Military

DATE= 5/21/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= PENTAGON/FRANKS (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-303551

BYLINE= ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE= PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Army four-star General Tommy Franks, the commander of U-S forces in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has decided to retire. More from V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida at the Pentagon.

TEXT: There has been no official announcement of the 57-year-old General's retirement plans and no date has been set for him to step down; nor has a successor been named.

But Pentagon sources say General Franks, a Texas native, is likely to step down as commander of the U-S military's Central Command later this year after three years in the job.

His current deputy, Army Lieutenant General John Abizaid, is viewed as a likely candidate to take over the command, which is responsible for U-S forces and military operations in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa.

General Franks won praise from both President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for his handling of the operation in Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein as well as the earlier effort to oust the Taleban and destroy al-Qaida terrorist bases in Afghanistan.

General Franks had been viewed as a possible future Chief of Staff of the Army, the Army's highest military position.

But his wife, Cathy, this week told a Florida newspaper he had instead decided to retire --- fulfilling a promise to her. She is quoted as saying the General, in her words, is "very ready" for life as a civilian after a military career that began in 1967.

During his 36-year career, General Franks served in Vietnam, South Korea and Germany as well as posts in the United States.

He took over as commander of the Central Command, based in Florida, three years ago.

General Franks' awards include three Bronze Star Medals for valor and three Purple Hearts for combat wounds. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/MAR/FC