Petraeus to stay in Iraq most of this year: Gates

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, will stay in his post for most of this year at least, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday.

Gates was responding to press reports that Petraeus -- a counter-insurgency expert with a doctorate from Princeton University -- was being considered for the post of NATO's top commander.

"The president is pretty clear that he wants Gen. Petraeus to stay right where he is, at least through late fall and maybe the end of the year," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.

Both The New York Times and The Washington Post reported this week that Petraeus was being considered as the next NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080124/pl_nm/usa_military_petraeus_dc