Gen. Petraeus steps aside as top U.S. commander in Iraq

[defendandprotect]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD - Gen. David Petraeus, whose strategy for countering the Iraq insurgency is credited by many with rescuing the country from all-out civil war, stepped aside Tuesday as Gen. Ray Odierno took over as the top American commander of the conflict.

At a traditional change-of-command ceremony attended by top Iraqi and American military and civilian officials, Petraeus said that Odierno's skills and experience make him "the perfect man for the job."

With Defense Secretary Robert Gates presiding at the ceremony in a cavernous rotunda of a former Saddam Hussein palace outside Baghdad, Petraeus handed over the flag of his command, known as Multi-National Force Iraq, to Odierno and then bade farewell.

Petraeus said the insurgents and militia extremists who have created such chaos in Iraq over the past five years are now weakened but not yet fully defeated. He noted that before he took the assignment in February 2007 he had described the situation as "hard but not hopeless."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080916/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/ml_us_iraq

[psychopomp]

1. He quit while he was ahead

Smart move. The situation could deteriorate any day over there.

[dbt]

2. Did I somehow miss the "rumor" that this was coming?

Power's been out here in Arkansas for three-four days now, but somehow one would think that news of this nature would have been leaked before tonight! You know, the stuff about him "needing to spend more time with his family" and THAT shite...

:shrug:

[jmowreader]

5. It's not that at all

You only get to be commander of anything for a limited amount of time, and Petraeus' time was up. He's going to be Central Command commander.

His replacement is Ray Odierno, who's not much if any better.

[dbt]

6. THANK you! nt

[wordpix]

3. KO just had a piece about the Sunni Awakening & why Sunnis might go back to their insurgency

It seems that the deal brokered between the US, Iraqi gov. and Sunni insurgents is unraveling b/c Sunni insurgents are now being targeted for punishment for deeds done before the deal was agreed to. IOW, the Iraqi gov. and/or US is going back on their word that created essentially a peace treaty between warring parties. As we know, McBushCo now says the peace is due to the surge in US troops, a total smokescreen of the Sunni Awakening.

I'm wondering if Petraeus left due to the fact the place could blow up again anytime.

[wanpete]

4. he's knows there is no "winning" in Iraq. We'll have to leave and it will get ugly

he doesn't want to be the face of the war when it goes down.

[hack89]

7. He is now CENTCOM - Iraq is still his responsibility. nt

[elocs]

8. I read this in my local paper online this morning. How is it Late Breaking News now? n/t

[EC]

9. He's going to Afganistan... to do a surge there... n/t