July 12, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 8, 1429

WASHINGTON, July 11: The US Senate has approved the appointment of Gen David Petraeus as head of the US Central Command (Centcom), making him in charge of US military interests in 27 countries, including Pakistan.

As Centcom chief, Gen Petraeus will command US military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

He formally takes up his post in September.

The 27 countries in his area of responsibility also include Iran. Any US military operation aimed at Iran’s nuclear installations may have a direct bearing on Pakistan.

At a recent appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen Petraeus warned that the next 9/11-type attack on the US soil would come from Al Qaeda bases in Pakistan’s tribal region and urged the United States to increase its security assistance to the country to help it deal with the threat.

He said that once confirmed as Centcom chief, “one of the first trips I would make … would be to Pakistan, to sit down with a fellow US Army Command and General Staff College graduate, General Kayani, to talk at some length about that and, obviously, to do the same with the leaders of the Pakistani government.”

Gen Petraeus currently heads the huge US military operation in Iraq and is credited with restoring security to some parts of the country.

He takes over the Centcom command from Adm William Fallon, who resigned in March amid reports that he was forced to do so because he opposed the White House policy towards Iran.

In April, the Bush administration recommended that he should be succeeded by Gen Petraeus.

The nomination needed approval by the Senate.

The Senate also approved the appointment of Lt-Gen Raymond Odierno as the new US commander for Iraq. He replaces Gen Petraeus.