Central Command's Mission More than Iraq, Afghanistan

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Originally uploaded by Sydney Weasel.

By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service

6/20/2006 - BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command is responsible for more than fighting the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, and CENTCOM officials emphasize they are not ignoring the challenges in the rest of their area of operations.

A senior CENTCOM official, speaking on background June 12, said the major enemy in the region is al Qaeda and its associated movements, and defeating that threat is the command's major mission.

"It's simply stated, but not so simple to do," he said.

CENTCOM's area of responsibility goes from Kazakhstan in Central Asia to Kenya on the Horn of Africa. It reaches from Egypt to Pakistan. {Click on image for details}