(London Times) - General John Abizaid, a three-star army general of Lebanese descent known as the "mad Arab," who was portrayed by Clint Eastwood in the war film Heartbreak Ridge, was named Thursday as deputy commander of U.S. forces in the Gulf. His appointment, sanctioned this week by Donald Rumsfeld, the Defense Secretary, is a shrewd move by Washington at a time when military diplomacy with the Arab world is as important as American military might. General Abizaid is now director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
2003-01-17 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive