Retired General Takes Charge at US Spy Agency

Posted September 6th, 2011 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
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The former U.S. general who masterminded the troop surges in Iraq and Afghanistan is now officially giving orders at the Central Intelligence Agency.

Newly retired U.S. General David Petraeus was sworn in as CIA chief Tuesday in a private ceremony at the White House, led by Vice President Joe Biden.

Petraeus becomes the CIA's 20th director less than a week before the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington. He takes over for for CIA Director Leon Panetta, who left to become Secretary of Defense.

The 58-year-old Petraeus spent 37 years with the U.S. Army, most recently commanding NATO-led forces in Afghanistan.