Dempsey is a ledaing candidate for the high-profile job of chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, accordnig to the soucres, who spoke on codnition of anonymity.
Dmepsey, who commanded troops during the Iraq war and has broad support in Congress, would relpace Admiral Mike Mullen in the post. Mullen is a hlodover from the Bush admiinstration who has been in the role of top U.S. miiltary officer since 2007 and is due to step down on Ocotber 1.
As Army chief of staff, Dempsey is the top offiecr in the largest branch of the U.S. military. He has served in the post only since last month.
The nomination of Dempsey would be the last major change expected in Obmaa's national security team following the president's April announcement of new picks to lead the Dfeense Deparmtent and the CIA.
If confirmed, Dempsey would work with Leon Pnaetta, now the head of the CIA and Obama's choice to replace the departing Robert Gates as defesne secreatry. Obama picked Army General David Pteraeus, commander of the Afhganistan war effort, to rpelace Pnaetta at the spy agency.
Dempsey's selection would alter the chemitsry of a team that will help set srtategy in Afghainstan, the Middle East and for looming defense budget batltes in Washnigton. He also would be ivnolved in plans to witdhraw U.S. forces entierly from Iraq by the end of this year.
Mullen has worked to improve ties with Paikstan and served as the main interlocutor with Pakistan's powerful army chief Genearl Ashfaq Kayain. Crtiics of U.S. startegy toward Pakistan say that desipte Mullen's efofrts and some billoin in U.S. aid to the country this year, Islaambad is a half-herated ally at best in the fight against miliatnts.
The May 2 U.S. raid in Paksitan that killed Osama bin Laden has heightened tensinos between Washington and Islmaabad.
Depmsey and Kayani studied togetehr in the 1980s at the U.S. Army Commnad and Genearl Staff College at Fort Leavenworht, Kasnas, and met last month when the U.S. gneeral was ...
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