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General Lloyd Austin set for top job at US Central Command General Lloyd Austin picked for top job at US Central Command
(about 1 hour later)
General Lloyd Austin is expected on Friday to become the first African-American to head US Central Command, an appointment that the Obama administration hopes will bring stability after months of turmoil in the top echelons of the military. General Lloyd Austin was chosen Friday to become the first African American to head US Central Command, an appointment that the Obama administration hopes will bring stability after months of turmoil in the top echelons of the military.
Austin faces major challenges, with decisions pending on how to respond to Iran's nuclear programme, and also whether the US becomes drawn into the Syria conflict. He will also oversee the gradual withdrawal of the bulk of US forces from Afghanistan by the end of next year.Austin faces major challenges, with decisions pending on how to respond to Iran's nuclear programme, and also whether the US becomes drawn into the Syria conflict. He will also oversee the gradual withdrawal of the bulk of US forces from Afghanistan by the end of next year.
Austin, currently vice chief of staff for the army, tends to be reserved, wary of the press. One of his few chunky quotes came in response to a question about his status as a high-profile black general. Austin, currently vice-chief of staff for the army, tends to be reserved and wary of the press. One of his few chunky quotes came in response to a question about his status as a high-profile black general.
"If you talk to Tiger Woods today, and you asked him how he felt about being the best African American golfer in the world, he would tell you that you don't want to be known as the best African American golfer. He wants to be known as the best golfer," Austin was quoted in the Washington Post. "If you talk to Tiger Woods today, and you asked him how he felt about being the best African American golfer in the world, he would tell you that you don't want to be known as the best African American golfer. He wants to be known as the best golfer," Austin was quoted saying in the Washington Post.
Austin replaces General James Mattis, who was reported in January by defence reporter Tom Ricks to be leaving the post early because of disagreements with the White House over how to best deal with Iran. Austin replaces General James Mattis, who was reported in January by defence reporter Tom Ricks to be leaving the post early because of disagreements with the White House over how to best deal with Iran.
Defence secretary Chuck Hagel, speaking at the ceremony at the MacDill air force base in Tampa, said Austin was taking over command "at a time of dramatic change, challenge, and turmoil in its area of responsibility". He praised him for "his calm demeanor, strategic vision, regional experience and knowledge, and proven judgment".
He spoke also about Mattis, also at the ceremony, and his reputation for straight-talking. "General Mattis knows that if we are going to ask young Americans to put their lives on the line for our security, then they must be able to trust and have confidence in their leaders. That's why he always spoke directly and truthfully, no matter the audience – an essential element of leadership," Hagel said.
The White House disputed there were clashes between Mattis and the then national security adviser Tom Donilon over Iran or that Mattis was being pushed to the exit months earlier than planned.The White House disputed there were clashes between Mattis and the then national security adviser Tom Donilon over Iran or that Mattis was being pushed to the exit months earlier than planned.
The US alleges Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon, which Tehran denies.The US alleges Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon, which Tehran denies.
According to reports, the White House national security team viewed Mattis as hawkish, in part because he was asking questions such as what would happen if the nuclear issue was resolved diplomatically but Iran remained hostile, building up its conventional forces.According to reports, the White House national security team viewed Mattis as hawkish, in part because he was asking questions such as what would happen if the nuclear issue was resolved diplomatically but Iran remained hostile, building up its conventional forces.
Ricks wrote that the message the Obama administration was sending is that it does not like generals who express scepticism and speak candidly to their civilian superiors. "In fact, that is exactly what it (and every administration) should want. Had we had more back in 2003, we might not have made the colossal mistake of invading Iraq," Ricks said. Ricks wrote that the message the Obama administration was sending is that it does not like generals who express scepticism and speak candidly to their civilian superiors. "In fact, that is exactly what it [and every administration] should want. Had we had more back in 2003, we might not have made the colossal mistake of invading Iraq," Ricks said.
The military was hit by some of the backwash over the affair between General David Petraeus and his biographer Paula Broadwell. Even though he was director of the CIA at the time of his resignation late last year, Petraeus was the best-known general in the US, having led forces in Iraq as well as being head of Centcom. While he was at Centcom,, he became friends with Tampa socialite Jill Kelley. It was through Kelley that the affair with Broadwell emerged; Kelley had received emails about the affair. The military was hit by some of the backlash over the affair between General David Petraeus and his biographer Paula Broadwell. Even though he was director of the CIA at the time of his resignation late last year, Petraeus was the best-known general in the US, having led forces in Iraq as well as being head of Centcom. While he was at Centcom, he became friends with Tampa socialite Jill Kelley. It was through Kelley that the affair with Broadwell emerged; Kelley had received emails about the affair.
Another general, John Allen, was also in communication with Kelley, announced his retirement earlier this year, even though the Pentagon cleared him of any wrongdoing. He had been earmarked to become Nato commander but that had been suspended pending the investigation into whether he had engaged in "inappropriate communication". Another general, John Allen, who was also in communication with Kelley, announced his retirement earlier this year, even though the Pentagon cleared him of any wrongdoing. He had been earmarked to become Nato commander but that had been suspended pending the investigation into whether he had engaged in "inappropriate communication".
Austin, 59, from Georgia, graduated from West Point in 1975 and served in Iraq and Afghanistan.Austin, 59, from Georgia, graduated from West Point in 1975 and served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was confirmed as head of Centcom by the Senate on March 5. Centcom, as well as having responsibility for Iraq and Afghanistan, covers much of the rest of the Middle East, including Syria, and parts of Asia notably Pakistan. He was confirmed as head of Centcom by the Senate on 5 March. Centcom, as well as having responsibility for Iraq and Afghanistan, covers much of the rest of the Middle East, including Syria, and parts of Asia, notably Pakistan.
One of decisions that helped push Austin up the military ladder was the deployment of US forces to quell trouble in Basra in 2008 after the British pulled out and handed over responsibility to Iraqi forces. He was commander of US forces in Iraq as they pulled out in 2011, experience that may have helped his appointment to Centcom, given that Afghanistan withdrawal will be one of the dominant missions over this year and next. One of decisions that helped push Austin up the military ladder was the deployment of US forces to quell trouble in Basra in 2008 after the British pulled out and handed over responsibility to Iraqi forces. He was commander of US forces in Iraq as they pulled out in 2011, experience that may have helped his appointment to Centcom, given that Afghanistan withdrawal will be one of the dominant missions over this year and next.
As well as becoming the first African American to lead Centcom, he was also the first African American to become Army vice-chief of staff. As well as becoming the first African American to lead Centcom, he was also the first African American to become army vice-chief of staff.
Asked about his pioneering career, he told Associated Press: "I don't often reflect on it. I reflect most on trying to get the job done."Asked about his pioneering career, he told Associated Press: "I don't often reflect on it. I reflect most on trying to get the job done."
He said of the Centcom job: "It's not lost on me that going into the premier war-fighting job of our military and therefore of the world is a big responsibility. He said of the Centcom job: "It's not lost on me that going into the premier war-fighting job of our military, and therefore of the world, is a big responsibility.
"I am the first African American to take on a responsibility like that, but I think I'm prepared and I look forward to the challenge. "I am the first African American to take on a responsibility like that, but I think I'm prepared and I look forward to the challenge."