Biden Nominates Combat Leader, Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, to Head Central Command

[Eugene]

Source: New York Times

Biden Nominates Combat Leader to Head Central Command

Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla would take over as the United States tries to conduct operations in Afghanistan from afar.

By Helene Cooper
Jan. 7, 2022, 4:00 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON — President Biden has nominated Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla to be the next head of the military’s marquee combatant operations command responsible for prosecuting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to paperwork sent to the Senate.

General Kurilla, if confirmed, would replace Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., whose tenure is set to end this spring.

As the leader of Central Command, General Kurilla would be responsible for the administration’s efforts to prevent terrorist groups from once again using Afghanistan as a launching pad for attacks on the West. In withdrawing American troops from the 20-year war there last year, Mr. Biden determined that the United States’ new strategy would be to use drone and other strikes from afar, or “over the horizon,” to quell any such threats that arise in Afghanistan.

The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan has largely consumed Central Command over the past year. But General Kurilla will also have to keep track of Iran, where stumbling efforts to revive the nuclear accord negotiated by President Barack Obama and abandoned by his successor, President Donald J. Trump, have led to increased tensions.

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Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/us/politics/biden-military-kurilla.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqYhkSVUbBCbIRp8_qRmHmfnE2_s2h3PzKm2QSDJD0-0PEs2D5l3MYa5qIdsv2jDRDPlwDIgSft0ghOlOIx4qDACyvpqPnJlCKSho9Iu_UjpzgsqQBfVlqWe0KzjoJLs6yOe04BuKYDTuXfPUwmRhcFg-2eZtc1Gr2XwLwqbXQKUiipQlg6BXVt0tTiwAZSKKo_DrFxx0XdyFZRvW4QQyMPpLDXCRxZXPruJdL3gBTA7OX3h94m0j6dtDO9hxPa73LR8ofcWWkqzKwOwfUqk2ReV-8Mqv8hf9&smid=url-share

Original NYT link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/us/politics/biden-military-kurilla.html

[DashOneBravo]

1. He will be a good one.

Last edited Fri Jan 7, 2022, 09:31 PM - Edit history (1)

I always feel a little better, when the person in charge, is someone who has actually been in combat.

Like on the streets. I feel like they are less likely to be rash when commanding troops. They have actually seen it first hand.

Trigger warning:

https://www.usstopekaclg8.org/Mail/Iraq/LTC_Kurilla/LTC_Kurilla.htm