daniel
GOD FATHER OF USA DTD 246 TH : OBAMA FOR 2012 AND THE GREEN HILTON AGREEMENT PROGRAM JOINT INDONESIA TREASURY G20 AT WORLD BANK AND IMF AT PRESIDENT OBAMA FOUNDATIONS. USA RSS Feeds RSS Feed
September 30, 2011
Veteran US Army General Becomes New Joint Chiefs Chairman
VOA News
* Email
* Print
*
*
*
*
Retiring Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, left, administers the Oath of Office for the new Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, Friday, Sept. 30, 0211, during a 'Change of Office' ceremony at Ft. Myer in Arlington, Virginia. Holding the bible
Photo: AP
Retiring Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, left, administers the Oath of Office for the new Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, during a 'Change of Office' ceremony at Ft. Myer in Arlington, Virginia, September 30, 2011. Holding the bible is Dempsey's wife Deanie.
U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey has been sworn in as the nation's top uniformed officer.
At the event in Fort Myer outside Washington, President Barack Obama described General Dempsey as one of the military's most battle-tested officers.
The 37-year veteran replaces retiring Navy Admiral Mike Mullen as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dempsey's career includes two tours of duty in Iraq, and serving as acting commander of all military operations in the Middle East.
Dempsey moves into his new role as the military faces deep budget cuts to help trim the massive U.S. debt, and also as the U.S. sees strained relations with Pakistan over that country's apparent failure to dismantle Islamic extremist groups. Mullen recently described the Haqqani terrorist network as a "veritable arm" of Pakistan's intelligence agency.
President Obama has asked the Defense Department to cut $400 billion from its budget over the next 12 years. During his confirmation hearing last month, Dempsey warned lawmakers that cuts of $800 billion or more would be "extraordinarily difficult and very high risk."
Obama nominated Dempsey in May, only a month after the general assumed the post of chief of staff of the Army.
