Portrait of Petraeus

The Renaissance Ranger

Vanity Fair magazine commissioned Mark Bowden, author of "Black Hawk Down," to profile General David Petraeus, architect of the successful surge strategy in Iraq and now leader of U.S. Central Command, the theatre which includes responsibility for Afghanistan.

What the writer found was a four star soldier, scholar and statesman. A master of war with a Princeton PhD, not only fit for command but in physical shape that'd put someone half his age to shame... Needless to say, Bowden was impressed.

Audio: BBC, PRI & WBUR's Here & Now 4/6/10, Host: Robin Young.