Petraeus tapped to lead Mideast command

[0:02] ..." Staff. I have recommended and the president has proved and will nominate general David Petraeus as the new commander of Central Command. We will withdraw the nomination of lieutenant general ray oh dear no good to be the army vice chief of staff. And nominate him to return to Baghdad as the new multinational force Iraq commander replacing general Petraeus. The president will nominate lieutenant general Peter Chiarelli as vice chief of staff of the armed. I do not anticipate general Petraeus leaving Iraq until late summer or early fall. With respect to all these moves I am especially grateful to radio -- I"...

[1:42] ..." anticipate any issues -- Iraq in terms of interacting that tenure at general Petraeus and whether that might. Present a problem and in losing momentum as far as what he's."...

[2:04] ..." McCain and senator Warner I think they all have high respect for general Petraeus he has clearly been successful. In his current assignment and so I don't really anticipate any problems. With respect to a possible eruption of momentum. One of the reasons for general Petraeus saying on -- while it is to ensure that. There's plenty of time to prepare and hand for a good handle. And by the same token. The fact that general Cody or -- has just returned means that he is well known to our brigade commanders -- known for our troops he's known to the Iraqis and has very current experience clearly was general Petraeus is right hand man during this last year so -- and I believe that that this arrangement probably. Preserves the likelihood of"...

[3:15] ..." You can just explained their reasons for an illuminating. And general Petraeus and particularly for this Joe bringing in someone who already touched on the command experience in the region."...

[3:52] ..." characterized by a symmetric warfare and I don't know anybody in the united states military better qualified to lead an effort."...

[4:01] ..." besides momentum though doesn't raise questions about continuity of very critical time general Petraeus just recently told congress. That at the end the search operation on the fifth search combat brigade is withdrawn. -- 45 day"...

[4:33] ..." Well I I would expect that general Petraeus would carry out that first carry out not only devaluation but that first decision in terms of are we able to draw"...

[6:53] ..." on in the region I think that has just indicated I think general Petraeus is is best --"...

[9:00] ..." think that. First of all I think that the course certainly the general Petraeus has set. Has been successful course so frankly I think staying that course is not a bad idea. I would say it's"...

[9:25] ..." very hard line on Iranian involvement. The last part six months in general Petraeus earlier this month. There's a public perception that admiral -- was the last hard line on Iran get public perception children. Should the public the world at large sees this as a signal that the US speaking. -- correct but also seen as soon to -- that the United States means business about them sting out of a few years."...

[9:56] ..." I would tell you it's my belief. That they're -- no general Petraeus and admiral fail Fallon. We're all in exactly the same position when it came to their views of Iranian interference inside Iraq."...

[10:33] ..." General Petraeus in the past alluded -- in Bethlehem illustrious way to Afghanistan except that it wasn't as he had his purview. We just -- vision is for. That's exactly will -- for you get a sense of what these changes mean for Afghanistan past. Generals are closely linked to large scale counter insurgency in Iraq. Now -- oversight or Afghanistan at a time when US troop levels there are arrested."...

[11:07] ..." now going to be there I assume it will be very time general Petraeus is listed as well if you will have responsibilities there as will. -- continue to have responsible for users so I think."...

[11:25] ..." Hope that general Petraeus -- sort of apply these lessons learned from Iraq into Afghanistan -- you'll overhaul. -- lead over all the Afghanistan strategy. Well."...

[0:00]" With the concurrence of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I have recommended and the president has proved and will nominate general David Petraeus as the new commander of Central Command. We will withdraw the nomination of lieutenant general ray oh dear no good to be the army vice chief of staff. And nominate him to return to Baghdad as the new multinational force Iraq commander replacing general Petraeus. The president will nominate lieutenant general Peter Chiarelli as vice chief of staff of the armed. I do not anticipate general Petraeus leaving Iraq until late summer or early fall. With respect to all these moves I am especially grateful to radio -- I don't know his wife Linda and their family. For his acceptance and another two were in Iraq this time -- overall commander. General -- journal has only been back from Iraq a little over two months and it is I think he is extraordinary sense of duty. That has led him to accept this tough assignment. I'm personally very grateful for him and to his family for their remarkable service to our country. We expect to move the paperwork on these nominations to the White House and for the Senate very quickly because of the complexity of this series of moves. I respectfully ask the Senate to move on them expeditiously hopefully by Memorial Day so their families and we. I can plan appropriately."

[1:29]" Mr. secretary flint I think have you spoken to any of the key leaders in the Senate department. These initial support are not party's nominations do you anticipate any problems. And then do you anticipate any issues -- Iraq in terms of interacting that tenure at general Petraeus and whether that might. Present a problem and in losing momentum as far as what he's."

[1:58]" Well and first of all I have talked -- senator Levin. Senator McCain and senator Warner I think they all have high respect for general Petraeus he has clearly been successful. In his current assignment and so I don't really anticipate any problems. With respect to a possible eruption of momentum. One of the reasons for general Petraeus saying on -- while it is to ensure that. There's plenty of time to prepare and hand for a good handle. And by the same token. The fact that general Cody or -- has just returned means that he is well known to our brigade commanders -- known for our troops he's known to the Iraqis and has very current experience clearly was general Petraeus is right hand man during this last year so -- and I believe that that this arrangement probably. Preserves the likelihood of continued momentum progress and Mississippi."

[3:15]" You can just explained their reasons for an illuminating. And general Petraeus and particularly for this Joe bringing in someone who already touched on the command experience in the region."

[3:27]" I think that that that is an easy one to answer. I recommending to the president because I am absolutely confident he's the best man for the job the kinds of conflicts that we are dealing with not just in Iraq and Afghanistan and some of the challenges that we face elsewhere in the region and Central Command area are very much characterized by a symmetric warfare and I don't know anybody in the united states military better qualified to lead an effort."

[4:00]" isn't -- solution besides momentum though doesn't raise questions about continuity of very critical time general Petraeus just recently told congress. That at the end the search operation on the fifth search combat brigade is withdrawn. -- 45 day periods to -- and of the situation on the ground and then decide whether more troops could be withdrawn that critical time doesn't that present outrage and that kind of continuity."

[4:33]" Well I I would expect that general Petraeus would carry out that first carry out not only devaluation but that first decision in terms of are we able to draw down from another brigade combat team or not depending on the conditions on the ground. At that point that ongoing evaluation that I expect to happen. Sort of on a weekly if not daily basis will -- general audience general in charge -- that. Is there -- possibility that would change that 45 day waiting period -- I don't think so that we can remember I was talking about late summer early fall so. I think it'll work in."

[5:30]" There is there is no question there are a handful of generals like a lot of -- camps. And and enlisted soldiers and and CEOs who have had repeated two years in Iraq partly it is their experience partly it is the fact that they know Iraq hand and so I think it is. We'll look I would have and off balance decision to step down was unexpected I had intended it admiral Fallon probably staying staying on for a third year -- second you would have ended in February. And when I reviewed all of these assignments through the next through next January with the president you know and and was chairman Levin few weeks ago to retreat to them after three months ago I laid out where I thought the combatant commanders would be in me and I him -- and admiral Fallon -- one of those that I had intended. Continue on for a third year so. I'm I'm faced with a critical combatant command. -- commanders needed in a commander who knows what's going on in the region I think that has just indicated I think general Petraeus is is best --"

[8:18]" And that's the reasons are as I as I described. I believe in in most parts of the world but especially in Middle East personal relationships make a big difference. And and general we -- is known recently to the Iraqi leadership he's known for the Iraqi generals he is known to our own people he has current experience and so the likelihood of him being able to pick up. For this but time passed and to be smooth is better the odds of that are better with hand and -- anybody else I could identify him. The -- well I don't you know I think that. First of all I think that the course certainly the general Petraeus has set. Has been successful course so frankly I think staying that course is not a bad idea. I would say it's a good idea and I think that. Apropos of a comment about passing the time and I think sustaining a success and building on is important."

[9:22]" Answer both those awkward -- you don't -- very hard line on Iranian involvement. The last part six months in general Petraeus earlier this month. There's a public perception that admiral -- was the last hard line on Iran get public perception children. Should the public the world at large sees this as a signal that the US speaking. -- correct but also seen as soon to -- that the United States means business about them sting out of a few years."

[9:54]" Always people can speak for themselves but I would tell you it's my belief. That they're -- no general Petraeus and admiral fail Fallon. We're all in exactly the same position when it came to their views of Iranian interference inside Iraq. And -- Kennedy is safe hard. Position because but the Iranians are doing this killing American servicemen and and inside Iraq and and so I don't think there's any difference of view among them on that issue what's."

[10:33]" General Petraeus in the past alluded -- in Bethlehem illustrious way to Afghanistan except that it wasn't as he had his purview. We just -- vision is for. That's exactly will -- for you get a sense of what these changes mean for Afghanistan past. Generals are closely linked to large scale counter insurgency in Iraq. Now -- oversight or Afghanistan at a time when US troop levels there are arrested."

[10:57]" Well I think that if it puts you know Afghanistan was high on admiral Fallon -- list it's it's. It's an important theater of action right now going to be there I assume it will be very time general Petraeus is listed as well if you will have responsibilities there as will. -- continue to have responsible for users so I think. It will continue to receive high level attention to you."

[11:25]" Hope that general Petraeus -- sort of apply these lessons learned from Iraq into Afghanistan -- you'll overhaul. -- lead over all the Afghanistan strategy. Well."