Why take a demotion from head of US Central Command to lead Afghanistan war?

[JEDI]

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/08/new-centcom-head-announced/?hpt=T2

Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis has been chosen as the new head of the U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Thursday.

Mattis replaces Gen. David Petraeus, who was recently tapped by President Barack Obama to head the military campaign in Afghanistan.


His rank might stay the same, but I see taking on the Afghanistan role as a demotion.

 

[Brigandier]

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/08/new-centcom-head-announced/?hpt=T2

Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis has been chosen as the new head of the U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Thursday.

Mattis replaces Gen. David Petraeus, who was recently tapped by President Barack Obama to head the military campaign in Afghanistan.


His rank might stay the same, but I see taking on the Afghanistan role as a demotion.

Um, because the commander in chief thought it was a good idea?

 

[JEDI]

Um, because the commander in chief thought it was a good idea?

ahh.. so it was a no win situation for him?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Because he was the best man for the job, and wanted to serve his country?

Not everyone cares most about the paycheck or job title.

His rank might stay the same, but I see taking on the Afghanistan role as a demotion.

He might see it as a chance to have a more direct effect on the war, as opposed to staying a REMF

 

[NoWhereM]

Members of the military don't have a choice when given a legal order.

I also doubt the general see's this as a demotion. How many generals would really want to be stationed at home in a time of war?

 

[Lemon law]

Yes, I somewhat agree with every point made here, technically Petraeus got demoted, but he just got promoted to do the most difficult job in the world.

If Petraeus can pull it off, he well may become the next President of the USA, if not, he will just become another US general to make a fortune in post retirement consulting.

The last US general to win Potus was Eisenhower, almost 60 years ago. What general could resist that temptation?

 

[woolfe9999]

He's likely not getting a decrease in pay, definitely not losing a rank. Technically, CentComm might be a "higher" position, but leading in Afghanistan is the more visible, and therefore more prestigious, position. Not really a demotion.

- wolf