CNN

The Pentagon announced Monday that Marines from Camp Lejeune will be heading to Afghanistan later this month.

Washington (CNN) - Coalition forces can attain "success" in Afghanistan, but violence will likely increase as the approved troop surge moves forward in stabilizing the war-torn country, a top U.S. commander told a Senate committee Wednesday.

Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, predicted increased violence in spring 2010 and turmoil within the Afghan government as corruption is rooted out. Despite that, he told the Senate Finance Committee that "success" is within reach but will be difficult to attain.

Petraeus' appearance before legislators was the latest by top U.S.  officials on Capitol Hill this week. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, testified before the Senate and House counterparts of the Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, joined by Karl Eikenberry, the U.S.
ambassador in Kabul.

They were called to testify about President Barack Obama's new plan for the Afghan war, which involves the deployment of another 30,000 U.S. troops and a July 2011 date for the beginning of an American withdrawal.

In an exclusive interview with CNN Wednesday, Gen. Petraeus closed the door to talk of him running for president in 2012.

Washington (CNN) - CENTCOM Commander Gen. David Petraeus is once again shooting down any suggestions that he has aspirations to run for the White House in 2012.

In an exclusive interview on CNN Newsroom Wednesday, Kyra Phillips asked Petraeus whether the door might be open for a 2012 run.

"I'll close it right here, right now," Petraeus said. "I will remind you of the great country song that used to ask 'What about no don't you understand.'"

In an interview with Politico in September of this year, former GOP Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole said he would like to see Petraeus mount a White House bid.

Gen. David Petraeus was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February.

(CNN) - Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, has been treated for early stage prostate cancer and says recent screening tests have delivered "very positive" news.

He was diagnosed in February, his office said, and underwent two months of radiation treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

"My cancer was caught very early," Petraeus, 56, said in remarks released by his office. "I've had two PSA tests since completing treatment five months ago, and they've both been very positive. Surgery to remove the prostate was not an option due to plates/screws that were used to repair my pelvis after it was fractured in a parachuting accident."

PSA tests are blood tests performed to screen for prostate-specific antigens - proteins produced by cells of the prostate. Higher levels of PSAs could signal prostate cancer or benign prostate conditions.

At an appearance Tuesday after news of the treatment was out, Petraeus made only a lighthearted comment about this health.

Full story