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Four-Star General May Run Iraq Transition
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday he is considering appointing a U.S. four-star general to oversee the security aspects of Iraqâs transition to self-rule. He said no decisions have been made but "it may very well be" that the command structure will be reorganized as the United States approaches the July 1 target date for restoring Iraqi sovereignty. Now, the top military officer for the Iraq mission is Gen. John Abizaid, whose Florida-base Central Command has responsibility for American military operations in Iraq, as well as Afghanistan, other parts of the Persian Gulf and Central Asia, and the Horn of Africa. Lotâs of eggs in that basket. Within the new structure that is under discussion at the Pentagon, another four-star general would be given overall military responsibility for Iraq, leaving Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, who is currently the most senior commander on the ground in Iraq, to run day-to-day combat operations. That also would relieve some strain on Abizaid, whose has broader responsibilities. Peeling off Iraq, setting it up as a stand-alone command. The proposal was first reported Tuesday by the Washington Times. Rumsfeld said this is one of two dozen or more issues under consideration as part of the transition toward a restoration of sovereignty in Iraq. What jumped out at me, and the press missed, was that the new four-star would be Commander, US Forces-Iraq. Just like US Forces-Korea, US Forces-Japan, US Forces-Europe, etc. Anyone else think weâre planning to leave soon? Me neither, theyâre setting up the force structure for the bases the new Iraqi government will "lease" us after they take charge. Posted by: Steve 2004-01-07 |
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