Pentagon denies Petraeus exit but questions remain

The future of US general David Petraeus, the Nato commander in Afghanistan, is the subject of fevered speculation after newspaper reports that he would leave his post before the end of the year were met with some less-than-convincing denials from the Pentagon.

Petraeus has only been at the helm in Afghanistan since June 2010, but according to the Times he will be ousted before the end of the year as part of a revamp of the American diplomatic strategy in the region.

That claim was dismissed as "sensational" by the Pentagon, but a spokesman added that the general did not "plan to stay in Afghanistan for ever". It has also been pointed out that by the end of 2011 Petraeus would have been in the job for 18 months, which is a reasonable length of time for a military posting.

The Times reports that the White House has begun looking for a replacement for the general who could take over sometime this year as part of what it describes as a "sweeping reorganisation" of the American top brass in Afghanistan.

It claims that the appointment of Marc Grossman as Obama's special envoy in the region may have prompted the reshuffle.

Petraeus is the most famous soldier in the US Army, rising to prominence by leading "the surge" strategy in Iraq that helped to bring stability to the country after years of bloody violence.

He took over in Afghanistan last year when his predecessor General Stanley McChrystal was forced to stand down after making unflattering remarks about the Obama administration to a journalist writing for Rolling Stone magazine.

Petraeus has not had an entirely smooth relationship with Obama, who has publicly committed to withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan in 2011. However, Petraeus has refused to be held to any deadlines and clashed with the President in 2009 over the number of troops needed for the counter-insurgency campaign in Afghanistan.

The story has inevitably reignited rumours that Petraeus could stand as the Republican presidential candidate in the 2012 elections. However, he has frequently denied that he plans to run, even though he would be a hugely popular candidate. It would also make little sense for Obama to dispense with his services in time for him to stand against him.

Perhaps a more likely scenario is that Petraeus, who is seen as a national hero, will take over from Admiral Mike Mullen as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - the highest ranking military officer in the US - when his term ends in September. ·