David Petraeus, the US general who presided over Iraq’s pullback from the brink of all-out civil war, relinquished his command yesterday to General Ray Odierno under a cascade of official thank-yous.
In a ceremony in a marble-lined rotunda of a former Saddam Hussein palace on the outskirts of the capital, Petraeus handed off to Odierno the responsibility for leading US and coalition forces at a stage in the still-unpopular war that appears far more hopeful than when Petraeus assumed command 20 months ago.
Petraeus leaves behind a heavy dose of caution, reflected in his recommendation to US President George W. Bush that he maintain 15 combat brigades in Iraq through the end of the year instead of pulling out one or two, as many had expected.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates presided, recalling the perils faced by Petraeus at the start of his tour in February last year.
“Darkness had descended on this land,” Gates said. “Merchants of chaos were gaining strength. Death was commonplace,” and people around the world were wondering whether any Iraq strategy would work.
Gates praised Petraeus and Odierno for their accomplishments together last year, when Odierno served as the No. 2 US commander and a revised US strategy began to pay dividends.
“Slowly, but inexorably, the tide began to turn,” Gates said.
Our enemies took a fearsome beating they will not soon forget.
Fortified by our own people and renewed commitment, the soldiers of Iraq found new courage and confidence. And the people of Iraq, resilient and emboldened, rose up to take back their country.”
Petraeus’ next assignment will be as commander of US Central Command, with broader responsibilities. From his headquarters in Tampa, Florida, he will oversee US military involvement across the Middle East, including Iraq, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan and other Central Asian nations. He takes up that post in late October.
Petraeus and other military leaders regularly warn that security gains in Iraq are reversible and need continued US attention — a point underscored by persistent bombings that bear the hallmarks of Sunni insurgents.
On Monday, Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin, the No. 2 US commander in Iraq, told reporters it would be a mistake to push the US-trained Iraqi army and police into a leading security role before they are ready.
“I’m not sure that pushing them forward is the right thing that we want to do. We tried that once before and found that that didn’t work,” Austin told reporters, referring to the US strategy before last year, which focused on handing off security responsibility to the Iraqis quickly while reducing the US presence.
That approach faltered before Bush switched strategies and installed Petraeus in Baghdad, replacing General George Casey.
Austin succeeded Odierno in February as the No. 2 US commander in Iraq. Austin told reporters on Monday that he did not expect the switch from Petraeus to Odierno to result in much change in focus.
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