WASHINGTON, April 23, 2008
Petraeus Nominated For U.S. Command
If Confirmed By Senate, Four-Star General Leading Iraq War Will Take Over Central Command
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Gen. David Petraeus (AP)
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Play CBS Video Video Petraeus' Iraq Frustration Gen. David Petraeus tells Katie Couric U.S. forces face a hard road ahead to get the Iraq war "as right as we can."
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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.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Add a Comment See all 24 Comments
- Petraeus is the Peter Principal Poster Pinup...
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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.
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"... - Reply to this comment
- 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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- 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. - Reply to this comment
- 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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- 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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- 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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- 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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- 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! - Reply to this comment
- - 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! - Reply to this comment
Author Thomas Friedman on Obama's Afghanistan plan and the war on terror.
