WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama tapped a highly respected combat commander as his next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday, signaling that the battles against al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants threatening the Middle East and the West remain top priorities for the nation’s military despite years of trying to change the focus to Asia.
President Barack Obama announced his selection of Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. during a Rose Garden ceremony.
“We have to keep training Afghan forces and remain relentless against al-Qaeda. We have to push back against ISIL and strengthen forces in Syria and build moderate opposition in Syria,” said Obama, using an alternate name for the Islamic State group.
Dunford led forces in the initial invasion into Iraq and more recently was in charge of the Afghanistan war coalition during 2013-14. He would succeed Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, who will have served as chairman for four years.
