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America's most popular and recognizable military general, David Petraeus, is retiring Wednesday from the U.S. Army after 37 years in uniform.

The soldier-scholar-statesman is to be sworn in as the nation's spy chief Sept. 6, less than a week before the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

It's a sharp and unexpected career turn for the man many thought would ultimately become the top officer in the land - chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - after six command assignments, including four in war zones. He is credited with turning around the Iraq war and helping pivot the still uncertain campaign in Afghanistan.

Read more about the general from the Associated Press.

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