Gates suggests new CENTCOM chief

Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday announced that he has recommended President Obama nominate Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis to be the next commander of U.S. Central Command.

Mattis, who now leads U.S. Joint Forces Command and had planned to retire soon, would take over from Army Gen. David Petraeus. On July 4, Petraeus was sworn in as the commander of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan, following the resignation of Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal. During a Pentagon news conference Wednesday, Gates called Mattis "one of our military's outstanding combat leaders and strategic thinkers" and urged his confirmation "as quickly as possible."

The CENTCOM commander is charged with overseeing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and U.S. military operations in the Horn of Africa. Mattis, who is considered an expert in counterinsurgency warfare, has commanded forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.