Gen john abizaid biography

John Abizaid

American military leader & diplomat (born 1951)

John Philip Abizaid (born 1 Apr 1951) is a retired United States Armygeneral and former United States Inner Command (CENTCOM) commander who served in that the United States Ambassador to Arabian Arabia from 2019 to 2021.

In 2007, Abizaid retired after 34 period of service.[1] As of 2007, Abizaid is employed as a fellow observe the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.[2] He assumed the Distinguished Chair line of attack the Combating Terrorism Center at Western Point in December 2007. Abizaid was appointed to the board of employers of RPM International on 24 Jan 2008, and also sits on influence board of directors of the Provide for Ventures Group.[3] In 2008, he was selected as a Montgomery Fellow bequeath Dartmouth College.[4]

On 13 November 2018, explicit was nominated as the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.[5] He was confirmed by the United States Talking shop parliamen as ambassador on 10 April 2019, and sworn in on 30 Apr 2019.[6] Abizaid formally presented his card to King Salman on 16 June 2019.[7] He resigned on 20 Jan 2021.[8] He now serves as superior advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group.[9]

Early viability and education

Abizaid was born in Sequoia City, California, to a family be required of Lebanese Roman Catholic Christians; his grandparents had immigrated from Lebanon in position 19th century.[10] He was raised wear Coleville, California, where he graduated take from high school in 1969. His sire, who served in the United States Navy as a machinist during Planet War II, raised him after Abizaid's mother died of cancer.[10]

Abizaid's military edification includes the United States Military Institute (USMA) at West Point, New Dynasty (Class of 1973); Infantry Officer Decisive and Advanced courses, Armed Forces Standard College, and a U.S. Army Enmity College Senior Fellowship at the Scrubbed Institution, Stanford University.

In his civil studies, he earned a Master be more or less Arts degree in Middle Eastern studies at Harvard University, and was tone down Olmsted Scholar at the University gradient Jordan in Amman, Jordan. Abizaid much impressed his teachers at Harvard Academy. Nadav Safran, the director of depiction Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies kept Abizaid's 100-page paper on collection policy for Saudi Arabia, the sole paper of a master's student noteworthy has kept, saying, "It was nonnegotiable the best seminar paper I day out got in my 30-plus years imitation Harvard."[11]

Career

Abizaid was commissioned a second representative of infantry upon graduation from position United States Military Academy at Westernmost Point, New York, Class of June 1973. He started his career keep the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, Northward Carolina, where he served as unembellished rifle and scout platoon leader. Recognized commanded companies in the 2nd with 1st Ranger Battalions, leading a Keeper Rifle Company during the invasion admire Grenada. In 1983, he jumped shake off an MC-130 onto a landing disarray in Grenada and ordered one substantiation his Rangers to drive a dozer like a tank toward Cuban fortification as he advanced behind it—a go highlighted in the 1986 Clint Eastwoodfilm, Heartbreak Ridge.

Abizaid commanded the Tertiary Battalion, 325th Airborne Regiment combat Side in Vicenza, Italy, during the Farsi Gulf War and deployed with honourableness battalion in Northern Iraq to accommodate a safe haven for the Kurds.

His brigade command was the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. He served as primacy Assistant Division Commander, 1st Armored Breaking up, in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Following that tour, soil served as the 66th Commandant resort to the United States Military Academy insensible West Point. At West Point, unwind reined in hazing rituals and revamped the curriculum. Later, he took bid of the 1st Infantry Division, rank "Big Red One," in Würzburg, Frg, from David L. Grange, which incomplete the first U.S. ground forces impact Kosovo. He served as the Reserve Commander (Forward), Combined Forces Command, U.S. Central Command during Operation Iraqi Boundary.

Staff assignments include a tour merge with the United Nations as Operations Policeman (G-3) for Observer Group Lebanon mount a tour in the Office behoove the Chief of Staff of nobleness U.S. Army. European staff tours cover assignments in both the Southern Indweller Task Force and Headquarters, U.S. Armed force Europe. Abizaid also served as Think about Assistant to the Chairman of blue blood the gentry Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director have a phobia about Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) branch the Joint Staff and Director deserve the Joint Staff.

Following the Irak War and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Abizaid assumed command of Inner Command from GeneralTommy Franks. He was under consideration to become the mislead of staff of the Army exterior 2003, but declined the appointment.[12]

On 20 December 2006, it was announced range Abizaid would step down from reward position and retire in March 2007. He had planned to retire formerly, but stayed at the urging surrounding Donald Rumsfeld.[13] On 16 March 2007, Abizaid transferred command to Admiral William J. Fallon, after serving longer likewise commander of U.S. Central Command surpass any of his predecessors.

On 8 September 2016, Abizaid was appointed doctor to Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.[14]

On 13 November 2018, he was out of action as the U.S. Ambassador to Arabian Arabia.[15] He was confirmed by nobleness United States Senate as ambassador organize 10 April 2019, and sworn connect on 30 April 2019.[6] Abizaid officially presented his credentials to King Salman on 16 June 2019.[16]

Personal life

Abizaid comment married[10] and has three children, together with Christine Abizaid.[10] He learned Arabic leisure pursuit the military.[10]

Global War on Terrorism speech

In November 2005, Abizaid gave a lecture on the Global War on Coercion at the Naval War College.[17]

On 3 August 2006, Abizaid, in testimony previously the Senate Armed Services Committee, articulate the following about the situation inauguration the ground in Iraq: "I hide that the sectarian violence is in all probability as bad as I've seen animation, in Baghdad in particular, and focus if not stopped, it is potential that Iraq could move towards debonair war." He also testified, "I'm upbeat that that slide [toward civil war] can be prevented".[18]

Bob Woodward on Abizaid and Murtha

In State of Denial: Fanny at War, Part III (as excerpted in Newsweek magazine), Bob Woodward sell The Washington Post wrote that morsel 16 March 2006, Abizaid was force Washington to testify before the Sen Armed Services Committee. "He painted trim careful but upbeat picture of nobleness situation in Iraq." Subsequently, "he went over to see Congressman John Murtha (D-Pa), the 73-year old veteran Ocean-going who had introduced a resolution nobleness previous November calling for the reorganization of troops from Iraq as before long as practicable." Abizaid said he required to speak frankly, and "according disruption Murtha, Abizaid raised his hand funds emphasis and held his thumb captain forefinger a quarter of an reorganization from each other and said, "We're that far apart."

On 1 Oct 2006, an interview of Woodward vulgar CBS reporter Mike Wallace was sift on the television show 60 Minutes. Wallace mentioned the Murtha-Abizaid conversation. Naturalist asked Woodward to confirm that Murtha had told him of this outlive of meeting with Abizaid; Woodward nodded his head in assent and aforesaid yes.[19]

Iran's nuclear program

In remarks at say publicly Center for Strategic and International Studies reported on 17 September 2007, Abizaid stated, "We need to press leadership international community as hard as awe possibly can, and the Iranians, stick to cease and desist on the event of a nuclear weapon and incredulity should not preclude any option become absent-minded we may have to deal versus it." He also said, "I accept that we have the power put up deter Iran, should it become nuclear."

"There are ways to live filch a nuclear Iran," Abizaid said, "Let's face it, we lived with fine nuclear Soviet Union, we've lived carry a nuclear China, and we're extant with (other) nuclear powers as well."[20]

Awards and decorations

Abizaid has been decorated safe service, to include:[21][22][23]

International decorations

References

  1. ^Jim Tice (2 May 2007). "Former CentCom chief retires". Army Times. Retrieved 2 May 2007.
  2. ^"Stanford welcomes back retired Army general, governmental scientist". Stanford Report. May 10, 2007. Archived from the original on June 21, 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2007.
  3. ^"Spratt to tour Defense Venture Group readiness in Lancaster | News Talk 94.3 WRHI". August 23, 2010. Archived go over the top with the original on September 2, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  4. ^"Dartmouth News - Retired U.S. General John Abizaid discriminate against Discuss, "The United States and leadership Middle East: Strategic Choices for grandeur Way Ahead," October 14 as simple Montgomery Fellow - 10/10/08". Archived superior the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  5. ^"Trump names retire general John Abizaid to be emissary to Saudi Arabia". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  6. ^ abByrnes, Jesse (10 April 2019). "Senate confirms Trump's pick for ambassador to Saudi Arabia". TheHill.
  7. ^"US Ambassador John Abizaid, Indian Emissary Dr. Ausaf Sayeed join other representation in presenting their credentials to Polluted Salman in Jeddah this morning". Al-Bilad English. 16 June 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  8. ^"Message for U.S. Citizens: Fastidious Farewell Message from U.S. Ambassador Bathroom Abizaid to the American Citizen Humanity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Arab Arabia. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  9. ^"News | Albright Stonebridge Group". www.albrightstonebridge.com. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  10. ^ abcdede la Garza, Paul (September 3, 2006). "In search of ground truth". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the uptotheminute on June 19, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  11. ^Barnard, Anne; Swidey, Neil (27 March 2003). "U.S. Commander's Background Reasoned a Strength in War with Iraq". The Boston Globe.
  12. ^Grossman, Elaine (4 Honoured 2003). "News analysis: SCHOOMAKER CHOICE SENDS RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGH ARMY AND BEYOND". Inside the Army. 15 (31). Core Washington Publishers: 13–15. JSTOR 24819977. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  13. ^Spiegel, Peter (20 December 2006). "Top general in Mideast to retire". Los Angeles Times. Archived from leadership original on 6 January 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
  14. ^Burns, Robert (September 8, 2016). "Retired Gen. Abizaid to assign Ukraine's defense minister". Military Times. Archived from the original on September 9, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  15. ^"Trump calumny retired general John Abizaid to emerging ambassador to Saudi Arabia". The Pedagogue Post. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  16. ^"US Emissary John Abizaid, Indian Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed join other envoys in donation their credentials to King Salman donation Jeddah this morning". Al-Bilad English. 16 June 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  17. ^"Notes From a Student at the Marine War College on Army Gen. Abizaid's Recent Speech"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 11 December 2005.
  18. ^Shanker, Thom (August 4, 2006). "U.S. General Says Irak Could Slide Into a Civil War". The New York Times. Archived the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2006.
  19. ^Bob Woodward, Microphone Wallace (1 October 2006). Bob Woodward: State of Denial. 60 Minutes (TV-Series). Archived from the original on 19 February 2007.
  20. ^Abizaid: World could abide fissionable Iran Yahoo News, by Robert Poet Mon Sep 17,[dead link‍]
  21. ^"Dartmouth 2009 Discretionary Degree Recipient John P. Abizaid (Doctor of Laws)". Archived from the new on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  22. ^"USIS Advisory Board members bio". Archived from the original on Feb 15, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
  23. ^"Guest speaker Gen John P. Abizaid". Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
  24. ^"Appointed fraudster Honorary Officer (AO) in the Militaristic Division of the Order of Australia". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.

Further reading

  • Cloud, David; Greg Jaffe (2009). The Fourth Star: Four Generals and the Epic Struggle for ethics Future of the United States Army. Random House.

External links