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BBC: Bush 'to replace top US generals'
BBC ^ | Thursday, 4 January 2007, 23:51 GMT | BBC Staff

Posted on 01/04/2007 6:18:01 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Bush 'to replace top US generals'

President George W Bush

Mr Bush is to announce a new Iraq strategy soon

President George W Bush is to change his military operations chief for Iraq and Afghanistan, US media reports say.

Adm William Fallon will replace Gen John Abizaid as head of US Central Command and there will be a new ground commander in Iraq, ABC News reported.

It also said that US ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad is to replace John Bolton as US ambassador to the UN.

The reports come days before Mr Bush unveils a new strategy for Iraq that could include thousands more US troops.

The Pentagon has declined to comment on the reports.

New troops

Adm Fallon is the top military commander in the Pacific.

If confirmed, the move would put an admiral in charge of two land wars.

ABC said Lt Gen David Petraeus was expected to replace Gen George Casey as the leading ground commander in Iraq.

In a teleconference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki on Thursday Mr Bush agreed there should be "sufficient" security forces in Baghdad, the White House said.

The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says there could be perhaps as many as 18,000 extra troops, a policy that is likely to bring gasps of disbelief from many of the president's supporters.

The Democrats, newly installed in power in both houses of Congress, will not be supportive, our correspondent says.

Mr Bush's new approach is expected to be laid out in a speech as early as the middle of next week.

A senior White House official said Mr Bush might make the official announcement on Mr Khalilzad as early as Friday.

Mr Khalilzad would have to be confirmed by the Senate, but analysts say he has maintained good relations with the Democrats.

Reports say Ryan Crocker, US ambassador to Pakistan, may replace Mr Khalilzad in Baghdad.

John Negroponte is set to move from director of national intelligence to deputy secretary of state.

Retired vice admiral and intelligence official Michael McConnell is expected to replace Mr Negroponte.




TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: abizaid; iran; iraq; syria
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1 posted on 01/04/2007 6:18:05 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: All
Special Note:

***************************************

John Negroponte is set to move from director of national intelligence to deputy secretary of state.

2 posted on 01/04/2007 6:18:47 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Important ping for later


3 posted on 01/04/2007 6:21:57 PM PST by unkus
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

finally.

the "surge" won't work without some new tactics and new rules of engagement - and Abizaid and Casey can't deliver that. fire them, this is Bush's last chance on iraq.


4 posted on 01/04/2007 6:22:49 PM PST by oceanview
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Abazaid was set to be rotated out.


5 posted on 01/04/2007 6:24:46 PM PST by pissant
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To: pissant

whatever they want to call it is fine with me.


6 posted on 01/04/2007 6:25:34 PM PST by oceanview
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Having watched the BBC with some regularity and seen their anti American venom they don't,IMO,have any credibility in covering this country.


7 posted on 01/04/2007 6:25:46 PM PST by Gay State Conservative ("The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism."-Karl Marx)
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To: oceanview

I like Abazaid. He did fine.


8 posted on 01/04/2007 6:26:36 PM PST by pissant
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To: Gay State Conservative

I think , that lately they have been better than the Majors Media Outlets here....


9 posted on 01/04/2007 6:27:35 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

More window dressing for the American defeat.


10 posted on 01/04/2007 6:28:32 PM PST by billybudd
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To: All
Thread on Negroponte going to the State Department:

Negroponte to be deputy secretary of state

11 posted on 01/04/2007 6:29:24 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: billybudd

Yet another MoveOn freeper.


12 posted on 01/04/2007 6:29:52 PM PST by pissant
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To: oceanview

You are failing to recognize the tremendous progress that has been made in Iraq. Sectarian Violence is NOT the only thing happening there. You just have to know were to look for the truth, becasue you sure ain't getting anything like truth from the media.


13 posted on 01/04/2007 6:33:18 PM PST by pissant
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Are they replacing Condi ??
14 posted on 01/04/2007 6:33:23 PM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 144:1 Praise be to YHvH, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.)
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To: billybudd

Arm chair surrender coward. Defeat is not an option. Victory is the only recourse.


15 posted on 01/04/2007 6:34:34 PM PST by jrooney ( Hold your cards close.)
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To: XeniaSt

No. Negropante will be her deputy.


16 posted on 01/04/2007 6:35:21 PM PST by jrooney ( Hold your cards close.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

The BBC is Al-Jazeera in english.


17 posted on 01/04/2007 6:36:15 PM PST by pissant
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To: pissant

progress in many areas, yes. but on quelling the insurgency, the militias, training iraqi forces - its been bad. 113 US KIA in december.


18 posted on 01/04/2007 6:36:51 PM PST by oceanview
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Things may be coming down to the wire. Then again I believe I had made similiar comments in the past. We will stay in Iraq at least to the first year term of a new POTUS in my judgement.
The continue talks about early troop pull out are simply not realistic. To much time, resources, and money have been spent on this venture. Not all demorats and republicans think along a party line. And for sure many demorats have not caved in to pressures from the anti war gang. And I don't think they will for the next few years.
Those that continue to make comparisons with NAM do IMHO, miss one important point. Though the arguments over the years about vast oil fields in that country being a primary reason for Johnson to want to stay in NAM, the fact remains, that they where un-proven claims (how much oil might be available).
In the case with Iraq. It is a far different scenario. The huge proven oil fields are available and needed by many nations. And obviously the split between those Mid East countries as to the need for us to stay in Iraq as a stabilizer (Saudi surely do not want us to leave), means we must stay. If we leave, then the Ruskies and Chicoms move in.
The morons like Pelosi, Turban etc., may put on a good show for public consumption, but I hardly think many representatives and senators really believe we can just leave Iraq without extremly dire ramifications.
The show will go on.
19 posted on 01/04/2007 6:40:14 PM PST by Marine_Uncle
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To: oceanview

War is hell, especially when the insurgents and terrorists only continue to fight because they see division in this country and they sense the democrats wanting us to pull out early, like Vietnam. If this country would have remained united, the democrats loyal and the media honest in its reporting, the insurgency and the terrorists would have given up two years ago. The only reason this war has continued is because of the democratic leaders and the traitorous media.


20 posted on 01/04/2007 6:40:41 PM PST by jrooney ( Hold your cards close.)
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