What Is General Petraeus Doing?

General David Petraeus (Photo from AP/The Age)

Former US Iraq Commander Petraeus Takes
on Afghanistan -- Voice Of America

The American general widely credited with turning around the war in Iraq takes command Friday of U.S. forces throughout the Middle East and Central Asia - putting him in charge of U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan, as well as Iraq and the surrounding region. VOA Pentagon Correspondent Al Pessin reports on the new challenges facing David Petraeus.

It is not difficult to find praise for General David Petraeus' year-and-a-half in Iraq, during which violence dropped 80 percent and U.S. troops began to hand over responsibility to the new Iraqi forces in large parts of the country.

This is how retired General Gordon Sullivan introduced Petraeus at a conference of soldiers, veterans and their supporters in Washington earlier this month.

He said, "You have a very unique opportunity today to listen to this great soldier, scholar, commander, thinker, athlete and leader of troops, a great American and a great American soldier, General David Petraeus."

Such praise appears to slightly embarrass General Petraeus, who is always quick to say he shares any credit with U.S., coalition, and Iraqi troops.

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My Comment: Iraq and Afghanistan are two different conflicts .... with Afghanistan being the difficult one to pacify (if possible).