Petraeus to head US Mideast operations

Petraeus to head US Mideast operations

By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Published: April 23 2008 20:47 | Last updated: April 24 2008 01:47

David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, has been chosen to head the high-profile Central Command, which oversees military operations in central Asia, the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.

Robert Gates, US defence secretary, said he was “absolutely confident” that General Petraeus was the “best man” for the position.

“The kinds of conflicts that we’re dealing with, not just in Iraq but in Afghanistan, and some of the challenges that we face elsewhere in the region in the Central Command area are very much characterised by asymmetric warfare,” said Mr Gates. “And I don’t know anybody in the United States military better qualified to lead that effort.”

Gen Petraeus has been praised for the US military “surge” in Iraq that has helped produce a dramatic reduction in violence.

Lawmakers welcomed his nomination, but some urged Gen Petraeus to pay equal attention to the war in Afghanistan, for which he will now have overall responsibility.

“I have great respect for Gen Petraeus and the job he has done in Iraq,” said Joseph Biden, the Democratic head of the Senate foreign relations committee. “Congress must ensure that Gen Petraeus does not bring an Iraq bias to his new job, at the expense of America’s broader security needs.”

Stephen Biddle, a former adviser to Gen Petraeus, said that, while the four-star general would have to deal with Afghanistan, his priority would be stabilising Iraq.

Some senior US military officers have privately questioned whether maintaining high troop levels in Iraq, which Gen Petraeus supported, had limited the ability of the US to tackle the threat of al-Qaeda. US intelligence agencies have warned that the group is reconstituting itself along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Gen Petraeus, who wrote the army manual on counter-insurgency operations, will replace William Fallon, who resigned abruptly last month over a magazine article that portrayed him as publicly opposing George W. Bush, the US president, over Iran policy. Admiral Fallon rejected the charge but said the perception had made it impossible for him to do his job.

Mr Gates said Gen Petraeus would probably assume his new position sometime this summer and rejected suggestions the change of command in Iraq could disrupt operations at a critical time. Gen Petraeus this month told Congress he would pause troop reductions in Iraq after the five combat brigades that made up the “surge” left this summer.

Mr Gates said Gen Petraeus would make his recommendation over whether to reduce another combat brigade – about 3,500 troops – before moving to Central Command, which is based at Tampa, Florida.

“One of the reasons for Gen Petraeus staying on for a while is to ensure that there is plenty of time to prepare and for a good hand-off,” said Mr Gates.

The general said he was “honoured to be nominated for this position and to have an opportunity to continue to serve with America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast-guardsmen and civilians”.

Gen Petraeus will be succeeded by Ray Odierno, a lieutenant general and his number two in Iraq.