Petraeus Takes CENTCOM Reins

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who took charge of U.S. Central Command in an Oct. 31 ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., will find his duty expands beyond the key tasks of pursuing the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to successful conclusions. Speaking at the ceremony, and to Defense Department reporters afterward, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Petraeus must also oversee the establishment of armies in both nations that would be able to assume responsibility for their own security. The new commander will be responsible for the U.S. military’s role in thwarting Iranian aggression, and monitoring the potentially unstable situation in Pakistan as well. Gates believes Petraeus is up to the task. “One of my favorite quotes (by General of the Army George C. Marshall) was about Eisenhower, whom he described as a model of a modern commander; part general, part diplomat, part administrator. I think that’s an apt description of David Petraeus.”