Editor's Note: I've updated and revised this post to reflect the Pentagon's adamant denials to reports Petraeus is leaving. Who knew there are two sides to every story?
General Davis Petraeus, who is in charge of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, will leave his post by year's end - according to the Times of London. President Obama choose Petraeus to be Commander of U.S. and NATO Forces in Afghanistan after the previous occupant, General Stanley McChrystal, left the post because of inappropriate things he said during an interview with Rolling Stone.
The New York Post also has the scoop on Petraeus's departure (both papers are owned by News Corporation) and reports:
Home Post blogged yesterday about the fact Obama's proposed federal budget calls for reduced military spending - and that experts say a major drawdown in Afghanistan (and Iraq) is the only way those goals can be reached. Reuters looks at the issue this way:
But despite what the Times and Reuters reported, the folks at the Pentagon say Petraeus isn't going anywhere. Wired.com's blog "Danger Room" talked to Petraeus' spokesman, Col. Erik Gunhus, who flatly denied that his boss was leaving his post. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell went even further:
So if you take the Pentagon at its word, Petraeus isn't going anywhere. What do you think?
