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Change at the top in U.S. Iraq command

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

April 24, 2008

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush is promoting his top Iraq commander, Army Gen. David Petraeus, and replacing him with the general's recent deputy, keeping the United States on its war course and handing the next president a pair of combat-tested commanders who have relentlessly defended Bush's strategies.

Bush will nominate Petraeus to replace Navy Adm. William J. Fallon as chief of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced yesterday. The command's area of responsibility features some of the most vexing military and foreign policy problems facing this administration and its successor - including Iran, Pakistan, Lebanon and parts of Africa and Afghanistan in addition to Iraq.

Fallon resigned last month, saying reports that he was at odds with the White House over Iran policy had become a distraction. He was the first Navy officer to lead Central Command; the Petraeus choice represents a return to the more common practice of making it an Army slot.

Petraeus would be succeeded in Baghdad by Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, who was the No. 2 commander in Iraq for 15 months. He has been credited by many with deftly managing security gains that Petraeus told Congress this month have opened a pathway for potential political progress in the country.

Gates said he hoped the Senate would act on both nominations by next month and expected Petraeus to switch to the Central Command job, based in Tampa, Fla., by late summer or early fall. That is the point at which Petraeus is likely to make an initial recommendation to Gates and to Bush on whether conditions in Iraq are stable enough to permit a further reduction in U.S. troop levels.

The United States has about 160,000 troops in Iraq and about 28,000 in Afghanistan. The strain of those wars has taken a heavy toll on U.S. ground forces. Among the politically sensitive questions Petraeus would face as head of Central Command is whether the military focus on Iraq is limiting what U.S. and allied forces can accomplish in Afghanistan. And he would be pressed on the matter of using military force against Iran.

The next president taking office in January would not be compelled to keep either Petraeus or Odierno, but normally the lineup of senior commanders is not changed with administrations.

Many Republicans, including John McCain, are enthusiastic Petraeus supporters. Democrats on Capitol Hill are not expected to oppose either Petraeus or Odierno, but they are likely to raise tough questions during hearings.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid noted after Gates' announcement that any war commander must be committed to "implementing major changes in strategy" if directed to do so by a new president.

John Batiste, a retired two-star general who was a division commander in Iraq in 2004-05, said in an e-mail exchange that he has confidence in Petraeus and Odierno, but he questions whether their experience and expertise can make the crucial difference in the war on terror.

DAVID A. PETRAEUS

Born Nov. 7, 1952.

Experience: Commanding general, multinational force in Iraq, 2007-present; commanding general of Army Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., 2005-07; earlier, deputy commander of U.S. Interagency Task Force in Bosnia

Education: Bachelor's degree, U.S. Military Academy, 1974;

master's, Princeton University, 1985; doctorate, Princeton, 1987

Family: Wife, Holly; two children

RAYMOND T. ODIERNO

Hometown: Rockaway Township, N.J.

Experience: Commanding general, Army Third Corps, 2006-present; commander, multinational corps-Iraq, 2006-08; assistant to chairman of Joint Chiefs, 2004-06; earlier, assistant division commander, 1st Armored Division, U.S. Army Europe

Education: Bachelor's, West Point, 1976; master's, North Carolina State University; master's, U.S. Naval War College