LAT analyzes Petraeus appointment

On the front page today, the LAT assigns devious and complicated motives to President Bush's appointment of General David H. Petraeus as commander of Central Command. It's to solidify Bush's Iraq and Iran policy so that the next president can't easily change it. It signals heightened U.S. attention to Tehran. Petraeus is the "prime advocate" of Bush's policy, and so on.

It's looney stuff and way too complicated. Petraeus is the best we've got. Central Command is the hot spot. Petraeus deserves a promotion. It's that simple, or ought to be.