The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Breaking News => Topic started by: TheSarge on February 17, 2008, 03:37:57 PM
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BAGHDAD, Feb. 15, 2008 – Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III assumed command of Multinational Corps Iraq at Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace here yesterday.
He succeeds Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, who has been nominated for his fourth star and, if confirmed, will become Army vice chief of staff later this year.
Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander, spoke highly of Odierno's accomplishments and leadership as commander of 3rd Corps and Multinational Corps Iraq. Petraeus said Iraq was a much different place when Odierno first took command 14 months ago.
"The situation was very difficult," Petraeus said. "The bloodshed had reached horrific levels. The very fabric of Iraqi society had been torn."
Petraeus said Odierno and his team had a lot of planning and hard work on their hands, but they stepped up and made the tough decisions the country needed.
"He forthrightly requested additional forces, and he and his staff began developing an operational concept for their employment," Petraeus said. "His recommendations for what came to be known as the surge forces have since been proven correct. They reflected a mastery of the operational level of war, and they explicitly laid out the concepts that have guided our forces over the past year."
Odierno said he was humbled by Petraeus' remarks and for having served among the ranks of others.
"You restored optimism to a country once enslaved by the influence of terrorists and allowed a nation to take control of its own destiny," Odierno said. "I am humbled to serve in your ranks, and I salute each and every one of you. Thank you for being at my side and for being the soldiers that you are."
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48978