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May 30, 2011 11:31 AM
ABC News' Ann Compton and Avery Miller report: In a hurry for what he called a "seamless" transition in war time,� President Obama has nominated more promotions from within as he reshapes his military team, today� choosing four-star�Army Gen. Martin Dempsey as the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"Martin Dempsey is one of our nation?s most respected -- and combat-tested generals," the president declared in a hot and sunny Rose Garden announcement this morning.�"I expect him to push all our forces to continue adapting and innovating to be ready for the missions of today and tomorrow."
Dempsey had just moved into the office of the�Army Chief of Staff, a job that will now go to former Iraq commander Gen. Ray Odierno, who stood at attention in today's ceremony, with the glaring sun shining on his bald head.
The president called Odierno -- a hulking figure and familiar face from the Iraq war -- "one of the Army?s most accomplished soldiers -- and one of the tallest.?�
Navy Adm. James ?Sandy?� Winnefeld was nominated to be Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs.�
The current team, Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and Vice Chair Marine Gen. James Cartwright,�do not retire for several months but President Obama says he?s in a hurry.
?It?s essential�this transition be seamless and that we remain focused on the urgent�national security challenges before us," he said.
The president wants a new team in place when he begins to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in July. These new appointments move the president closer to having his national security team in place as he runs for re-election next year. Dempsey will need Senate confirmation.
Dempsey?s nomination came as a little bit of a surprise when Obama?s rumored choice, Marine Gen. James Cartwright, hit a rough patch. His management style was criticized and the Pentagon investigated claims of misconduct with a young female aide who had allegedly become drunk and slept in his hotel room. The quick turn of events was reflected in the fact that Dempsey had only been appointed to his current job as Army chief of staff on April 11. Obama lightly referenced the fact to ?Marty? that his term as Army chief of staff had probably been the ?shortest? in history.
Obama has now put a battle-tested team in place. Last month, CIA head Leon Panetta was nominated to replace Defense Secretary Robert Gates when he retires. Gen. David Petraeus is slated to take over Panetta?s post at the CIA.
-- Ann Compton and Avery Miller
May 30, 2011 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (12)
(R) 2012 TIM PAWLENTY-RICK PERRY's White House / Pentagon Reform: Although Obama administration and Obama led Pentagon so afraid to post the monthly numbers of US soldiers who have commited suicide, divorced, or drug abuse; but the 2013 PAWLENTY-PERRY's Pentagon will MERGE the military medical centers with the UPGRADED state universities' hospital that will included mental health and psychological counseling and treatment, artificial legs, arms, Acupuncture, Perceptual Motor Programming for the handicapped, .. on upgraded state university-hospital campuses nationwide to care our American Iraq/Afghanistan War veterans. The veterans also can attend university education and vocational training, while they are receiving physical treatment or/and mental hygiene.
Posted by: chankawah | May 31, 2011 11:25:38 AM
Now if he and the Dems will just count the military votes next election.
Posted by: Freedom | May 31, 2011 10:25:31 AM
Memorial Day is a holiday.
Posted by: Tim | May 30, 2011 8:44:09 PM
well he is handling the consolidation of power and restructuring of the military with more aplomb that other socialist megalomaniacs from history. For this we can give him some credit....
Posted by: Al | May 30, 2011 8:35:10 PM
ABC, Please don't report on Obama's golf game. I'm getting burned out.
Posted by: LongT | May 30, 2011 7:24:24 PM
The name Eric Holder alone makes your statement bogus..
Posted by: allen | May 30, 2011 4:29:43 PM
Sounds like obvious bias to me, the man has exactly the CV one would want for the position of Attorney General.
Far better than (for instance) Bush's Attorney General John Ashcroft who was basically a career politician (1972 - 2000) with minimal legal experience - a true political hack appointment.
Interesting what a bit of historical knowledge can provide.
Posted by: Sherry Lee | May 30, 2011 6:51:06 PM
Once again this administration appoints people who are very, very qualified. This reassures me that our country is in good hands. Posted by: Lydia | May 30, 2011 12:21:11 PM+++The name Eric Holder alone makes your statement bogus..
Posted by: allen | May 30, 2011 4:29:43 PM
Libya is a war,but happy Memorial Day to all That serve and have served. Today is not a good day to be President because this is
not part of the job anyone could enjoy.
Posted by: deadwrestler | May 30, 2011 1:42:42 PM
Is Libya a war now?
Posted by: LongT | May 30, 2011 1:13:22 PM
"a job that will now go to former Iraq commander Gen. Ray Odierno, who stood at attention in today's ceremony, with the glaring sun shining on his bald head."
sound like a bit of poetry fail.
Posted by: Dianne93101 | May 30, 2011 12:54:36 PM
Happy Memorial Day to all veterans and their families. Your sacrifices have made all our freedoms possible. Thank you.
Posted by: Lydia | May 30, 2011 12:22:44 PM
I like Dempsey as the pick for chairman of Joints Chief of Staff, as well as the other appointments. Choosing qualified candidates from within who are battle-tested is very wise.
Once again this administration appoints people who are very, very qualified. This reassures me that our country is in good hands.
Posted by: Lydia | May 30, 2011 12:21:11 PM
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