted by racam_us
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I guess the obvious question is - How have your Personally sacrificed? General Petraeus has, but I am guessing you would know nothing of that.
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by grim56z April 24, 2008 3:36 PM EDT
Al Qada and Taliban are a bunch of fairy princesses. The Coalition should drag them out of their closets. Why waste time with shrieking wimps?
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by hoopersports April 24, 2008 2:30 PM EDT
It''s really scary some of the stuff you people actually believe. The Gen is a great man and a great military leader and an American hero.
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by racam_us April 24, 2008 1:07 PM EDT
See what happens when you say what you are supposed to, when you are supposed to say it. Way to go Petti, you really deserved this. Bush is so proud of you. You may even have a future with one of the news services when you retire. You can always sit around and say how right the war was and that the sacrifice was well worth it. Then one day in the not to distant future when Bush is recognized as undoubtedly the worst President in the history of the United States, it will be time for your tell all book. You can clear you conscience by saying that all of this was done under duress and that they were telling you what to say. Maybe even donate some of your royalties to the treatment for wounds suffered in Bush''s war and maybe even run for President one day.
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by emelder April 24, 2008 11:26 AM EDT
Why not let Petraeus stay put ... and allow his marvelous "plan" to play out???? He should be held accountable as continued failure in Iraq is inevitable ... and Bush/Cheney are gunning for Iran, setting all the pieces in motion. Constitutional Democracy as we know it slips further and further away.
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by watcher269-2009 April 24, 2008 6:06 AM EDT
Another FINE example of Bushit''s and the GOP''s policy foundation of "FAILING UPWARDS"

If someone F''s up - Promote him!

Also the basis for most corporations!

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by naucoming4u April 23, 2008 9:48 PM EDT
- War with Iran to begin in the fourth quarter of 2008.

- Oil prices to go to $200 per barrel, or more.

- The 2002 recession will look like a bad day at the nickel slots compared to what is coming!

Yep, it will be Bush and Cheney''s gift to America this Winter...

Merry F-ing Christmas!
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