General Tommy Franks, who led US forces to victory in Afghanistan and Iraq, has turned down a promotion to army chief of staff. Gen Franks had promised his wife he would shortly retire and, after days of intense speculation in Washington, he has now declined the offer of the army's top post. The general has made no secret of his dislike of Washington and the power struggles and intrigue that dominate life there. His decision leaves the defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, without a key ally in his long-running, and often bitter, campaign to reshape the US army from top to bottom. The present chief of staff, Gen Eric Shinseki, has been a lame duck for 18 months, since Rumsfeld aides leaked that he would be replaced.
He won the war and now is keeping the wife happy. First one was easier! Gotta like this man. |