MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida: Gen. David Petraeus rose to the helm of Central Command yesterday. He pledged to push for more than military solutions to the troubles of the greater Middle East.
The four-star commander underlined the many problems facing not only Iraq and Afghanistan but also other countries in his new area of military responsibility — from Egypt, Lebanon and Syria to Iran, Pakistan and the rest of Central Asia.
“As we have all seen in recent years, addressing these challenges requires comprehensive approaches to employ the whole of our government’s capabilities,” he said, alluding to his effort, during 20 months as the top US commander in Iraq, to involve more fully the State Department and other agencies.
“This is necessary not just to resolve pressing short-term issues, but to address — over time — the underlying conditions that give rise to such serious security challenges. So the way ahead will be difficult.”
His first trip as chief of Central Command, starting today, is to include a stop in Pakistan, a US ally threatened with financial ruin, torn by insurgency and armed with nuclear weapons.
Petraeus took command from Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, who had filled in as the acting Central Command commander since March, when Adm. William Fallon stepped down sooner than the Pentagon had expected. Dempsey is about to rise in rank to four-star general and assume command of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offered warm praise for Dempsey and said that the challenge for Petraeus has evolved, even in the weeks since he left Baghdad.
