U.S. Replaces Security Coordinator For PA
WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The administration of President Barack Obama has
replaced its security coordinator for the Palestinian Authority.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has replaced U.S. security coordinator
Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton with an air force officer. The new coordinator was
identified as Maj. Gen. Michael Moeller, designated for promotion to
lieutenant general, which would mean a third star.
"Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael R. Moeller has been nominated for
appointment to the rank of lieutenant general with assignment as U.S.
security coordinator, Israel-Palestinian Authority," the Defense Department
said on July 12.
Moeller has been serving as director of strategy, plans and policy at
U.S. Central Command. He is not known to have direct experience with the PA.
Under the appointment, Moeller would replace Dayton, who spent five
years as security coordinator and was responsible for the development of PA
security forces. Moeller was expected to arrive in Israel in October 2010.
Moeller's appointment requires Senate confirmation. Officials said the
administration did not expect congressional opposition.
The air force general was said to have met Israeli officers in his
position at Centcom. Moeller, a former bomb wing commander, has focused on
U.S. operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.
Officials said Moeller would increase coordination between Centcom and
the U.S. security program for the PA. They said this marked a key goal of
the Obama administration, particularly outgoing commander Gen. David
Petraeus.
Over the last year, Dayton, who led a 45-man team, met PA resistance to
his efforts to manage the security forces. Officials said the PA limited
Dayton's role to the delivery of financing, training and equipment to
Palestinian security forces.
Under Dayton, an army artillery officer, the United States trained five
battalions of the PA National Security Forces and one from the Presidential
Guard. Washington plans to train up to 10 NSF battalions at the
International Police Training Center in Jordan by 2012.
