John Abizaid
Born April 1, 1951
Nickname	The "Mad Arab," earned while at West Point
Place of birth	Coleville, California
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1973-2007
Rank	General (United States)
Commands held	3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment 1st Infantry Division United States Military Academy United States Central Command
Battles/wars	Operation Urgent Fury Gulf War Operation Deliberate Force Kosovo Conflict Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star

John Philip Abizaid (born April 1, 1951; Arabic: جون أبي زيد‎) is a retired General in the United States Army and former Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), overseeing American military operations in a 27-country region, from the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, to South and Central Asia, covering much of the Middle East. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Coleville is a small rural Unincorporated community in Northern Mono County California. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star General officer rank The 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment is a unit of the 82nd Airborne Division. The 504th Infantry Regiment known during World War II, as the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment ( 504th PIR) was and still is a Regiment of the 82nd The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army &mdashnicknamed “ The Big Red One ” after its Shoulder patch; and also nicknamed " The Fighting "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, The United States Central Command ( USCENTCOM) is a theater -level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was an Invasion of the nation of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean Sea 100 miles north The 1995 NATO bombing in Bosnia and Herzegovina (code-named by NATO Operation Deliberate Force) was a sustained air campaign conducted by the The term Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict is often used to describe two sequential and at times parallel armed conflicts in Kosovo: 1996–1999 The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security The Defense Superior Service Medal of the United States is a senior decoration of the Department of Defense. The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration which may be awarded for bravery acts of merit or meritorious service Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star General officer rank The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The United States Central Command ( USCENTCOM) is a theater -level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U The Horn of Africa (alternatively Northeast Africa, and sometimes Somali Peninsula; shortened to HOA) is a Peninsula in East Africa The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية šibh al-jazīra al-ʻarabīya or جزيرة العرب jazīrat al-ʻarab) Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. CENTCOM oversees 250,000 US troops. Abizaid succeeded General Tommy Franks as Commander, USCENTCOM, on July 7, 2003, and was also elevated to the rank of 4-star general the same week. General Tommy Ray Franks, United States Army (Ret KBE (Honorary (born June 17, 1945 in Wynnewood Oklahoma) is a retired Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star General officer rank He was succeeded by Admiral William J. Fallon on March 16, 2007. William Joseph Fallon, (born December 30 1944) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy serving over 41 years Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

General Abizaid retired from the military on May 1, 2007 after 34 years of service. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[1] As of 2007, Abizaid is employed as a fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. The Hoover Institution on War Revolution and Peace is a libertarian Public policy Think tank and Library founded in 1919 by U Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University or simply Stanford, is a private Research university located in ^[2] Abizaid was appointed to the board of directors of RPM International on January 24, 2008

Early life

Abizaid was born in Coleville, California, to a Christian Lebanese-American father and an American mother. Coleville is a small rural Unincorporated community in Northern Mono County California. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية He is fluent in Arabic, and was the most senior U. Fluency (also called volubility and loquaciousness) is the property of a Person or of a System that delivers Information quickly and Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language S. military officer of direct Arab descent. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding He was raised mostly by his widowed father, a former enlisted man who attained the rank of a Navy Chief Petty Officer. He is married and has three children, one of whom is enlisted in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer. He studied Arabic in Jordan, where he received special forces training. In most countries special forces (SF is a generic term for highly-trained Military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as Reconnaissance ^[3]

Education

Abizaid’s military education includes the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York (Class of 1973); Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Armed Forces Staff College, and a U.S. Army War College Senior Fellowship at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, West Point is a federal military reservation (and a Census-designated place) located North of the Village of Highland Falls in Orange County New York The United States Army Infantry School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. The Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC located in Norfolk Virginia, was established as the Armed Forces Staff College in 1946 and incorporated into the National The United States Army War College is a United States Army school located in Carlisle Pennsylvania, on the 500 acre (2 km² campus of the historic Carlisle The Hoover Institution on War Revolution and Peace is a libertarian Public policy Think tank and Library founded in 1919 by U Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University or simply Stanford, is a private Research university located in

In his civilian studies, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, and was an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan. A Master of Arts ( Latin: Magister Artium) is a Postgraduate academic Master's degree awarded by universities in a large Major General George H Olmsted (March 18 1901 - October 8 1998 was born in Des Moines Iowa, the second of four children of Ernest and Alice Lockwood Olmsted The University of Jordan ( Arabic الجامعة الأردنية) founded in 1962, is the first university established Amman (ɑˈmɑːn sometimes spelled Ammann ( Arabic عمان ʿAmmān) is the Capital city of the Hashemite Kingdom Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (الأردنّ al-Urdunn) is an Arab country in Southwest Asia spanning the southern Abizaid greatly impressed his teachers at Harvard University. Nadav Safran, the director of the Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies kept Abizaid's 100-page paper on defense policy for Saudi Arabia, the only paper of a masters student he has kept, saying, "It was absolutely the best seminar paper I ever got in my 30-plus years at Harvard. Professor Nadav Safran ( August 25, 1925, Cairo – July 5, 2003, State College PA) was an expert in Arab and "^[3]

Service career

Abizaid was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, Class of June 1973. Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer Military rank in many Armed forces. The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, West Point is a federal military reservation (and a Census-designated place) located North of the Village of Highland Falls in Orange County New York He started his career with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as a rifle and scout platoon leader. The 504th Infantry Regiment known during World War II, as the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment ( 504th PIR) was and still is a Regiment of the 82nd North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States A platoon leader ( US Army) or platoon commander (more common in Commonwealth militaries and the USMC) is the officer in command of a He commanded companies in the 2nd and 1st Ranger Battalions, leading a Ranger Rifle Company during the invasion of Grenada. 2nd Ranger Battalion is the name of two distinct units of United States Army Rangers. The 1st Ranger Battalion was formed upon America's entry into World War II. The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was an Invasion of the nation of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean Sea 100 miles north In 1983, he jumped from a helicopter onto a landing strip in Grenada and ordered one of his Rangers to drive a bulldozer like a tank toward Cuban troops as he advanced behind it -- a move highlighted in the 1986 Clint Eastwood film, Heartbreak Ridge. History Since 400 AD Chinese children have played with bamboo flying toys. Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. The United States Army Rangers or simply Army Rangers are specialized elite American light infantry and Special operations troops ----A bulldozer is a crawler ( Caterpillar tracked Tractor) equipped with a substantial metal plate (known as a blade) used to push large quantities Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr (born May 31 1930 is a four-time Academy Award winning American Actor and Filmmaker. Heartbreak Ridge is a 1986 Film, starring Clint Eastwood (who also produced and directed and Mario Van Peebles, about the 1983

Abizaid commanded the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Regiment combat Team in Vicenza, Italy, during the Gulf crisis and deployed with the battalion in Northern Iraq to provide a safe haven for the Kurds. The 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment is a unit of the 82nd Airborne Division. Vicenza, a city in northern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region at the northern base of the Monte Berico Iraqi Kurdistan Region ( Kurdish: هه رێمى كوردستان Herêmi Kurdistan, Arabic:إقليم كردستان العراق, Iqlĩm Kurdistãn

His brigade command was the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. A brigade is a Military unit Echelon: is The 504th Infantry Regiment known during World War II, as the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment ( 504th PIR) was and still is a Regiment of the 82nd He served as the Assistant Division Commander, 1st Armored Division, in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Commander is a Military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service The 1st Armored Division &mdashnicknamed “ Old Ironsides ”&mdash is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Latin script: Bosna i Hercegovina, Cyrillic script: Босна и Херцеговина is a country on the Balkan Following that tour, he served as the 66th Commandant at the United States Military Academy at West Point. "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, At West Point, he reined in hazing rituals and revamped the curriculum. "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, Hazing is an often Ritualistic test and a task which may constitute Harassment, Abuse or Humiliation with requirements to perform random often Later, took command of the 1st Infantry Division, the “Big Red One,” in Würzburg, Germany, from David L. Grange, which provided the first U. The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army &mdashnicknamed “ The Big Red One ” after its Shoulder patch; and also nicknamed " The Fighting Würzburg (ˈvʏɐ̯ʦbʊɐ̯k is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. David L Grange is a retired United States Army Brigadier General, son of retired Lieutenant General David E S. ground forces into Kosovo. He served as the Deputy Commander (Forward), Combined Forces Command, US Central Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The United States Central Command ( USCENTCOM) is a theater -level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign

Robert Gates with Fallon and John Abizaid at the CENTCOM Change of Command ceremony, 2007. Robert Michael Gates (born September 25 1943) is currently serving as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense.

Staff assignments include a tour with the United Nations as Operations Officer (G-3) for Observer Group Lebanon and a tour in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the U. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security UNTSO is an acronym for United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, an organization founded on 29 May 1948 for Peacekeeping in the Middle East. The Chief of Staff of the United States Army ( CSA) is the highest ranking officer in the United States Army and is member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff S. Army. European staff tours include assignments in both the Southern European Task Force and Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe. Caserma Ederle (Camp Ederle is a United States Army post located in Vicenza, Italy. The Seventh United States Army, formerly the United States Army Europe, is the land component of United States European Command. Abizaid also served as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) on the Joint Staff and Director of the Joint Staff. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( CJCS) is by law the highest ranking military officer overall in the United States Armed

Following the 2003 Iraq War and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, he assumed command of Central Command from General Tommy Franks. The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1 2003 was spearheaded by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti ( Arabic: ar صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي --> April 28 1937 &ndash December 30 General Tommy Ray Franks, United States Army (Ret KBE (Honorary (born June 17, 1945 in Wynnewood Oklahoma) is a retired

On December 20, 2006, it was announced that Gen. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Abizaid would step down from his position and retire in March 2007. Events in March American Red Cross Month Fire Prevention month ( The Philippines) Women's History Month ( United Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. He had planned to retire earlier, but stayed at the urging of Donald Rumsfeld. ^[4] On March 16, 2007, Abizaid transferred command to Admiral William J. Fallon, after serving longer as Commander, U. William Joseph Fallon, (born December 30 1944) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy serving over 41 years S. Central Command than any of his predecessors.

Views

Speech on the War on Terror

In November, 2005 Abizaid gave a speech on the war on terrorism at the Naval War College that was not broadcast. The Naval War College (NWC is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for Naval warfare and passing them However, a student who attended wrote down notes. The notes were forwarded via e-mail by General Peter Schoomaker, Chief of Staff of the Army, among others, and the notes are considered credible. General Peter J Schoomaker (b February 12, 1946) was the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, serving from August 1, The Chief of Staff of the United States Army ( CSA) is the highest ranking officer in the United States Army and is member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff The Notes can be read in full at the CSPAN website Speech Notes

2006-2007 comments on Iraq

On August 3, 2006 Abizaid, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, seemed to have become more pessimistic about the situation on the ground in Iraq. Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Committee on Armed Services is a Committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the He said: "I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I’ve seen it, in Baghdad in particular, and that if not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move towards civil war. " This was widely regarded as a significant change in his previous estimation of the threat of civil war in Iraq. However, he also testified "I’m optimistic that that slide [toward civil war] can be prevented". ^[5]

Bob Woodward on Abizaid and Murtha

In State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III (as excerpted in Newsweek magazine), journalist Bob Woodward of the Washington Post wrote that on March 16, 2006 Abizaid was in Washington to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee. "State of Denial" redirects here For the documentary film about AIDS see State of Denial (film. Newsweek is an American weekly Newsmagazine published in New York City. Robert "Bob" Upshur Woodward (born March 26, 1943) is an assistant managing editor of The Washington Post. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Committee on Armed Services is a Committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the He painted a careful but upbeat picture of the situation in Iraq. " Subsequently "he went over to see Congressman John Murtha (D-Pa), the 73-year old former Marine who had introduced a resolution the previous November calling for the redeployment of troops from Iraq as soon as practicable. John Patrick “Jack” Murtha Jr (born 17 June 1932 is an American politician from the U " Abizaid said he wanted to speak frankly, and "according to Murtha, Abizaid raised his hand for emphasis and held his thumb and forefinger a quarter of an inch from each other and said, “We’re that far apart. "

On 1 October 2006, an interview of Woodward by CBS reporter Mike Wallace was broadcast on the television show 60 Minutes. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Mike Wallace (born Myron Leon Wallace on May 9, 1918) is an American journalist. Not to be confused with the BBC news magazine program Sixty Minutes (TV series. The interview was about Woodward's book State of Denial and Wallace mentioned the Murtha-Abizaid conversation. Wallace asked Woodward to confirm that Murtha had told him of this tale of meeting with Abizaid; Woodward nodded his head in assent and said yes. ^[6]

On Iran's Nuclear Program

In remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank and reported on Sep, 17, 2007 he stated "We need to press the international community as hard as we possibly can, and the Iranians, to cease and desist on the development of a nuclear weapon and we should not preclude any option that we may have to deal with it. " He further stated "I believe that we have the power to deter Iran, should it become nuclear. "

He continued "There are ways to live with a nuclear Iran," Abizaid said "Let's face it, we lived with a nuclear Soviet Union, we've lived with a nuclear China, and we're living with (other) nuclear powers as well. "^[7]

Major U. S. Decorations and Badges

• Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Legion of Merit (with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Bronze Star
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Army Achievement Medal
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Expert Infantryman Badge
• Combat Master Parachutist Badge (with 1 bronze Jump Star)
• Ranger Tab
• Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
• Army Staff Identification Badge

International Decorations

• Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia^[8]

References

External links

• "Newsmaker: General John Abizaid", PBS, March 4, 2004. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "
• "Centcom's Renaissance Man", The Washington Post
• Paul de la Garza, "In Search of Ground Truth: CentCom chief Gen. John Abizaid crisscrosses the front lines to get intel on the war on terror....", St. Petersburg Times, September 3, 2006
• "Abizaid plans to leave post in March Boston Globe, December 20, 2006
• http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBQQ98JDZE.html