Gen. David Petraeus Recommended to Head US Central Command

Gen. David Petraeus has been recommended by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to head the U.S. Central Command and that recommendation will translate into a nomination from President George W. Bush and it will now go before the U.S. Senate for final approval.

Petraeus has been the top military commander in Iraq but the position at CentCom opened after Navy Adm. William Fallon suddenly stepped down from the position following differences with the President’s policy on Iran.

Gates noted that March event in his press conference on Wednesday saying, “Admiral Fallon's unexpected decision to step down as commander of Central Command on March 11 created a vacancy at one of our most important combatant commands, one engaged in two wars, and on many fronts, and perhaps the most sensitive part of the world.”

CentCom covers the Middle East and Central Asia and will hand Petraeus the reigns in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Following the Petraeus announcement Gates introduced Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno as the nominee to replace Petraeus in Iraq.

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