Friday, January 05, 2007
Bush plans shake-up in new Iraq strategy
Politics
U.S. President George W. Bush is reported planning a series of changes of key U.S. military and political leaders as part of a new strategy for Iraq. The White House and Defense Department have not confirmed the changes, but U.S. media and administration officials have said they will include appointing Admiral William Fallon, currently head of the U.S. Pacific Command, to replace General John Abizaid as chief of the U.S. Central Command, which is in charge of U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The reports say Lieutenant General David Petraeus is expected to take over from General George Casey as the leading ground commander in Iraq. On the diplomatic side, the reports say current U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and former Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad will be nominated to be the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Ryan Crocker, the current U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, is expected to replace Khalilzad in Baghdad, according to the reports.
And Bush is expected later today to announce that John Negroponte, a former ambassador to Iraq, is leaving as director of national intelligence to become deputy secretary of state. Officials say retired Vice Admiral and intelligence official Michael McConnell will replace Negroponte as intelligence chief. Bush has said he expects to deliver a speech next week unveiling a fresh Iraq strategy. Officials have said Bush is considering whether to deploy thousands more U.S. troops to Iraq in a bid to bring security.
The reports say Lieutenant General David Petraeus is expected to take over from General George Casey as the leading ground commander in Iraq. On the diplomatic side, the reports say current U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and former Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad will be nominated to be the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Ryan Crocker, the current U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, is expected to replace Khalilzad in Baghdad, according to the reports.
And Bush is expected later today to announce that John Negroponte, a former ambassador to Iraq, is leaving as director of national intelligence to become deputy secretary of state. Officials say retired Vice Admiral and intelligence official Michael McConnell will replace Negroponte as intelligence chief. Bush has said he expects to deliver a speech next week unveiling a fresh Iraq strategy. Officials have said Bush is considering whether to deploy thousands more U.S. troops to Iraq in a bid to bring security.
