Odierno Ready For New Post-Surge Mission

(CBS)  For the last year and half, General David Petraeus has been the face of the U.S. war effort in Iraq. He led the surge that contributed to bringing the level of violence down in much of the country.

Now, as the challenges change from military, to economic and political, a new man is taking over - he is General Ray Odierno, known as "General O."

This is his third tour of duty in Iraq. In 2003 he led the 4th Infantry Division that captured Saddam Hussein. In 2007, he became Gen. Petraeus' number two. And now, after seven months in the States, he's back and in command.

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Gen. Ray Odierno is 54, a West Point graduate and former artillery officer. In a ceremony at one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces - now the U.S. military headquarters in Iraq - he took command from Gen. Petraeus, whose big shadow he must now come out from under.

So on day two as commander, he began a tour to establish his authority and make his first battlefield assessment, flying south to the so-called "Triangle of Death."

"Would you go so far as to say this was one of the absolute worst parts of Iraq in terms of violence?" correspondent Lesley Stahl asked.

"Yeah, it absolutely was one of the very worst parts of Iraq in violence," Odierno replied.

The general surveyed a quiet neighborhood in the Triangle of Death. The area, just south of Baghdad, was tamed with the help of former Sunni insurgents who the Americans paid to change sides and turn their guns against al Qaeda in Iraq.

"This was where al Qaeda staged a lot of its raids and rockets and IEDs. What happened to them? Where have they gone?" Stahl asked.

"Well, I mean, first off, we've eliminated a lot of them," Odierno replied.

"Killed 'em," Stahl remarked.

"Well, we've captured 'em, killed 'em," Odierno said, walking with Stahl. "And really what's happened is their passive support base, that they got from the population, is gone."

Odierno said he hadn't walked down this neighborhood street in a long time.

"I mean, this is amazing," he told Stahl.

He should feel good: he was the one who devised the battle plan for the Triangle of Death. Now there are Iraqi army troops and Sunni civilian patrols everywhere. A year ago, there were about 100 attacks a week there. Now, there are only two.

"You have about 30,000 people now that help with security, where back a year ago you probably had maybe a thousand," Odierno told Stahl.

"So a thousand to 30,000. Well, no wonder it's calmed down," she remarked.

Al Qaeda in Iraq used to extort protection money from the local shop owners. Now that that has stopped, too, the local market is flourishing for the first time in years.

"We now have people starting their own businesses. They're now able to earn a living, an honorable living for their family. They're not afraid to come out. I would say 75 percent of the country, maybe even more, is more like this," Odierno told Stahl.

In Baghdad, for instance, where car bombs and corpses in the streets had become a way of life, you see things the Iraqis thought they'd never see again: laughter in the markets that are crowded and thriving. Nightlife has returned, and people who used to live in fear, take their children to the zoo.

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[divarty6]

Congratulations to Miss Stahl for a balanced piece on the new US Commander in Iraq, GEN Odierno. While it was good to see the goals that this West Pointer has set, I was dismayed; yes, disappointed to hear him say that he has not voted since his promotion to colonel. The USA is in Iraq to bring democracy to that nation, and one of the key elements to democracy is the right to vote on the leaders (and hence the policies) of government. I can understand why he does not wish to speak about political preferences, but I should think he would feel secure in the privacy of the voting booth. It is truly a shame that this senior military officer cannot exert his basic authority and rights as a citizen while he seeks to provide these rights for others.

[vaschroeder]

Shame on you, General Odierno! As other viewers, I also had to reread the interview to believe you do not vote in national elections!! We go around the world preaching democracy. In Iraq, the tragic death toll of both Americans and Iraqis is for the supposed goal of bringing about a democratic form of government that you choose to not even participate in. No one follows you into the voting booth. What a pathetic excuse you gave as for why you do not vote.I would prefer having a general leading our army that has a brain of his own, not one that he has apparently given to the commander in chief.

[dicinseattle]

A strong implication in this report is that the surge is working. Said often by Sen. McCain, and echoed by the media, it ignores much reality. Start with the platoon of body-armored and heavily-armed troops protecting the general and Leslie on their stroll thru the market. Add the fact that most of Baghdad is divided by walls and checkpoints separating Sunni from Shiite. Then consider the estimated 4.5 million internally and externally displaced Iraqis who fled their homes in fear of their neighbors and the militias. And don''t forget that the US is paying the salaries of the armed Sunni Awakening Council, and that the Shiite-dominated government is reluctant to include these enforcers in its police and standing army. All of this suggests that the surge has provided at best a short-term cessation of the sectarian revenge taking and murderous violence that, with or without al Qaeda, will return at some point unless there is a religious/political coming together. Question: Why doesn''t 60 minutes report the full story?

[vinzenzo-2009]

General O is a true patriot and I sleep soundly at night knowing that he is protecting us and our troops. Is Leslie Stahl that full of herself that she walks around without a bullet proof vest?

[pattbo]

Did I hear Mr Macho General Odierno call Leslie Stahl "HONEY" I found that tacky and if he did Ms Stahl should be very offended.

[cmmck]

I was appalled when Gen. Odierno stated that he had not voted in a national election since he was promoted to Cl. As a member of the military, he should be ready to support his Commander and Chief no matter what his personal political affilations. In addition, the President''s role and responsibilities far exceed those limited to the military. As an American citizen, especially one who is responsibile for upholding our values and leading by example, he should be embarassed to admit in public that he does not participate in the very democracy he is charged with defending. What does this say to all those currently and throughout our history who sacrificed everything to maintain and protect this basic right!

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by Nancy_Naive

The average Dutch person is 4 inches taller than the average American.

[concernedme]

I had to reread the interview to actually see if I misheard the general say "he doesn''t vote in national elections!" I''m at a loss for words. Shame on you General O. for the poor example you are setting for those who are maimed and dying for the very people who would welcome and embrace that privilege. Shame on you.

[concernedme]

I had to reread the interview to actually see if I misheard the general say "he doesn''t vote in national elections!" I''m at a loss for words. Shame on you General O. for the poor example you are setting for those who are maimed and dying for the very people who would welcome and embrace that privilege. Shame on you.

[concernedme]

I had to reread the interview to actually see if I misheard the general say "he doesn''t vote in national elections!" I''m at a loss for words. Shame on you General O. for the poor example you are setting for those who are maimed and dying for the very people who would welcome and embrace that privilege. Shame on you.