Petraeus To Become Centcom Commander
By Nicole Belle Tuesday Apr 22, 2008 11:45am
CNN:
<!--===========CAPTION==========-->Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, has been tapped to become chief of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday. Gen. David Petraeus has been the commander in Iraq for more than a year.<!--===========/CAPTION=========-->
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Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno will take over for Petraeus as commander in Iraq, Gates said.
As Ilan Goldenberg points out at Democratic Arsenal, this move will take two of the biggest critics of our Iraq strategy -- Fallon and Gen. Cody (who is currently Petraeus' #2 in Iraq) -- out of Iraq and replacing them with Petraeus and Odeirno. who haven't had a critical word on the Iraq strategy yet. And this is the team that will greet the new president in January.
First, it'll be interesting to see how he handles the tension of Afghanistan and Iraq from that position since Gates, Mullen and Fallon have all made clear that Iraq is hurting our mission in Afghanistan. Somehow I have a feeling that he will advise that we continue to place all of our strategic eggs in the Iraq basket.
Second, the confirmation hearings should give Democrats an opportunity to finally get Petraeus to answer some central questions. Is the mission in Iraq hurting Afghanistan and Pakistan? What is the central front in the fight against Al Qaeda? What about our overstretched forces? Is Iraq making America safer? Petraeus was able to dodge (Somewhat legitimately) on a number of these questions in the past by arguing that this wasn't his job. Well, now it is. So he really needs to answer.
Third, there was speculation that Petraeus was going to move off to SACEUR right around January. This guarantees that if there is a Democratic administration, Petraeus may end up playing a central role in helping design an exit strategy. Of course, in testimony last month he brought into question whether he'd actually be willing to do that. Which is huge, and must be asked again during the hearings.
Brandon Friedman of VetVoice: This shows an absolute devotion on the Bush administration's part to placing the needs of Iraq ahead of the needs of America. As Afghanistan and Pakistan have become the greater problem, it would be more appropriate for the Bush administration to appoint a recent Afghanistan commander to lead CENTCOM. Remember, while General Petraeus will now be responsible for the fight in Afghanistan, he has never served in Afghanistan.
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So all that sucking up really paid off.
I thought Petraeus was supposed to be doing such a great job in Iraq. Why would they want to switch commanders when things are going so well?
Oh right, its the Bush administration.
Fortunately, being a Detroit Lions fan, I have a lot of experience understanding the motivations of a completely incompetent leadership team.
It's easy to dislike Petraeus, because he echoes what we don't want to hear, and because he does what he's told to do. He learned his punishment lesson well[1]. That said, don't underestimate the man's intellect. He's bright...very bright. His PhD in military science with a dissertation in counter-insurgency is considered by all learned people as 'the cat's meow' on the subject. He is very well suited for the task. Let's see what happens before demonizing him further.
[1] Petraeus was 2nd in command in Iraq at the beginning of the war on Iraq. He criticized the administration's plan, was removed from his post as a result, and forced to a desk job at Ft. Leavenworth. When he capitulated, he was given command.
Hooray! We will finally get a Centcom commander that sees the danger that Iran poses, just like our President keeps telling us!
miss_kitty @ 1:
Being a traitorous enabler of criminals pays well, especially with the Bush cabal.
Bush is a freaking genious,It takes him just 8 years to transform the USA into a banana republic. More lapel pins please!
Bob @ 4:
And with McFourmorewars at the helm you gotta know things will just be peaceful and prosperous!
Yup, it does pay to be the spin shill for this criminal gang in the WH.
Ed in Socal @ 3:
I believe the quote was, "he's the dumbest man on the planet."
That's quite diatribe, considering that he's up against mental midgets like GW Bush, Condi Rice, Donald Wildmon, Randall Terry and right wing morons like AssRocket.
ben @ 6:
The whole Dumbya Regime started with a very banana republic move by the SCOTUS. When a country has the President chosen by a court it is a banana republic. Since 2000, the Banana States of America.
Can't the new president just ask for his resignation, and hire someone smart for a change?
Patreus IS a bright man. I've never been a serious critic of HIS methods (go ahead and archive my comments). I thought that, under the circumstances, he did a fairly good job post invasion of including local leaders in and around Mosul and keeping things relatively quiet there. But I knew that his methods (see Awakening Councils) were doomed to failure elsewhere simply because the insane neocons continued to force a square peg into a round hole in Iraq in general. My biggest gripe with him is that he carries water for the war mongers even though is smart enough to know that the entire operation is a failure.
Nice try general.
Next!
Centcom, how appropriate
A cent is about all our dollar's worth now.
Look out Iran, we're gonna bring democracy to your country!!
This is part of Chenney's plan to attack Iran.
angryspittle @ 14:
FTFY
Ass-kissing little chicken shit reporting for duty
Whether in the military, corporate life, Catholic church........real "yes men" who don't make waves always get promoted!
angryspittle @ 14:
FTFY again...
Ed in Socal Says:
Let’s see what happens before demonizing him further.
lol... STFU!
Everyone ready for war with Iran? Oh, you don't think we're going to war with Iran?
Remember, the REAL reason we went to war with Iraq? Yeap, it was because they were going to switch to the Euro after sanctions because Saddam was pissed at 500,000 dead kids due to sanctions.
Guess what Iran did in February? You got it Link > Iran starts trading in Euro do to weak dollar
And THAT'S the reason why the per barrel cost of oil is at 120 and going to 180!!
Now what happened to the British pound when the world stopped trading it?
It aint good yaw, a sustained air war is good for MoreWar McSame come election time
Anyone who lies or covers up for this corrupt and criminal administration is always rewarded handsomely.
The Peter Principal is alive and well, at Bushco. Petraeus's many Iraq accomplishments; “losing” 319,000 small arms under his watch as chief trainer of Iraqi forces, arming and training former Republican guard Sunni’s to fight al-qaeda in Iraq, aiding and abetting Iran in dustups between competing Shia militia, constructing a Berlin style wall in Baghdad's ghetto of Sadr City. What a man! Petraeus reminds me of General Westmoreland’s effectiveness in Vietnam.
One hopes the next Prez. will reward the Pentagons success and ask for a few resignations.
Liberal AND Proud @ 9:
That quote was directed at Douglas Feith.
Bushie @ 22:
According to BushCo 'metrics' this makes Genurul 'Betrayus' a success. America now run by and for the stupid.
Will the democrats call up Fallon during the confirmation hearings since we seemed to have once again skipped debating the pesky little declaration of war mandate our constitution requires and are putting in place the parts for the next shock and awesome Bush Chaney Middle East extravaganza.
I wonder how mush cash has been given to this little prick along with this bribe. Perhaps part or all of the missing 9 billion in new 100 dollar bills. Will he be allowed to be a part of the ruling top 1 % club now? Does anyone know how to fold paper into a noose?
just moving around toy soilders
See? Terrorism and treason (not to mention baby killing) pays big bucks under a Christian fascist regime. This mass murdering terrorist and traitor gets a boost in pay -- which real actual Americans are driven further and further into the Republinazi poverty.
Isn't Christianity wonderful?
Ed in Socal @ 3:
Yeah, never demonize people that Ed labels as smart, no matter they do.
Say a smart serial killer wants to slaughter you family and eat them. Because that serial killer is smart, you have no right to demonize him. you should wait until your family is dead before making any judgments.
Petraeus is smart and will do everything Bush tells him to do, no matter how evil or stupid we may think these actions are.
so to sum up, smart people who constantly do stupid and evil things, that stupid and evil people tell them to do, cannot be criticized, because they are smart.
Smart people do whatever stupid people tell them to do.
Thanks Ed for an interesting perspective. Stupid is smart.
Che's Lounge @ 12:
From our perspective back in the United States, it is impossible to tell that he is bright.
He does appear to be a butt sucker and a liar.
Now if you were to argue that it is his mission to completely immerse the US into another World War (without generating immediate public blowback), then I would argue that he's doing a very good job.
But that job doesn't require a lot of brains.
I'll wait and see if he does something that I believe borders on genius, and I'll blog it when it happens.
Betrayus's former boss:
"Ass kissing little chickenshit"
Bush crony #263.
Weaseldog @ 31:
Patreus' problem is that he follows orders. Somehow I believe he sits in his office and asks himself, "Why did my career have to peak under these fools?".
So lets recap; The Admiral didn't want to get us into Iran, but since The Bush-hole administration has made Petreaus into the Protical Son that can do ABSOLUTELY NO WRONG, he will be the one to get us into Iran.....with no poopsition!
If we don't want to go into Iran and have the rest of the world ( you know, there might still be an island off the coast of...somewhere that recieves 2 messages in a bottle per week) detest us, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE SPEAK OUT ON THIS!!!!!! PLEASE PEOPLE! If anyone knows of a "NO Petreaus in Iran" protest, PLEASE let me know. If not, mabye we can get something going to let them know that we are ON TO THEM!
figs004@hotmail.com
whoops...that was opposition...sorry:)
Ruthless People @ 32:
Yep, that's exactly what Fallon called him.
YouCantHandleDaTruth @ 21:
My thoughts exactly....getting ready to attack Iran. This country is SOOOOO screwed.
Don't be fooled - the true mission of these men, and all of Bushco's appointees from here on it is to cover up any and all traces of as much wrongdoing as they possibly can before January 09.
"Remember, while General Petraeus will now be responsible for the fight in Afghanistan, he has never served in Afghanistan."
Fallon, Abizaid, and Franks never served in Afghanistan. Your point is?
The War with Iran is back on!! Whoo-hooo!! Maybe Hillary will get the chance to "totally obliterate" them.
Well, that was close. C'mon Apocalypse!
It's a joke. He won't say anything about Afganistan. He'll say he needs to study the problem and of course after he is appointed he can come back and talk about it.
It's the same with every confirmation hearing for every position (see Atty Genl and SCOTUS hearings).
McSame will be bomb bomb bombing Iran as soon as he can.
"Remember, while General Petraeus will now be responsible for the fight in Afghanistan, he has never served in Afghanistan."
Gen. Petraeus may not have served in Afghanistan but he was in charge of the 101st ABN Division when they sent a brigade there before the Iraq war.
101st vet @ 43:
He never served there.
That means he's "Qualified" under the bush administration.
4 YEARS OF THE SAME....
4 YEARS OF McCAIN....
Who could have predicted this development?
Oh, that's right. I did.
" Ozguy Says:
Well, well.
That leaves a very juicy vacancy for a confirmed Bush arse-licker.
Mmm…how about Petraeus?
March 11th, 2008 at 2:05 PM - PDT "
I demand a NYT column!!
Shit, I forgot. You only get those if you have a long record of getting everything wrong...
After the three amigos were done digging in the dirt with their little gold shovels and performing dance routines, I wonder what they talked about in their New Orleans soiree. They probably went trolling to find hookers and cheap booze. Bush seems to be quite jovial these days, doesn't he. So many parties, so little time.
It is too bad that the American and Canadian troops don't have such a carefree life. There they are, slogging it out, day after day in that nightmare. Canada recently extended our mission in Afghanistan to 2011. It was originally supposed to be only six months. With our own rightwing amigo Harper at the helm, Canada is in just as much trouble as the United States.
How come he isn't a 7 star general?
VietVet67 @ 48:
7? Why stop there? Let's go all the way to the top: let's give him 11 stars!
Gen. Kissass is going to get his reward.
Experience schmeerience. He's the best damned ass-kisser they can find. Now when bu$h "listens to the generals", they'll be saying "bomb bomb bomb Iran." How symbiotic.
3 Ed in Socal Says:
[1] Petraeus was 2nd in command in Iraq at the beginning of the war on Iraq. He criticized the administration’s plan, was removed from his post as a result, and forced to a desk job at Ft. Leavenworth. When he capitulated, he was given command.
==================================
So they've broken him, and he's a now shill for bu$hCo.. Is that what yer tellin' us?
I don't care about all his credentials. I've seen him testify in Washington and that's enough for me to give him 7 (or even 11) thumbs down. He is a pawn in the game. Too bad for him, he sold himself out.
PS Don't forget, bu$h is the first MBA president, and look where that's got ya.
24 Dr. Acula Says:
I believe the quote was, “he’s the dumbest man on the planet.”
That quote was directed at Douglas Feith.
======================================
I think, under the circumstances (“he’s the dumbest man on the planet.”), 'share-ziees' is OK. (Sp? I did it phonetically.)
Does anyone else think that General "Betray Us" Petraeus is just cutting and running because he is the ONLY general that agrees with Bush??
sbgypsy @ 11:
Yes they can... and they will Im sure...... but that will be after Bush starts up with Iran.
you watch..... when the war with Iran starts.... we will have to put off the election till things settle down....... cant make a change in the middle of a war ya know!!
We all know that all of Bush's "yes" people will get ahead while the country gets screwed. We only get what we deserve.
But not really in place until fall? Cuts Iran close for the election unless they want a diffused chaos and fear in the public.
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I was in jail because I declasified the doccuments. May be it worth. But the extermination regime of Romanian authorities in my case is sclavery also.
Best regards,
Valentin Vasilescu
http://www.cdep.ro/pls/parlam/structura.mp?idm=315&cam=2&leg=2000&pag=0&...
Petraeus was supposed to be the Main man General on the ground in Iraq that knew what he was doing and could deliver the "surge's" prize for President Bush.?
Why won't Dad Bush step in and spank his son?
That's it. Traitor Bush will have his new lapdog in Centcom by Autumn. The nuking of Iran and subsequent world war will take place as planned. Assuming that we're not caught up in a nuclear exchange between the U.S. and Russia before November, Insane McCain will become the next president, and our fates are sealed.
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