Exclusive: Petraeus to quit Afghan campaign

[swag]

Source: The Times of London

Giles Whittell in Washington and Michael Evans, Pentagon Correspondent

General David Petraeus, the most celebrated American soldier of his generation, is to leave his post as commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. The Times can reveal that the Pentagon aims to replace General Petraeus, who was appointed less than eight months ago, by the end of the year. Sources have confirmed that the search for a new commander in Kabul is under way. It forms part of a sweeping reorganisation of top American officials in Afghanistan, which the Obama Administration hopes to present as proof that its strategy does not depend on the towering reputation of one man. “General Petraeus is doing a brilliant job but he’s been going virtually non-stop since 9/11 . . .



Read more: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/asia/afghanistan/article2915386.ece

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The rest of the article seems to be behind a paywall.

[napi21]

1. It's a perfect time to declare an end to force ops & get the hell out!

Obama MIGHT even be able to get Petreaus to recommend tat before he leaves.

[Pirate Smile]

2. It is not really an exclusive. I read yesterday an article which said that Petraeus was going to

leave before the end of this year. That was the first I'd heard of it but it wasn't from The Times of London.

[unhappycamper]

3. Petraeus wants to get out before we leave Afghanistan the same way we left Vietnam.

Afghanistan = Vietnam, part duex

[pasto76]

4. I dont care how, I would like all of my guys to be home

SGT PASTO

[Sonoman]

6. Anything but Westmoreland's legacy.

Do you think Rummy will ever apologize like McNamara did?

"Mistakes were made" just won't cut it.

Sonoman

[SpiralHawk]

14. "Torture happened." - Rummy (R)

"But then, torture is a Republicon Family Values. So what you gonna do. Smirk." - Rummy (R)

[msongs]

5. cut the budget and start with his pension. after all he is paid to win and he didnt nt

[Ozymanithrax]

7. So will Petreus retire and become a Republiclan VP candidate? n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Did he fall or was he Putsch'd?

[Joanne98]

9. I hope this doesn't mean he's running for Prez!

[JDPriestly]

10. That is, in my opinion, precisely what it means.

He wants to run for president or vice president.

[WCGreen]

11. He is going to run in 2016...

There is a devastating account of his tenure in afganistan in the last issue of The Rolling Stone...

[Tx4obama]

12. UPDATE - General Petraeus: No, I Am NOT Leaving Afghanistan

From Huffington Post

General Petraeus: No, I Am Not Leaving Afghanistan

***UPDATE*** Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell released this statement:

Despite some sensational speculation by one of the London papers, I can assure you General Petraeus is not quitting as ISAF commander, but nor does he plan to stay in Afghanistan forever. Obviously he will rotate out at some point, but that point has not yet been determined and it will not occur anytime soon. Until then, he will continue to ably lead our coalition forces in Afghanistan.

=================


So, who started the rumor? :)

[autorank]

13. And this guy wanted to be president k*r

You don't get there by leaving, let alone not winning. His hand picked guy left, well self destructed. The old story about Afghanistan being the graveyard of empires is coming true.

[robcon]

15. Fake Story

n/t