Petraeus Sworn Into Top Post at CIA
The newly retired Gen. David Petraeus turned in his uniform for a business suit on Tuesday as he was sworn in as the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Petraeus, who became arguably became one of the United States' most famous commanders of the modern age throughout his storied 37-year military career, took the oath of office at a White House ceremony led by Vice President Joe Biden.
The 58-year-old is credited with helping turn around the Iraq war in 2007, when he masterminded the controversial military surge strategy that ended the violent insurgency against the U.S.-led coalition. Similarly, in a time when top figures were arguing for a troop drawdown in Afghanistan, Petraeus encouraged President Obama to increase military forces in Afghanistan in order to slow the momentum of the Taliban insurgency and lay the groundwork for a gradual U.S. troop drawdown.
The strategy went against the advice of some of Obama's top advisers - including Vice President Joe Biden --who advocated withdrawing a majority of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and leaving only a small force of trainers and special operation troops to capture terrorists.
Petraeus was enlisted to take over at the CIA as part of a major shuffle of his national security team. Former CIA director Leon Panetta has been promoted to Defense Secretary, succeeding the retiring Robert Gates, the current Pentagon chief and former CIA director.
In April, a senior White House official told reporters that the national security changes enacted by Obama are intended to form a team that can function well together while leading the nation's military and intelligence forces, The New York Times reports.
The Associated Press reports there is some unease among intelligence officials as Petraeus assumes leadership of the so-called silent service. The CIA has produced a series of grim reviews on conditions in Afghanistan, where Petraeus oversaw the war for more than four years. In a past senate testimony, Petraeus has reportedly acknowledged the differences between him and CIA analysts, saying that he thought their analysis may have been skewed since they were often forced to rely on data at least six weeks old.
Moreover, the AP reports that some White House officials fear Petraeus may use his position to advocate his old counterinsurgency war strategy, a charge he has reportedly addressed, telling senators at his confirmation hearing that he would be serving policymakers and not shaping policy himself.
Several media outlets report that CIA director was not Petraeus ideal position. Instead, he reportedly hope to become chairman of the Joint Chief s of Staff, for which Obama chose Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the current Army Chief os Staff with a far less public military career.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.