Wartime Commander Agrees to Extend Service
Army Gen. John Abizaid, who has overseen the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since shortly after U.S. forces invaded Iraq three years ago, will stay on for another year, defense officials said Tuesday. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld recently asked Abizaid to stay for a year beyond this summer, when he will have completed the normal three-year stint as commander, and he agreed, the officials said. “General Abizaid is doing important work and has indicated that he wants to continue doing it. Secretary Rumsfeld appreciates that General Abizaid wants to continue, and there are no plans to replace him,” said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman. Full Story