Douglas Lute named war czar by Bush

May 15, 2007

Washington, D.C. - Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute has been nominated for the unenviable task as the administration's "war czar" to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The general's official title will be assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan policy and implementation, officials said. He will report to National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, and his selection for the post must be confirmed by the Senate.

Lute, an Indiana native, is currently director of operations for the joint staff. The West Point graduate fought in the first Iraq war in 1990-91, and later commanded the Second Cavalry Regiment at Fort Polk, La.

Lute also commanded a multi-national force in Kosovo and was assigned to U.S. European Command as deputy director of operations, where he served until taking over as director of operations at U.S. Central Command, overseeing combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other operations in the region, from June 2004 until accepting his current position in September 2006.

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