Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 16, 2008

Odierno Takes Command of US Forces in Iraq
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1E3822C:A6F02AD83191E1600A784F1A160614715C6F54A6CF9DC2CA&
 
General Raymond Odierno replaces General David Petraeus, the man
credited with helping reduce violence in Iraq and overseeing surge of US
troops 
General Raymond Odierno has become the top U.S. commander in Iraq,
replacing the man credited with helping reduce violence in the country
and overseeing the surge of U.S. troops. Odierno replaced General David
Petraeus at a ceremony in Baghdad Tuesday presided over by U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates. General Petraeus oversaw a change in U.S.
counter-insurgency strategy and the U.S. troop surge when he took
command in February 2007. He will now lead the broader U.S. central
command, which includes Afghanistan and Iraq. General Raymond Odierno
(File)Secretary Gates praised Petraeus as leading a "turnaround" in
Iraq, and said Odierno's task will be expanding Iraq's security gains as
U.S. troop levels fall. The overall levels of violence in Iraq are at
four-year lows, but Monday, three bombings killed 34 people,
underscoring the challenges facing Odierno. In Diyala province, a female
suicide bomber blew herself up at a dinner party attended by Iraqi
police, killing 22 people. In !
 Baghdad, two car bombs killed 12 people.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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