US

Petraeus named to oversee Middle East operations

Article published on the 2008-04-24 Latest update 2008-04-24 15:15 TU

General David Petraeus.
(Photo : Reuters)

US General David Petraeus has been named to lead the US Centcom, or Central Command, a body that overseas the entire Middle East and Central Asian region. Petraeus, currently the top general in Iraq, has gained a high profile and is credited with turning around American fortunes in Iraq and masterminding the ‘surge’ strategy.

Petraeus is an advocate of keeping an increased troop presence in Iraq indefinitely and US President George Bush is said to trust his judgement.

 

He has overseen the Bush adminstration's "surge", which has seen  30,000 extra troops sent into Iraq and beefed counter-insurgency. 

 

He replaces Amdmiral William Fallon, who resigned last month amid reports of differences with the White House over Iran.

 

Analyst Mohammed al-Masri of the Centre for Strategic Studies in Amman, Jordan, told RFI that Petraeus’ appointment indicates that American policy in the greater Middle East will become more hawkish and anti-Iranian.

 

“This change in command could be a direct message to Iran. That the American administration … is meaning business concerning the increasing influence of Iran in Iraq and in the region at large,” al-Masri explained.

 

Petraeus will leave his post in Iraq to assume Centcom in September 2008.