End of an Era: Petraeus Relinquishes MNF-I

Yesterday it became official: David Petraeus is no longer the commander of the multinational forces in Iraq. Amidst much valediction, command was transferred to Ray Odierno, the "reeducated" (in the Chinese sense) general who had been serving as Petraeus's deputy.

With Petraeus soon to be CINC of CENTCOM, it seems as good a time as any to take preliminary stock of his time at the face of the war effort. While it is far too early to assess the long-term success or failure of the Petraeus tenure in Baghdad, it is likely that his legacy will be defined by his previous 20 months of service. Barring a major unforseen crisis, Petraeus's time at CENTCOM will be overshadowed by his efforts in Iraq. Given that, where will Petraeus rank in the pantheon of US generals?

Since World War Two, there have been two distinct sets of well-known general officers - those that interject themselves into politics, and those who abstain. The former group includes Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, Maxwell Taylor, and Colin Powell. All of these men became major public figures outside of military circles. The purist camp consists of men like Omar Bradley, Chester Nimitz, William Halsey, Matthew Ridgway, and William Westmoreland, men who dealt with the impact of politics on their profession yet refrained from becoming political figures themselves. Since the Vietnam War, though, the general ranks have become so politicized that flag officers have only appeared in the public eye as politically-oriented figures. Colin Powell's career (and the less significant impact of officers like Wesley Clark) exemplifies this trend. By comparison, purist generals such as Norman Schwarzkopf and Anthony Zinni (at least before retirement) have had considerably less staying power.

It is ironic, then, that David Petraeus would gain ascendancy during the partisan and intensely political Bush Administration. As a field commander, Petraeus has dominated public attention in a way not seen since Westmoreland, although the Petraeus philosophy owes much more to Westmoreland's less high profile successor, Creighton Abrams. Throughout his tenure at MNF-I, Petraeus managed to retain his credibility and avoid being tarred as a Bush lackey. Despite intense pressure at all sides, Petraeus remained first and foremost a commander and Army leader. He is neither a purist nor a political creature but a general mindful of the political context in which he operates. It is a trait that other flag officers would do well to emulate.

It will be interesting to watch the next and perhaps last phase of Petraeus's career. CENTCOM has proven to be a difficult assignment since its creation: Franks and Abizaid were undone by Iraq, the command of Schwarzkopf has lost much of its luster since 1991, and Admiral Fallon found himself run out of town. Petraeus will need every ounce of his political savvy to keep his footing and not become a victim of Washington or Pentagon politics. Unless Petraeus decides to join the civilian side of the Executive Branch, this post will likely be his last - but after all of his efforts, it would be only fitting for him to leave on his own terms.