US Commander thanks UK for contribution to Iraq and Afghanistan
6 Feb 09
General David Petraeus, Commander of the US Central Command, thanked the UK for its military and non-military contribution to progress that has been made in Iraq and Afghanistan, yesterday, Thursday 5 February 2009.
General David Petraeus, Commander of the US Central Command (left), with British Defence Secretary John Hutton at MOD's Main Building on Whitehall
[Picture: POA(Phot) Terry Seward]
The General expressed his appreciation of the UK's contribution when he met British Defence Secretary John Hutton and other civilian and military leaders at the Ministry of Defence to discuss routine business.
The visit was a routine stop as part of a larger visit by the General to visit other NATO allies. A wide range of important issues were discussed at the MOD and General Petraeus said:
"The visit highlights Central Command's engagement with our NATO partners to reiterate the strategic importance of the alliance and the critical role it plays in the Mid-East region and especially in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The United Kingdom is a strategic partner and we value the strong military and civilian co-operation between our two countries that advances our common goals of peace and security in the Mid-East. We have in recent years stood together against forces and elements that have sought to destabilise the region.
"The significance of the United Kingdom's contribution should not be underestimated. Its military activities and non-military assistance have been instrumental in successful capacity- building and the progress that we have made in various endeavours.
"I want to thank the UK in particular for the great contribution it has made, military and non-military, in Iraq and Afghanistan."
"The significance of the United Kingdom's contribution should not be underestimated. Its military activities and non-military assistance have been instrumental in successful capacity-building and the progress that we have made in various endeavours."
General David Petraeus, Commander of the US Central Command
Earlier this week the new US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, also praised British troops for the work they are doing in Afghanistan when she met British Foreign Secretary David Miliband. She said:
"I want to thank the Foreign Secretary and Her Majesty's Government for the sacrifice and commitment of the British troops who put their lives on the line day in and day out. I'm particularly grateful for the work that they do in Afghanistan, and we're going to be working closely together in the weeks and months ahead along with our other NATO allies to enhance our support for the people of Afghanistan."
General David H Petraeus assumed command of the United States Central Command in October 2008 after serving for over 19 months as the Commanding General, Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I). Prior to his tour as MNF-I Commander, he commanded the US Army Combined Arms Centre and Fort Leavenworth. Before that assignment, he was the first commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, which he led from June 2004 to September 2005, and the NATO Training Mission - Iraq, which he commanded from October 2004 to September 2005.
That deployment to Iraq followed his command of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), during which he led the 'Screaming Eagles' in combat throughout the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His command of the 101st followed a year deployed on Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia, where he was the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations of the NATO Stabilisation Force and the Deputy Commander of the US Joint Interagency Counter-Terrorism Task Force - Bosnia. Prior to his tour in Bosnia, he spent two years at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, serving first as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations of the 82nd Airborne Division and then as the Chief of Staff of XVIII Airborne Corps.
General Petraeus was commissioned in the Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1974. He has held leadership positions in airborne, mechanized, and air assault infantry units in Europe and the United States, including command of a battalion in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and a brigade in the 82nd Airborne Division. In addition, he has held a number of staff assignments: Aide to the Chief of Staff of the Army; battalion, brigade, and division operations officer; Military Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander - Europe; Chief of Operations of the United Nations Force in Haiti; and Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.