A Man With A Difficult Task

He is a man who is not afraid of challenges. The US special envoy to the Middle East, Anthony Zinni, spent nearly four decades in the military.

The now-retired four-star Marine general is not only known for his extensive military experience. One of his key strengths is said to be his reputation for political sensitivity and a "hands-on" approach to difficult tasks, especially in Middle East affairs.

Seeing things with his own eyes

In 1996, Zinni joined the US Central Command, and soon became its commander in chief. This position, which he held until his retirement in 2000, oversaw US forces in a 25-country region, ranging from the Horn of Africa and the Middle East through parts of the former Soviet Union. It is considered one of the most demanding posts in the US military.

The decorated Vietnam War veteran has also held leading positions in several operations in Somalia, as well as in relief efforts for Turkey, Iraq and the former Soviet Union.

He says that his experiences in Vietnam taught him the importance of developing understanding of different cultures, particularly non-Western ones. During his time at the Central Command, he began learning Arabic, reading on Arab culture, and spent several months travelling to meet Arab leaders.

Before he retired, Zinni spent several months travelling across Central Asia attempting to improve US relations with a number of countries, including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Military in his blood

Zinni was born in Philadelphia in 1947 to Italian immigrants. He followed in the military footsteps of his father, a World War One veteran.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1965 upon graduation from Villanova University. Serving in Vietnam as a company commander in 1970, Zinni was wounded and evacuated. He then went on to hold a number of command and training positions within the Marine Corps.