Ray Odierno: The Commander in Iraq Is Leaving His Mark

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you have shwon me that you are a great man with a lovely wife general and what i saud on your fabn page i polocaize from my bottom of my heart to you and to your famely i have a hig respect for the army and i allwys do so hope that my polochice is a sapetit form you and your famely senserly hafdis of iceland

hafdis berg sigurdardottir 10:47PM August 06, 2011

EastTexian, why do people such as yourself love to whine so much?
If he has admitted he was too harsh, then that's more than I can say for most any other leaders. Admitting you're wrong, acknowledging the feelings of your countrymen who oppose you? Those are excellent quallities. Some that even our president doesn't have.

Annoyed of MS 3:14PM April 14, 2010

General Odierno might not be the best US general, but he is certainly the handsome one

Biljana 7:18AM December 16, 2009

This man is single-handedly responsible for the hatred most Iraqis have for Americans. His heavy handedness with the Iraqi people during his first tour was an example of what type of military leaders we don't need. He has even admitted as much. As a former military officer, I am appalled at this selection. Where is Petreaus or McKiernan or any one of a number of really great Army leaders? They are the true leaders, not this BOZO. US NEWS needs to start doing some hard research!

EastTexian of TX 1:02AM December 11, 2009

I`m now know how hard job us army made in irag,hope in the future irag will be better and better. general raymond,you are the best leader ,you are hero for me.Hope like evrybody think,next year us army will leave irag.

tao sun 8:24AM December 07, 2009

As a young SSG in the U.S. Army, I had the privlege and unknown honor to serve under General Odierno as my battalion commander. He led that BN like it was own family. His leadership enforced those below him to become strong leaders and thus carrying his trait on to the lower enlisted Soldiers. I again had the honor to serve not directly, but under his command while I was in Iraq 2007-2008. I have taken what his leadership instilled in me and used that to train the Soldiers that work with me because they want to, not for me because they have to. There are many types of leadership and if you first of all earn their respect and show them how to also be leaders you learn that trust and dedication becomes one, going both ways of the chain. General Odierno is a Soldiers General and I congratulate him on his achievements that I has earned. Proud to have had to opportunity to have been part of his Leadship.

Tkram of ND 10:51PM October 28, 2009

I am not that of an officer but that of an enlisted man that has served in Desert Storm, Bosnia, Afghanistan and now Iraq. Through twenty years of service have meet many leaders and Commanders, some good and some bad with many in varying degrees in between. The clear differences of General Odierno are amazing to me still. General Odieno's Leadership award not only stems from being the Commanding General but also stems from his previous tours; all as a leader of service members, not only form the US but from abroad as well. There is not one General, that I can think of, who was not doubted or second guessed or scrutinized during there campaigns. Yet the outcome rests solely on their decisions and the outcome of Iraq and the bilateral partnership between the US and Iraq has rested on his shoulders on many occasions through several tours. His leadership has pushed for a Country that will stand on its own and of a people who may now prosper as a democratic Islamic state. Through the many nights left without sleep, filled with thoughts of those trying to help instill a peaceful nation, not our soil but theirs, he has pondered and pressed on with what he knew was the right thing to do. President Wilson and Gen George C. Marshall are both men who sought these same qualities for notations beyond ours. Makes me believe they gave the Nobel Peace prize to the wrong guy. I would gladly and proudly serve under him again.

not listed of OR 6:26AM October 23, 2009

Having been in Iraq numerous times since 2004 - I cannot let this one pass. General Odierno is a hothead. One of his predecessors, General Casey, had the worst job as a Commander of military forces in Iraq and he was the calmest voice and best commander I have seen since my service in Vietnam. Casey's job was equal to Reconstruction in the US after the Civil War. General Casey had the temperament that was necessary to minimize casualties after Ambassador Bremer had laid the groundwork for secular violence. He was a true leader. As a retired Army officer, I applaud General Odierno's history of military service, (my family has dead in graves in the Philippines, my father was on deisel subs in the north Atlantic, and I left many of my friends who were never recovered after two tours in Vietnam), but he needs to listen more and think about what he is going to do before he acts. I disagree with his leadership award.

Galasso of SC 6:39PM October 22, 2009