Who will be the next CENTCOM commander?

From NBC's Courtney Kube
His seat is still warm, but names are already circulating for who will take over as CENTCOM Commander when Petraeus heads to Afghanistan.

The front runner for now is Lt. Gen. John Allen, who has been deputy commander of CENTCOM for the past two years. He's a Marine and was recently on a short list to be the next Commandant of the Marine Corps, but he was passed over, because Pentagon leadership thought he would be better as a combatant commander. Now he has that chance.

At a minimum, he'll be the Acting CENTCOM Commander after Petraeus is confirmed by Capitol Hill.

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Anna Molly

I'll be darned. My question, exactly. Whoever is chosen may signal something about Obama's plans in Afghanistan.

1 vote

#1 - Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:50 PM EDT

Mixed Bag

Wow-

Nice work, Anna Molly.

If I understand this correctly (and my comprehension skills have been repeatedly called into question here at First Read)...

This would work out to be a de facto demotion for General Petraeus.

Hmmm...

#2 - Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:08 PM EDT

Jody, Iowa

Hmmm is a good choice.

I assume that Gen Petraeus was probably given a choice, even if that choice was from the President and might to difficult to declilne. Still, I think Petraeus is exactly the type of general needed in Afghanistan right now: disciplined, diplomatic, intelligent with superb military skills--probably the best today. Give credit to Bush for finally picking the right guy for Iraq.