At the request of the President, Army four-star General Tommy R Franks has agreed to remain as head of Central Command for an extra year (until July 2003). Franks had originally planned to retire this summer, and is still expected to retire when his current assignment is completed. At the start of the Afghan War, Franks was criticized by Secretary Rumsfeld for taking too long to start the War in Afghanistan, but has lately earned high praise for the campaign. It is noted that if an invasion of Iraq starts in the next few weeks, Franks would command it, and it would be awkward to have him retire while fighting was still going on.--Stephen V Cole