Bush picks general as 'war czar' | NEWS.com.au:
US President George W. Bush has chosen a three star army general as his pointman for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, ending a frustrated search for a "war czar".
The move comes amid an intensifying struggle with Congress over the course of an increasingly unpopular war in Iraq, which is now in its fifth year.
"Lieutenant General Douglas Lute will be the assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan policy,'' a senior administration official said.
Lt-Gen Lute, who is serving as director of the Joint Staff, was selected after several prominent retired generals turned down offers or overtures to become the White House's "war czar".
The choice surprised colleagues at the Pentagon who said they had heard of the nomination only shortly before news of it broke.
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