US Senate: Lt-Gen David Petraeus to Lead in Iraq

WASHINGTON: The US Senate confirmed Lt-Gen David Petraeus as the new commander of troops in Iraq with a unanimous vote of 81-0. As General, Petraeus will be commander of Multinational Force Iraq (MNF-I), will oversee all forces and carry out the new Iraqi strategy plan.

Lt-Gen Petraeus' promotion follows the replacement of Donald H. Rumsfield with Robert Gates as defense secretary after Mr. Rumsfield's resignation following the November 7 mid-term elections.

Petraeus will replace the current commander Gen George Casey as President George W. Bush prepares to send 21,500 more troops to the region, a plan that has been met with public and congressional scrutiny and opposition.

Many view Lt-Gen Petraeus as Mr. Bush's best, and possibly last, hope. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement saying "We'll now have our very best general in charge of the operations in Iraq. If it can't be done under Gen Petraeus, then it cannot be done at all."

Lt-Gen Petraeus testified to Congress earlier this week that although the situation in Iraq is "dire" he was in support of President Bush's new strategy and emphasized the need for additional troops.

Lt-Gen Petraeus has served two yearlong tours in Iraq. He was commander of the 101^st Airborne Division during the March 2003 invasion and the subsequent occupation of that unit in Mosul until mid-2004.

In June of 2004, Lt-Gen Petraeus became commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command -Iraq where he oversaw training the new Iraqi Army and security forces until September of the following year.

He then assumed command of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center (CAC) in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His post at the CAC included responsibility for manual development, officer training, integration of battle systems and concepts and supervising collection and dissemination of post-battle information.

Lt-Gen Petraues has a reputation as one of the smartest, and toughest, generals in the U.S. Army having twice survived life-threatening injuries during his service. He has helped rewrite the Army's counter-insurgency doctrine and is credited with subduing northern Iraq during his command there.

His current role at the CAC has often been criticized. As a high profile, ambitious and competitive commander, some have labeled him a self-promoter.

Lt-Gen Petraues' supporters argue that his successes, particularly in Iraq, stem from an aggressive effort to win over locals.

In Mosul, his division was charged with resuscitating the economy, building security forces and establishing democratic institutions. Lt-Gen Petraues adopted a "hearts and minds" approach that many view as critical, and lacking, in the overall Iraqi strategy.

His efforts at the CAC have led to 190,000 trained local and national police and 130,000 troops in Iraq serving the Senate's belief that dealing with sectarian violence is the responsibility of Iraq. Despite the training efforts only three divisions in the region are under full Iraqi government control.

In his testimony to the senate committee this week, Lt-Gen Petraues said "The situation in Iraq is dire. The stakes are high. There are no easy choices. The way ahead will be very hard." Then added "but hard is not hopeless."

Sources:

"US Senate confirms Iraq commander" BBC News, January 26, 2007.
"Senate OKs new U.S. commander in Iraq" by Anne Flaherty, Associated Press, January 26, 2007.
"Lt-Gen Petraeus: Bush's 'last hope' for Iraq" BBC News, January 11, 2007.
http://usacac.army.mil/cac/commander.asp