President Petraeus? Iraqi official recalls the day US general revealed ambition

Uruknet ^ | 13 September 2007 | Patrick Cockburn

[tlb]

General David Petraeus, expressed long-term interest in running for the US presidency when he was stationed in Baghdad, according to a senior Iraqi official who knew him at that time.

Sabah Khadim, then a senior adviser at Iraq's Interior Ministry, says General Petraeus discussed with him his ambition when the general was head of training and recruitment of the Iraqi army in 2004-05.

"I asked him if he was planning to run in 2008 and he said, 'No, that would be too soon'," Mr Khadim, who now lives in London, said.

General Petraeus has a reputation in the US Army for being a man of great ambition. If he succeeds in reversing America's apparent failure in Iraq, he would be a natural candidate for the White House in the presidential election in 2012.

His able defence of the "surge" in US troop numbers in Iraq as a success before Congress this week has made him the best-known soldier in America. An articulate, intelligent and energetic man, he has always shown skill in managing the media.

But General Petraeus's open interest in the presidency may lead critics to suggest that his own political ambitions have influenced him in putting an optimistic gloss on the US military position in Iraq .

[tlb]

I didn’t forget the lineup of generals who were president. It’s the current political context I spoke of.

[Beckwith]

No way, never happened, the Muslim guy is lying!

I've heard that they do that.

[Beckwith]

Wesley Clark opened the door.

The only door that ambitious soldier ever opened was the door to the sh!thouse.

He was the military commander on the ground at Waco and fought on the wrong side in the Balkans.

[roses of sharon]

US Dems definitely working for this paper.

I knew they were aiding and abetting, literally.

I bet they are giving intell info to the enemy in Iraq too.

[Badeye]

Right on cue, someone (gee, wonder who?) is putting out hit pieces on this general.

Target. Fire for effect.

[airborne]

I've heard that they do that.

Don't know about all of them, but this one is for sure!

[OB1kNOb]

Anyone wanting a strong Commander-in-Chief type to fill the White House in 2008 need look no futher than Duncan Hunter.

[pissant]

Hunter-Petraeus 08??

[OB1kNOb]

Ooo-rah!

[NordP]

VERY nice idea!

[LZ_Bayonet]

"Also, and I think this is another intended result, Hillary's basically calling the General a liar sent the message that Petraeus might as well retire if she is elected, and that military people who are or became aligned behind Petraeus would have no future if she is elected."

(my earlier post)

Thought! - Was Hillary's statement at the hearing actually an attempt to intimidate our higher levels of military leadership and thus cripple Iraq War military leadership? Basically sending out a message that, if she is elected, military leaders supporting Petraeus will be punished and those "actively" opposing him (ex. the Centcom commander)will be rewarded.