High-Stakes Opening and Closing Roles for a U.S. General in Iraq

[elleng]

Brig. Gen. Heidi Brown made history during the 2003 invasion of Iraq as the first female commander to head an American combat brigade in wartime.

The imposing, 49-year-old Texan led battalions providing air cover and artillery support to U.S. ground forces fighting their way toward Baghdad across Iraq's southern desert. Her troops shot down Iraqi Scud missiles. Several of her soldiers, including Pfc. Jessica Lynch, were ambushed and taken hostage, in the first major crisis of the early days of the invasion.

Brown's new deployment, which began this spring, is similarly high-stakes but could hardly be more different.

Her new job title is commander in charge of the responsible withdrawal, derived from President Obama's campaign promise to end an unpopular war in a way that does not upset the delicate balance that has allowed a measure of normalcy to return to Iraq.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/13/AR2009081303775.html?hpid=topnews

[babylonsister]

1. I like the sound of this but haven't read it yet. Thanks. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Too bad she has not been given a promotion

it is 2009, from 2003, she should have her second star by now.

And good luck General... doing that job will not be easy. Logistics is always a pain with many surprises.