Gates challenges: Iraq, budget, stretched force

[spindrifter]

By Lolita C. Baldor
(Army Times)
Associated Press

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Gates faces decisions about whether to retain top military commanders such as Gen. George Casey, the top commander in Iraq, or Gen. John Abizaid, who heads Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Mideast.

Within the Pentagon, he also has to choose whether to keep officials who have been close to Rumsfeld such as Stephen A. Cambone, the undersecretary for intelligence.

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Analysts questioned whether Gates will have the force of personality and understanding to deal with the Pentagon’s commanding generals and put their recommendations and demands in perspective.

Dan Goure, military analyst at the Lexington Institute, said the generals could claim to be victims and tell Gates that Rumsfeld didn’t give them the troops and equipment needed to win the war and modernize the military. And they will ask Gates to correct that.

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http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2348706.php