Army back in charge of Central Command

[unhappycamper]

Army back in charge of Central Command
By Robert Burns
Posted : Friday Mar 28, 2008 6:14:21 EDT

WASHINGTON — One of the Army’s most Iraq-savvy generals is taking charge, at least temporarily, of arguably the most important command in the U.S. military, with responsibility for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a ceremony Friday at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey is to assume command of U.S. Central Command from Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, who announced unexpectedly on March 11 that he was quitting. Fallon cited press reports that he was at odds with President Bush over Iran policy.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has denied that Fallon was out of step on Iran, and Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to attend the ceremony.

Dempsey, whose field experience in the early stages of his 34-year Army career was largely in Europe, has been deputy commander at Central Command since August 2007. He will serve as the acting commander until Bush chooses a permanent replacement and gets that person confirmed by the Senate.

Fallon was the first Navy officer to head Central Command since it was created in 1983. It typically has been commanded by an Army general — John Abizaid prior to Fallon, and Tommy Franks before Abizaid.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_CentcomChief02808/