What Is The Opinion of General James Jones?

[7thson]

Got a question here but I want to be careful on how I phrase it. Let me come off and say I do not want to disrespect General James Jones. I have the utmost respect for Marines. They do things and put up with stuff a lot of can't. So here goes.

I consider Obama a leftist, Marxist thug. A street punk who conned his way into the Presidency with massive help by a compliant media. You can look at his past and see that he has never accomplished anything of merit in his life.

General Jones - from what little I know of him - is an outstanding Marine. He has put his life on the line many times and has served his country with honor and courage.

Now my question. Why would someone of General Jones stature agree to work in the administration of a person such as Obama? Obama has stood for everything General Jones stands against.

[7thson]

You’re joking, right? You think Obama is an honest person?

[7thson]

A good, honest answer. Thank you.

[Retired Greyhound]

I would imagine that Jones took the job in part to serve the US, not to serve Obama.

It seems that Barack is smart enough to realize that the last thing he needs is a terror attack of some sort on his watch after 7 years of NO attacks under Bush.

Obama is keeping Gates and the Bush interrogation tactics in place for a reason...they were successful.

[Broker]

Jones is a patriotic and honorable man who I PRAY will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. He will serve us well.

[68stanger]

I believe Obama picked Gen. Jones because the only other former Marine he (Obama) personally knew was Rev Jeremiah Wright!
Gen Jones DID appear at campaign stops with Sen McCain during the last year.
Honestly, I believe Jones is a good man, a good Marine and the European part of Jones past is “international” enough to beguile Obama. Since he played for Georgetown (he’s 6ft 4in), it could be Obama wants a partner to play 2 on 2 at the new White House basketball court.
I remember serving under Gen Cushman as Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was Deputy Director of the CIA also.

[sport]

No I don’t. But what is my opinion agaist a retired Marine General?

[7thson]

I looked him up on wikipedia. Below is a quick assessment of his career.

Born - December 19, 1943 (age 64) - Kansas City, Missouri

Profession - Marine, Diplomat

Years of service - 1967-2007

Rank - General

Commands - 3rd Battalion 9th Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 2nd Marine Division, Commandant of the Marine Corps (1999-2003), Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, United States European Command (2003-2006)

Battles/wars - Vietnam War, Gulf War

Awards - Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3), Silver Star, Legion of Merit (5), Bronze Star, French Légion d'honneur, French Ordre national du Mérite, Canadian Meritorious Service Cross, NATO Meritorious Service Medal

Early life
Son of James L. Jones, Sr., a decorated Marine in World War II - C.O. of the first amphibious reconnaissance unit in the United States - Spent formative years in France - Attended Georgetown University School of Foreign Service -received BS degree in 66 - 6 feet 4 inches - played forward on the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team.

Military career
Early career
JAN 67 commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
OCT 67 completed The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia - ordered to the Republic of Vietnam - served as a platoon and company commander with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines.
JUN 68 promoted to First Lieutenant
DEC 68 assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California - served as company commander
MAY 70 ordered to Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. - company commander, DEC 70 promoted to Captain
JUL 73 - JUN 74, student at Amphibious Warfare School, MCB Quantico, Virginia.
NOV 74 ordered to 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan - company commander of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines.
JAN 76 - AUG 79, served in the Officer Assignments Section at HQ Marine Corps
JUL 77 promoted to Major
SEP 79 - JUL 84 the Marine Corps Liaison Officer to the U.S. Senate - As Liaison Officer first boss was John McCain - United States Navy captain.
SEP 82 promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

Senior staff and command
JUL 84 - JUN 85 National War College in Washington, D.C.
JUL 85 - JUL 87 assigned to command the 3rd Battalion 9th Marines,1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton, California.
AUG 87 returned to HQ Marine Corps - served as Senior Aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
APR 88 promoted to Colonel
FEB 89 became Military Secretary to the Commandant
AUG 90 assigned as C.O. of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During his tour with the 24th MEU, he participated in Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq and Turkey.
APR 92 advanced to Brigadier General
JUL 92 assigned to duties as Deputy Director, J-3, United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany - reassigned as Chief of Staff, Joint Task Force Provide Promise, for operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Republic of Macedonia.
JUL 94 advanced to Major General - assigned as Commanding General, 2nd Marine Division, Marine Forces Atlantic, MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
1996 served as Director, Expeditionary Warfare Division (N85), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations - then as Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, Policies and Operations, HQ Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.
JUL 18, 96 advanced to Lieutenant General - assigned as the Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense.

Commandant
APR 99 nominated for appointment to the grade of General and assignment as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps.
JUN 99 promoted to General - Among other innovations during his career as Marine Corps Commandant, General Jones oversaw the Marine Corps's development of MARPAT camouflage uniforms, and the adoption of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. These replaced the woodland uniforms, and the LINE combat system, respectively.

SACEUR/EUCOM
JAN 2003 assumed duties as the Commander of U.S. European Command on and Supreme Allied Commander Europe - the first Marine Corps general to serve as SACEUR/EUCOM commander.
FEB 2007 retired from the U.S. Marine Corps on .

Personal Style
Jones is said to be a impressive negotiator who gets what he wants without resorting to confrontation. Former Secretary of Defense William Cohen who hired Jones as his military assistant is quoted as saying Jones has a placid demeanor and a "methodical approach to problems—he's able to view issues at both the strategic and tactical level".

[7thson]

That statement is even more absurd. I think my opinion is much better and of higher quality than Wesley Clark’s. Should his opinon have an higher value because he achieved the rank of General?

[roses of sharon]

He was raised in France, and defended them in debates about helping in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also opposed the surge.

He also thinks Israel is the “problem” in the ME, as does Hussein.

Jones should fit right in.

[SJackson]

7thson to SJackson: You are off base. Gay State is not comparing Jones with those two. He is saying just because you are a Marine doesn’t make you a good guy for life. He gave examples of two infamous individuals who served as Marines. Gay State then went on to say that we will have to wait and see how Jones will do.

Gay State Conservative I'm not necessarily saying that the General isn't an honorable man worthy of this country's respect and gratitude.I'm merely pointing out that there's at least one bad apple in every bunch.And in a "bunch" as large as the USMC there are likely to be more than a few… In short,I seriously question the basic character of *anyone* who agrees to fill a top post under Osama Hussein Obama.

Could have included Charles Whitman, also a Marine, and a decent shot. That's incitement, not rational criticism.

IMO a distinguished 40 year career serves to establish General Jones’ character, to condemn his character because he chooses to serve his country under what might be the reincarnation of Jimmy Carter, though looking more like Bill Clinton is absurd. There’ll be plenty of time to criticize policies, which will originate with Obama, as well as his performance. I should note I’ve been highly critical of General Jones in regard to his performance training the palestinian security forces, but I recognize that’s a function his boss’ policies, not his character or ability to serve in high office.

Do you think Tim Geithner and Bob Gates are character deficient as well? Who would you like to see Obama nominate?

[NYC GOP Chick]

Maybe a better question is why would Obama choose Jones.

Jones Would Put NATO Forces in West Bank

Here is my earlier posting about Jones: General James L. Jones is Obama's preferred candidate to be White House National Security Adviser. He is remembered as a strong proponent of strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel, particularly when he served as Commandant of the Marine Corps. More recently, while serving as Rice's special envoy for Middle East Security, Jones prepared a report on Israel's policies in the territories that Ha'aretz described as "extremely critical…scathing…makes Israel look very bad."

The Jerusalem Post said "this document could become a source of friction between Jerusalem and Washington." The World Tribune said it "blasted Israel's role" for "hampering the movement of PA forces, blocking plans for weapons shipments and technology to the Palestinians and resisting coordination." All three reports said that Jones wanted to publish his findings, but the White House decided to keep the reports confidential.

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http://www.mererhetoric.com/archives/11275103.html

Now a little background on Jones's current posting: he was sent to the Middle Eats last year at Rice's behest to pressure Israel into making concessions. Israel has made some of those concessions even though State's trusted Palestinian moderates are still threatening to launch wars. Not enough for Jones: he's currently at work creating a paper trail that blames Israel for Middle East violence and outlines a vision of a Palestinian state:

US Middle East security coordinator James L. Jones, long expected to produce a document spelling out Israel's security needs after the creation of a Palestinian state, will not in the end present the Bush administration with a large-scale report... "There is not going to be any Jones report that lays out the whole strategic vision of what a post-agreement reality would look like," one US official said. "There is not going to be one consolidated report." Rather than codifying America's conception of Israel's security needs into one document that would then be a guidepost for US Middle East policy, Jones is instead relaying his impressions to ... Rice through memos and briefings, diplomatic sources said... Diplomatic sources said that Jones's role, never clearly defined, had evolved over the year, and that he had gone from concentrating on looking at regional security issues after a Palestinian state was established, to helping prepare the ground for a Palestinian state.

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I don't like him.

[NYC GOP Chick]

He seems to be anti-Israel.

[SJackson]

He seems to be anti-Israel.

Don't know. The job he was asked to do by Condi, arm and train the palestinians, was by definition anti-Israel.

[SJackson]

BTW, not formalizing his recomendations is a positive. The current administration has already seriously disadvantaged Israel by being to first to call for a sovereign state, and at various times advocating both the 1949 borders as a starting point, and the Arab plan.

[NYC GOP Chick]

But what about the stuff I posted in #51? Did Condi ask him to prepare a report that harshly criticizes Israel? Hmm...

[SJackson]

I think they’re of a common mindset. He was a forceful advocate of not just small arms, but body armor, night vision equipment, and APCs for the palestinians. As well as advocating withdrawl of the IDF in favor of palestinian security “to see” if they can do the job. I think that’s absurd, let them demonstrate they’ll catch terrorists first. But is it Condi’s policy, sure, GWB’s too, and probably Obama’s.

[NYC GOP Chick]

I’m not so sure if it’s really Bush’s policy, since it hasn’t really gone anywhere. I would think that if he were really into it, more would have been done so far.

And I do know that Obama is surrounding himself with far more anti-Israel/anti-semitic people than Bush ever did.

[SJackson]

I’m not so sure if it’s really Bush’s policy, since it hasn’t really gone anywhere. I would think that if he were really into it, more would have been done so far.

Sure it is, he's the boss. And a lot has been done, mostly pro-palestinian. In addition to the 1949 lines and advocating a sovereign state, never American policy even under Clinton, he made the mistake of legitimizing a terrorist, Abbas, and establishing the palestinians as recipients of substantial amounts of ongoing financial aid, also a first. Though not his intent, a naive trust in "democracy" gave Hamas a platform. We'll see about Obama's people.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Good points. sigh

Then again, giving Hamas a platform has exposed them for what they truly are.

Obama’s people are far, far worse, IMO.

[sport]

Let me tell you my true opinion:

I have no use for obama and all those who associate with him.

They are as bad as he is, in fact, they are worse than him because they know who he is and still willing choose to associate with him.

I am against everything he stands for and has worked for.

Every individual that works with him, no matter what excuse they give for doing so, is working to destroy the free enterprise system and in doing so is working to destroy the Constitutional Representative Republic of America.

If he succeeds, America wil be a socialist Nation.

I do not want him to succeed.

That is my opinion.