Petraeus to take charge at Central Command
Friday, 31 Oct 2008 12:03
'Iraq surge' general David Petraeus to assume control of US Central Command later today
Pakistan In Focus
Pervez Musharraf's resignation leaves a big hole in Pakistani politics – one which analysts expect the west will look to the military to fill. Full Story
David Petraeus, the general credited with suppressing sectarian violence in Iraq, will today assume control of the United States Central Command.
Following today's swearing in ceremony in Florida, Gen Petraeus will be responsible for US military operations in the wider
Middle East and central
Asia.
For the last two years Gen Petraeus was head of coalition forces in Iraq, a post he gave up earlier this autumn.
In that role he oversaw George Bush's surge strategy in Baghdad, which saw 30,000 extra US troops flood into and around the Iraqi capital.
But while Iraq will remain a concern for Gen Petraeus, he has already revealed he sees
Pakistan as his major challenge as head of Central Command.
Pakistan is increasingly being viewed as a greater threat to American security interests than either Iraq or Afghanistan, with al-Qaida and Taliban militants based in the relative safe-havens of the country's north-western tribal regions.
Since the resignation of Pervez Musharraf as Pakistani president the Bush administration has stepped up attacks on the country's soil through drone missile strikes.
The attacks, targeting militant positions, have killed dozens of civilians in the last two months, drawing anger from Islamabad, which is already suffering from an economic crisis and a rising Islamic extremist insurgency.
Speaking earlier this month, Gen Petraeus said he wanted to involve Pakistan in efforts to combat militants in the north.
"Pakistan is going to do this on their own," he explained. "They have a very keen sense of sovereignty."