World
Report: Bush reshuffles Iraq team
Source: Xinhuanet | 01-06-2007 12:24
Special Report: Iraq in TransitionWASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush is overhauling his top diplomatic and military team in Iraq, The Washington Post reported Friday.
The move came as the White House scrambles to complete its new war policy package in time for the president to unveil it in a speech to the nation next week, according to the report.
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| Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, seen here in 2004, will replace Gen. George Casey as commander of multinational forces in Iraq. (Xinhua Photo/AFP) |
Gen. George Casey, top commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, delivers a speech at the Pentagon, June 22, 2006. (Xinhua Photo/AFP) |
The Pentagon announced on Friday that Army Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, who gained fame for his early success in training Iraqi troops and securing a volatile city in northern Iraq, will replace Gen. George W. Casey Jr. as commander of the multinational forces in Iraq.
It also nominated Navy Adm. William J. Fallon to head the Central Command, replacing Gen. John P. Abizaid as the top U.S. military commander for the Middle East.
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| Gen. John Abizaid retires as top U.S. military leader in the Middle East. Full story >> |
On the diplomatic side, the White House will appoint veteran U.S. diplomat Ryan C. Crocker, the current envoy to Pakistan, who began his career in the 1970s in Iraq, as the new ambassador to Baghdad.
The controversial current ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, will be nominated to become the top U.S. envoy at the United Nations, replacing John R. Bolton.
Besides, Bush announced on Friday that Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte will return to the State Department as deputy to Condoleezza Rice, and retired Navy Adm. John M. McConnell will take the top U.S. intelligence job.
As part of his congressional consultations before next week's speech, Bush has invited a group of lawmakers to talk about Iraq on Friday.
Editor:Du Xiaodan
