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DOD photo on Feb. 27, 2007 -
Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, at the time the No. 2 U.S. military
commander in Iraq, briefs reporters on the new Baghdad security
plan. |
LT. GEN. ODIERNO TO TAKE OVER IRAQ COMMAND
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Abridged text from NY Times article of
4.23.08:
General Petraeus and General Odierno have built a strong working
relationship and are believed to see eye to eye on how to carry
out the complicated Iraq mission - one they believe requires
offensive military operations, more subtle counter-insurgency
missions and society-wide reconstruction, all at once.
Mr. Gates said General Odierno was the logical choice to succeed
his old boss because he was familiar to the officers and troops
in Iraq and, not least, to the Iraqis. "In most parts of
the world, especially the Middle East, personal relationships
make a big difference," Mr. Gates said.
A high point during Odierno's first tour in Iraq, as commander
of the 4th Infantry Division based in Tikrit, was the capture
of Saddam Hussein by forces under his command. |
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