thedrifter
06-11-03, 06:03 AM
Rumsfeld to buck tradition with CentCom choice
By Otto Kreisher
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
3:13 p.m., June 10, 2003
WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who has kept the armed services in turmoil for two years with his demands for dramatic changes, appears ready to buck tradition again with his choice for the next leader of the U.S. Central Command.
Although no decision has been announced, Rumsfeld is believed to favor the nomination of Army Lt. Gen. John Abizaid to replace Army Gen. Tommy Franks as the next commander for the volatile Persian Gulf and northern Africa region.
President Bush will make the official nomination, based on Rumsfeld's recommendation.
Abizaid's nomination would break the tradition of rotating the commander's post between the Army and the Marine Corps that has prevailed for the command's 20-year existence. In fact, former Pentagon official Lawrence Korb noted Tuesday, the tradition started when Marine Corps Gen. P.X. Kelly led the Readiness Command, the precursor for Central Command's creation in 1983.
Since then, the command has alternated precisely through four Army and three more Marine generals.
In keeping with that tradition, the Marine Corps has offered its candidate for the post, Lt. Gen. Emil R. "Bush" Bedard, the deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations.
Both men are considered well qualified to lead the command that has seen non-stop U.S. military involvement for more than a decade.
Abizaid, currently the deputy commander at Central Command's forward headquarters, is a veteran leader of airborne and Ranger units who saw combat in Grenada. He also commanded regular infantry units in peacekeeping duties in the Balkans.
Of Lebanese ancestry, Abizaid speaks Arabic.
Bedard, who first led troops in combat in Vietnam, has served repeatedly in the Central Command area, including the Persian Gulf War and two tours in Somalia.
One of the leading candidates for Marine Corps commandant last year, Bedard reportedly did not get that job because Rumsfeld considered him a prime contender for the Central Command post.
Failure to get the four-star command probably would mean retirement for Bedard after 36 years.
But even the Marines recognize that they cannot count on Rumsfeld following tradition in this choice.
"There are no guarantees," said Brig. Gen. Andrew Davis, director of Marine Corps public affairs.
"Look at Gen. Jones in EUCOM," Davis said, referring to Gen. James L. Jones, who Rumsfeld selected to be the first Marine to hold NATO's top post and the U.S. military command in Europe.
Korb, who was an assistant defense secretary under President Ronald Reagan when Central Command was created, said it "was understood" that the command would rotated between the services.
"But, of course, none of that means anything to Rumsfeld," Korb said, also pointing to Jones in the NATO job.
Jay Farrar, a retired Marine officer now at the Center for International and Strategic Studies, made the same point. And, he added, "as much as I'd like to see the Marines have their turn, John Abizaid clearly is the most qualified guy out there."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20030610-1513-cnscentcom.html
Sempers,
Roger
By Otto Kreisher
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
3:13 p.m., June 10, 2003
WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who has kept the armed services in turmoil for two years with his demands for dramatic changes, appears ready to buck tradition again with his choice for the next leader of the U.S. Central Command.
Although no decision has been announced, Rumsfeld is believed to favor the nomination of Army Lt. Gen. John Abizaid to replace Army Gen. Tommy Franks as the next commander for the volatile Persian Gulf and northern Africa region.
President Bush will make the official nomination, based on Rumsfeld's recommendation.
Abizaid's nomination would break the tradition of rotating the commander's post between the Army and the Marine Corps that has prevailed for the command's 20-year existence. In fact, former Pentagon official Lawrence Korb noted Tuesday, the tradition started when Marine Corps Gen. P.X. Kelly led the Readiness Command, the precursor for Central Command's creation in 1983.
Since then, the command has alternated precisely through four Army and three more Marine generals.
In keeping with that tradition, the Marine Corps has offered its candidate for the post, Lt. Gen. Emil R. "Bush" Bedard, the deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations.
Both men are considered well qualified to lead the command that has seen non-stop U.S. military involvement for more than a decade.
Abizaid, currently the deputy commander at Central Command's forward headquarters, is a veteran leader of airborne and Ranger units who saw combat in Grenada. He also commanded regular infantry units in peacekeeping duties in the Balkans.
Of Lebanese ancestry, Abizaid speaks Arabic.
Bedard, who first led troops in combat in Vietnam, has served repeatedly in the Central Command area, including the Persian Gulf War and two tours in Somalia.
One of the leading candidates for Marine Corps commandant last year, Bedard reportedly did not get that job because Rumsfeld considered him a prime contender for the Central Command post.
Failure to get the four-star command probably would mean retirement for Bedard after 36 years.
But even the Marines recognize that they cannot count on Rumsfeld following tradition in this choice.
"There are no guarantees," said Brig. Gen. Andrew Davis, director of Marine Corps public affairs.
"Look at Gen. Jones in EUCOM," Davis said, referring to Gen. James L. Jones, who Rumsfeld selected to be the first Marine to hold NATO's top post and the U.S. military command in Europe.
Korb, who was an assistant defense secretary under President Ronald Reagan when Central Command was created, said it "was understood" that the command would rotated between the services.
"But, of course, none of that means anything to Rumsfeld," Korb said, also pointing to Jones in the NATO job.
Jay Farrar, a retired Marine officer now at the Center for International and Strategic Studies, made the same point. And, he added, "as much as I'd like to see the Marines have their turn, John Abizaid clearly is the most qualified guy out there."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20030610-1513-cnscentcom.html
Sempers,
Roger