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• General David Petraeus was appointed by George W. Bush to command the multi-national force in the Iraq War (MNF-I), and was confirmed by Congress in that position on January 26, 2007, succeeding General George Casey. In April of 2008, he was chosen to take control of the U.S. Central Command. General Ray Odierno took his place as the Top U.S. Commander in Iraq on September 16, 2008.

  On May 29, 2009, General Petraeus stated in a [[Fox News] interview, that the U.S. has "taken steps that have violated the Geneva Conventions." Petraeus went on to state that it is our duty to uphold the agreements we have made in the "international justice arena."HuffingtonPost: Petraeus Says U.S. Violated Geneva Conventions - What Will... (May 29, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: November 7, 1952
  2. Allegiance: United States Army
  3. Years of Service: 1974 - present
  4. 1. Defense Distinguished Service Medal
  5. 1. Distinguished Service Medal
  6. 1. Defense Superior Service Medal
  7. 1. Legion of Merit
  8. 1. Bronze Star Medal
  9. Made a controversial September, 2007 appearance before Congress to argue for the troop surge

• Background

  Petraeus graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1974, and served in various capacities in units including the 509th Airborne Infantry Battalion and (most famously, in Iraq) the 101st Airborne Division. Petraeus holds degrees including a doctorate in International Relations from Princeton University, and has held a professorship in that field at the U.S. Military Academy.

• Leadership in the Iraq War

  Petraeus has been a strong advocate of the 2007 troop surge in Iraq, and was reportedly appointed to replace Gen. Casey because of the latter's opposition to the policy. Petraeus has also worked politically to quell growing demands from prominent Democrats for a timetable for a withdrawal of U.S. forces.

• 2008 Senate Testimony

  On April 8, 2008 Petraeus testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that following scheduled-surge-related withdrawals, the troop level in Iraq should be "frozen" above 140,000 for 45 days, to evaluate the effect further withdrawals might have on the "fragile and reversible" security situation in Iraq. "This approach," Petraeus remarked, "Does not allow establishment of a set withdrawal timetable." Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) criticized the approach, calling it "a plan which has no end."

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Ray Odierno | Multinational Force Iraq | George W. Bush | Iraq War | Dick Cheney | Time Person of the Year | Courage Campaign

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