Posted on 04/11/2007 10:52:24 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
The White House wants to appoint a high-powered czar to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with authority to issue directions to the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies, but it has had trouble finding anyone willing to take the job, according to people close to the situation.
At least three retired four-star generals approached by the White House in recent weeks have declined to be considered for the position, sources said, underscoring the administration's difficulty in enlisting its top recruits to join the team after five years of warfare that have taxed the United States and its military...The White House has not publicly disclosed its interest in creating the position...
The administration's interest in the idea stems from long-standing concern over the coordination of civilian and military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan by different parts of the U.S. government...
Kurt Campbell, a Clinton administration Pentagon official who heads the Center for a New American Security, said the difficulty in finding someone to take the job shows that Bush has exhausted his ability to sign up top people to help salvage a disastrous war...
Gordon Johndroe, a National Security Council spokesman, would not discuss contacts with candidates but confirmed that officials are considering a newly empowered czar.
The idea of someone overseeing the wars has been promoted to the White House by several outside advisers. "It would be definitely a good idea," said Frederick W. Kagan, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute...
Some administration critics said the ideas miss the point. "An individual can't fix a failed policy," said Carlos Pascual, former State Department coordinator of Iraq reconstruction, who is now a vice president at the Brookings Institution. "So the key thing is to figure out where the policy is wrong."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Let me guess... Clark, Zinni, and, and, and ... Who cares.
Semper Fi,
NYleatherneck
yeah, don’t kid yourself!
i live in a strong republican u.s. congressional district and state assembly district.
pubbies here are PISSED at bush and the war.
i can drive across a several cities and rarely do i see a “support our troops” bumper sticker.
“support our troops” were legion once.
Consider the source
If I had to blame anything, I'd say it's more likely not wanting to take a job where you need real support from congress. The democrats have already shown that "supporting the troops" means denying the generals the stuff they need to do the job they were assigned to do. They appointed Petraous but won't fund the troops.
Given that, why would any other person want to step into a position where you were almost guaranteed to fail because the Democrats won't support the effort?
When did Karpinski get the extra stars?
Then your pubbies are not strong enough.
Do you have a support the troops bumper sticker?
First of all, “support our troops” should have nothing to do with being against Iraq.
Second, we have a burgeoning number of people who are putting up signs purchased on there own that say “Win the War — Victory in Iraq”.
A lot don’t support the way Bush was fighting the war, but are getting encouraged by the new tone and new tactics.
Bin...Go!
In regards to the article, the White House will find the General to take this czar role, faster than you can imagine. They probably already have one.
Go get any E-5 grunt who has two tours under his belt, most of it outside the wire, doing the fighting. Let him make the decisions and rules of engagement. The war will undergo a dramatic improvement in a matter of weeks.
I really like President Bush, but that is his job.
Yep, and we just might win, which would discourage the Democrats and people at the Brookings Institute.
I nominate Ollie North.
I suspect he is making way too much money to want to put up with all the grief that would entail. Why submit himself to daily whipping by the Dems when he can continue to get the word out via TV and radio? But I would remind you that Warner is to blame for Ollie losing the last time. I have had no respect for that giant elected Gasbag ever since. I have seen Warner in action up close and personal, and he gives “pompous” a bad name.
Could be generals
wonder if the new post is
constitutional.
The military
might expect to get orders
from elected pols,
not appointed guys
who might be military
themselves. Seems troubling.
Pick any Freeper . . .
(Well, maybe not all those gals
chatting ANS . . .)
This is one of Newt Gingrich’s suggestions.
Not surprised. To even get to be a general in today’s US military requires you that you be a political hack at heart.
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