In response to the current story of Gen. Ham being dismissed over the Benghazi events 9/11/2012. This comes from the official site for his Africom web site. And what they have to say about it.
http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=8383&lang=0
Obama Nominates Rodriguez as Next Africa Command Chief
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service 
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WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct 19, 2012 — President Obama has nominated Army General David M. Rodriguez to succeed Army General Carter F. Ham as the commander of U.S. Africa Command, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said, October 18, 2012.
U.S. Africa Command is the newest combatant command, and its headquarters is in Stuttgart, Germany. The command encompasses all of Africa and its adjacent waters except for Egypt.
The Senate must confirm Rodriguez, who currently is commander of U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C.
"He has served in a variety of key leadership roles on the battlefield," Panetta said in announcing the nomination. Rodriguez was the first commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, the corps-level command in Afghanistan. He was the commander during the surge into Afghanistan, "and was a key architect of the successful campaign plan that we are now implementing," Panetta said.
Ham has served as the Africa Command chief since March 2011. "Under his leadership, Africom has played a very central role in some very important missions," the secretary said. "From the NATO campaign in Libya that led to the fall of Gadhafi to successful counterterrorism efforts in Somalia [and] Yemen to efforts we are now involved in in Nigeria and Mali and elsewhere, General Ham has really brought Africom into a very pivotal role in that challenging region."
The nation is "deeply grateful for his outstanding service," he said.
Panetta also announced the nomination of Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr. to receive his fourth star and serve as the next assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. He would succeed Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., whom the president has nominated to command coalition and U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Paxton is commander of Marine Corps Forces Command, Marine Fleet Force Atlantic and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe. Paxton and Dunford also must be confirmed for their jobs by the Senate.
American Forces Press Service
Print Share WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct 19, 2012 — President Obama has nominated Army General David M. Rodriguez to succeed Army General Carter F. Ham as the commander of U.S. Africa Command, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said, October 18, 2012.
U.S. Africa Command is the newest combatant command, and its headquarters is in Stuttgart, Germany. The command encompasses all of Africa and its adjacent waters except for Egypt.
The Senate must confirm Rodriguez, who currently is commander of U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C.
"He has served in a variety of key leadership roles on the battlefield," Panetta said in announcing the nomination. Rodriguez was the first commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, the corps-level command in Afghanistan. He was the commander during the surge into Afghanistan, "and was a key architect of the successful campaign plan that we are now implementing," Panetta said.
Ham has served as the Africa Command chief since March 2011. "Under his leadership, Africom has played a very central role in some very important missions," the secretary said. "From the NATO campaign in Libya that led to the fall of Gadhafi to successful counterterrorism efforts in Somalia [and] Yemen to efforts we are now involved in in Nigeria and Mali and elsewhere, General Ham has really brought Africom into a very pivotal role in that challenging region."
The nation is "deeply grateful for his outstanding service," he said.
Panetta also announced the nomination of Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr. to receive his fourth star and serve as the next assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. He would succeed Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., whom the president has nominated to command coalition and U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Paxton is commander of Marine Corps Forces Command, Marine Fleet Force Atlantic and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe. Paxton and Dunford also must be confirmed for their jobs by the Senate.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense
On 10/30/2012 11:08:46 AM, AFRICOM PAO in Stuttgart, Germany said:
Thank you for all the comments and questions. We are aware of the rumors surrounding General Ham's upcoming departure, and the assumptions are false. General Carter F. Ham is currently the commander of U.S. Africa Command. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta's announced intention on October 18 to nominate Army General David M. Rodriguez to succeed General Ham followed leadership succession deliberations that took place well before the incident of 9/11/12.
General Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed this issue: "The speculation that General Carter Ham is departing Africa Command (AFRICOM) due to events in Benghazi, Libya, on 11 September 2012 is absolutely false. General Ham's departure is part of routine succession planning that has been on going since July. He continues to serve in AFRICOM with my complete confidence."
You can read more here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/29/dempsey-hits-rumors-about-africom-chiefs-departure/
On 10/30/2012 1:18:11 AM, Joe Schaefer in Universal City TX said:
What will be the future status of the command? Is there a plan to absorb it within the European Command?
On 10/28/2012 9:04:15 PM, Ricardo in U.S.A. said:
Was General Ham relieved of his command because of his attempt to help the Americans in the Benghazi massacre?
On 10/28/2012 6:10:00 PM, Marion in Cincinnati said:
I would like to know the reason Pres. Obama has for replacing Gen. Hamm. Thank You and Gen Hamm.
On 10/28/2012 4:29:55 PM, walt in washington said:
This change of command seems more of a dismissal of General Ham than a promotion for General Rodriguez. What lies ahead in the future for General Ham? Could this change be related to what has recently happened in Libya? Any military action that was to be immediately taken regarding the Benghazi incident would have been passed through General Ham. Perhaps his thoughts, recommendations and plan of action did not agree with his higher authorities?
Thank you for all the comments and questions. We are aware of the rumors surrounding General Ham's upcoming departure, and the assumptions are false. General Carter F. Ham is currently the commander of U.S. Africa Command. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta's announced intention on October 18 to nominate Army General David M. Rodriguez to succeed General Ham followed leadership succession deliberations that took place well before the incident of 9/11/12.
General Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed this issue: "The speculation that General Carter Ham is departing Africa Command (AFRICOM) due to events in Benghazi, Libya, on 11 September 2012 is absolutely false. General Ham's departure is part of routine succession planning that has been on going since July. He continues to serve in AFRICOM with my complete confidence."
You can read more here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/29/dempsey-hits-rumors-about-africom-chiefs-departure/
On 10/30/2012 1:18:11 AM, Joe Schaefer in Universal City TX said:
What will be the future status of the command? Is there a plan to absorb it within the European Command?
On 10/28/2012 9:04:15 PM, Ricardo in U.S.A. said:
Was General Ham relieved of his command because of his attempt to help the Americans in the Benghazi massacre?
On 10/28/2012 6:10:00 PM, Marion in Cincinnati said:
I would like to know the reason Pres. Obama has for replacing Gen. Hamm. Thank You and Gen Hamm.
On 10/28/2012 4:29:55 PM, walt in washington said:
This change of command seems more of a dismissal of General Ham than a promotion for General Rodriguez. What lies ahead in the future for General Ham? Could this change be related to what has recently happened in Libya? Any military action that was to be immediately taken regarding the Benghazi incident would have been passed through General Ham. Perhaps his thoughts, recommendations and plan of action did not agree with his higher authorities?
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