news

Petraeus to officially retire to take CIA job

(CNN) -- U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, who served as the top U.S. commander in Iraq and then Afghanistan, will hang up his uniform for a civilian suit Wednesday.

He will leave the Pentagon for the halls of another hallowed Washington institution: the CIA.

Petraeus' experience in working with the CIA on counterinsurgency efforts in the field was cited as a reason for his nomination as its director.

He assumes his new role on September 6.

As the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Petraeus was dubbed King David for turning around what seemed like a losing battle.


Deadliest month for U.S. in Afghan War RELATED TOPICS
David Petraeus
Central Intelligence Agency
Military and Defense Policy
He took over in Afghanistan in July 2010 after a Rolling Stone magazine article prompted the resignation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

On July 18, he handed over Afghan command to Gen. John Allen.

Petraeus graduated in 1974 from West Point and began his career as a second lieutenant in the infantry. He went on become arguably the most influential general of his generation.

In fact, Esquire magazine called him one of the most influential people of the 21st century.

Some were stunned that a decorated military career was ending prematurely. Petraeus is only 58.

"I wanted this job," Petraeus said at his Senate confirmation hearing. "I am taking off the uniform I have worn for 37 years to do this the right way."

With that, the U.S. Army is losing the architect of modern-day counterinsurgency operations.

Petraeus wrote his doctoral dissertation on the lessons America learned in Vietnam. Later, he devised the Army/Marine field manual, challenging the military to think differently in how it relates to the civilian population in dealing with an insurgency.

"What we have done is implement the so-called NATO comprehensive approach, a civil-military campaign ... that does indeed embody many of the principles of the counterinsurgency field manual that we developed back in 2006, and which we employed in Iraq in the surge of 2007-2008," he said in an interview with NATO-TV.

comment: i think An experienced general who held together the modern wars. I can't wait for him to throw his hat in the candidacy for Sec of Defense, instead of that unexperienced POLITICIAN Panetta. Actually he would make a good POTUS, you know, educated man, army background, leadership capabilities...sounds like, not Obama