Everybody needs to understand that I learned Arabic from the United States Army as a second language. I never spoke it at home.

He was raised Catholic. Abizaid succeeded General Tommy Franks as Commander USCENTCOM on July 7 2003 and was also elevated to the rank of four-star general the same week. On March 16 2007 Abizaid transferred command to Admiral William J.

Fallon on March 16 2007. Abizaid retired from the military on May 1 2007 after 34 years of service. He assumed the DistinguiJohn Abizaidd Chair of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point in December 2007.