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War, War, War See other War, War, War Articles Title: Gates names Petraeus to command all U.S. forces in Middle East (CENTCOM COMMANDER) Gates names Petraeus to command all U.S. forces in Middle East The widely praised general in charge of American troops in Iraq will be nominated to lead the U.S. Central Command. Odierno is chosen to replace him. By Julian E. Barnes and Peter Spiegel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers 8:44 AM PDT, April 23, 2008 WASHINGTON -- Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the head of U.S. troops in Iraq, will be nominated to be the top commander of all American forces in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced today. Petraeus has won wide praise within the Bush administration and among the uniformed military for his leadership of the Iraq war, turning around a deteriorating security situation, overhauling U.S. strategy and lowering violence. In his new job, he will replace Navy Adm. William Fallon, who was forced to resign as the head of the Middle East headquarters, U.S. Central Command, after giving a series of controversial interviews in which he seemed to criticize Bush administration policy in the region. Gates said Petraeus would be asked to stay on in his current job until the fall to ensure a smooth transition. He said he had talked to Senate leaders about the nomination and did not anticipate any difficulties getting Petraeus confirmed. "I am absolutely confident he is the best man for the job," Gates said at a Pentagon news conference. "He has clearly been successful in his current assignment, so I don't anticipate any problems." Gates also announced that President Bush would nominate Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to replace Petraeus as the top commander in Iraq. Odierno just returned to Washington from Iraq in February, where he spent 15 months as the day-to-day commander of the war, serving directly under Petraeus. Odierno has already been nominated to get his fourth star -- confirmation hearings to become the Army's vice chief of staff were held earlier this month -- and Gates said that his nomination would be withdrawn and resubmitted for the top Iraq job. The new vice chief of the Army will be Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, currently Gates' personal military assistant. Gates singled out Odierno and his family for thanks, noting that he is returning for another difficult assignment in Baghdad after only two months back in the U.S. "Gen. Odierno is known recently to the Iraqi leadership, he's known to Iraqi generals, he is known to our own people," Gates said. "The likelihood for the baton-passing to be smooth, the odds are better with him." julian.barnes@latimes.com peter.spiegel@latimes.com
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#1. To: aristeides, *Iranian Conflict* (#0)
Although not surprising, we do seem to be inching closer to Iran.
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