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WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks, who planned and commanded the American-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has decided to retire, defense officials said Thursday.

Franks won high praise from President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld for his handling of the operation to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

The 57-year-old native of Midland,Texas, comes to the end of his three-year term as head of the military's 25-nation Central Command in July, but it was not immediately clear when he would leave. No replacement has been nominated.

Officials at Central Command in Tampa, Florida, said they had no official statement.

Franks had been considered a leading candidate for the top Army job of chief of staff, which opens in June. But associates doubted he would want the position and Franks said recently that the job title sounded "very interesting" but "not on my scope."

Franks is credited with developing a war plan that efficiently defeated the Iraqis with fewer U.S. casualties than many had expected. He also ran the 2001 war against Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban regime and ended Afghanistan's role as a haven for the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

It's not clear who will succeed Franks as Central Command commander, but one likely candidate is Army Lt. Gen. John Abizaid, who was Franks' top deputy at Camp As Sayliyah during the war.


"Retreat, hell! We just got here!"-Captain Lloyd Williams, 2nd Marine Division, Belleau Wood, France, WWI

Well, I guess we can expect "The Memoirs of Gen. Franks" on bookshelves everywhere within a year.

Kinda sad, really. He's done a great job with CENTCOM.

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” Benjamin Franklin, 1759

Because if this guy's been running the wars for two years, he's probably about to keel over right about now. It's not exactly a 9-5 job. He's done an awesome job and has certainly earned his retirement!

This is hardly a shock.

Franks wants no part of turning the US Army from the most powerful land force ever created into a organization driving around in light coffins.

Not to worry though.... I'm sure former USAF Sec Roche will play nicely as US Army Sec and give Rummy the light death traps that he wants.

Politics, politics, politics.

"If they mean to have a war, let it begin here." Captain John Parker, Battle of Lexington.