Petraeus Ascends to Central Command
Since taking the helm last February, General David Petraeus has led the ‘surge’ of US forces on Iraqi soil, resulting in the lowest levels of violence in almost four years. Citing the fact that “the number of attacks in Baghdad lately has been, gosh, I think it’s probably less than five (a day) on average, and that’s a city of seven million people,” Petraeus will turn over command on September 16 to General Raymond Odierno. Amidst a growing consensus that a drawdown of American forces is inevitable, Petraeus leaves at an auspicious crossroads in the American campaign in Iraq, and the global war on terror. In his new post at Central Command, Petraeus will be coordinating troops across the globe by the time the US has a new president and commander-in-chief in January.
Zack Freundlich
