President Bush designated Army Gen. David Petraeus to supervise U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia as head of Central Command. Until now, Petraeus was the U.S. commander in Iraq, but from now on, he will face the task of winning the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as well as facing the increasing threat coming from another Middle Eastern country - Iran.

The announcement that Gen. Petraeus will take on as head of the U.S. Central Command was made on Wednesday at the Pentagon. The Tampa-headquartered Central Command (CENTCOM) is responsible for all the military operations in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa.

"I have recommended and the President has accepted and will nominate Gen. David Petraeus as the new commander of the Central Command," said Defense Secretary Robert Gates after receiving the green light from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Petraeus, Bush’s favorite general, was promoted as part of a major reshuffle in the leadership of the army, a move made to put in place strong supporters of the president’s policy of continuing the war in the Middle East.

Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the No. 2 commander in Iraq, will receive the fourth star and take Petraeus’s current role. The two worked closely in the Iraq war and were key figures in managing the 2007 new counterinsurgency strategy and buildup of nearly 30,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

"This arrangement probably preserves the likelihood of continued momentum and progress," said Gates after announcing the nominations at the Pentagon head quarters.

Gates described the move as one that will "provide some continuity for a new administration," but if the new president will have other plans regarding the war in the Middle East he will "always have the opportunity to make a change."

However, if the next president will want to change the war policy, it won’t be easy. He will have to face the military's strongest figure which supports the strategy of maintaining a big force in Iraq.

From Baghdad, Petraeus made a statement about his promotion:

"I am honored to be nominated for this position and to have an opportunity to continue to serve with America's soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, coastguardsmen and civilians," the 55-year-old general said.