Posted on 04/03/2004 5:12:27 PM PST by neverdem
101st Airborne Chief to Take Charge of Developing Iraqi Military
Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus, who spent most of the past year in Iraq as commander of the 101st Airborne Division, is being sent back to that country to oversee the organization and training of all Iraqi military and security forces, Pentagon insiders said yesterday.
The selection of Petraeus, which has not yet been announced, is "all part of the thinking about the transition" to Iraqi sovereignty in 90 days, said a spokesman for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld who confirmed the choice but declined to be identified.
Essentially, Petraeus is being given charge of a major component of the U.S. exit strategy for Iraq -- developing Iraqi forces strong enough to maintain security and thereby permit the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Despite the behind-the-scenes moves being made to prepare for the transition of power, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz sought yesterday to play down the military significance of the changeover.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
|
|
|
Donate Here By Secure Server
FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
|
It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
I disagree. We have already accomplished our mission. We overthrew the Bathist regime. Right now, we are simply acting as policemen. I don't really care what sort of government eventually comes about in Iraq. We need to pull all of our troops back to 1 large AirBase, and 1 large Army Barraks in the desert, and let the Iraqis police themselves. I really don't want our guys getting killed protecting Iraqis.
Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus, who spent most of the past year in Iraq as commander of the 101st Airborne Division, is being sent back to that country to oversee the organization and training of all Iraqi military and security forces, Pentagon insiders said yesterday.
Report: Petraeus moving on
Maj. Gen. Thomas Turner expected to be named as his replacement
By CHANTAL ESCOTO
The Leaf-Chronicle
Fort Campbell's commanding general Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus couldn't comment on his future assignment when he leaves in June or speculate when he will receive his third star, but he did have plenty of praise for his replacement -- Maj. Gen. Thomas Turner.
Turner's assignment to the 101st Airborne Division was released by the Associated Press Thursday and should be announced by the Pentagon today. Turner is currently commander of the Army Southern European Task Force, based in Italy.
"I know Maj. Gen. Turner very well. In fact, we've been good friends for over 30 years, and I admire him enormously," Petraeus said via an e-mail. "We were classmates at the U.S. Military Academy (at West Point) and served together at several locations. We were, most recently, together as both colonels and brigadier generals at Fort Bragg, (N.C.). Maj. Gen. Turner is a tremendous commander, and great soldier, and the consummate infantry leader and trainer."
Turner was previously a military representative to NATO and an assistant division commander for the Europe and Seventh Army, based in Germany.
Turner also took part in the 1989 military operation Just Cause in Panama in which U.S. forces ousted Gen. Manuel Noriega while he served with the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Additionally, Turner was the commander of the United Nations Command Security Force at the DMZ in Panmunjom, Korea, from 1990 to 1992. He was a brigade commander and division chief of staff with the 82nd Airborne Division and was formerly chief of staff of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
In his current assignment, he deployed as the commander of the Joint Task Force that responded to the crisis this past year in West Africa.
"He and his wife, Susan, are a tremendous team, and they'll be wonderful at Fort Campbell and with the Screaming Eagles," Petraeus said. "I cannot think of anyone to whom I'd rather pass the division colors than Tom Turner."
While Petraeus gives high marks to the incoming post and division commander, others in the community say they'll be sad to see Petraeus and his wife, Holly, move on. Their leadership was praised, especially during a time of war.
"Maj. Gen. Petraeus, he is one of the very best and Mrs. Petraeus has done a marvelous job in his absence. She's done it with great grace and efficiency," said retired Brig. Gen. Wendell Gilbert, president of Operation Eagle's Nest, a fund-raising agency for Fort Campbell soldiers and their families.
Former Clarksville mayor and retired Col. Ted Crozier agreed Maj. Gen. Petraeus couldn't have been a better pick for the post.
"He's smart and he's been trained," Crozier said. "He's gone right up the line and is experienced at every level. He's quick and has got a great sense of humor, and he knows how to treat people. And when it comes to training, he's a trainer. I hope we continue to march in that area."
During his nearly two-year tenure at Fort Campbell, Maj. Gen. Petraeus led the division into the Iraq War where local units were instrumental in rebuilding the country's infrastructure in the northern city of Mosul. Prior to his present assignment, Petraeus served as assistant chief of staff for operations of the NATO Stabilization Force and the U.S. Joint Interagency Counter-Terrorism Task Force in Bosnia. He also took over as assistant division commander for operations of the 82nd Airborne Division and then as the chief of staff of XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg. Petraeus is a 1985 graduate of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.