Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Mattis to CENTCOM

Marine Gen. James Mattis is going to take over the Central Command post from Petraeus, Defense Secretary Gates just announced. This is the best news I have heard in a long time. Just when I think Gates has lost his touch, he revives my faith by doing something like this. Readers of this blog will ...

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Kris Connor/Getty Images
Kris Connor/Getty Images
Kris Connor/Getty Images

Marine Gen. James Mattis is going to take over the Central Command post from Petraeus, Defense Secretary Gates just announced.

Marine Gen. James Mattis is going to take over the Central Command post from Petraeus, Defense Secretary Gates just announced.

This is the best news I have heard in a long time. Just when I think Gates has lost his touch, he revives my faith by doing something like this. Readers of this blog will know that I think Mattis is terrific.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1
Tags: Afghanistan, Military

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