As head of the United States Southern Command, General Thurman has directed the American military action in Panama.

That was his last troop command until he became the head of the United States Southern Command in October.

As the former head of the United States Central Command, Franks led American troops in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.

"As we stand where we are now, we want to keep all the options open," said General Franks, who is head of the United States Central Command.

"This is the classic approach to how you handle urban areas," said Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, a former head of the United States Central Command.

General Casey and Gen. John P. Abizaid, head of the United States Central Command, appeared to be like-minded.

A 1994 memorandum is addressed to General McCaffrey when he was head of the United States Southern Command.

That's not the battlefield," said the general, whom President Clinton has nominated to be the new head of the United States Central Command.