http://www.ips.org/institutional/get-to-know-us-2/our-regional-structure/
Posted on 02/03/2009 2:59:49 PM PST by chevydude26
WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (IPS) - CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus, supported by Defence Secretary Robert Gates, tried to convince President Barack Obama that he had to back down from his campaign pledge to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months at an Oval Office meeting Jan. 21.
But Obama informed Gates, Petraeus and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen that he wasn't convinced and that he wanted Gates and the military leaders to come back quickly with a detailed 16-month plan, according to two sources who have talked with participants in the meeting.
Obama's decision to override Petraeus's recommendation has not ended the conflict between the president and senior military officers over troop withdrawal, however. There are indications that Petraeus and his allies in the military and the Pentagon, including Gen. Ray Odierno, now the top commander in Iraq, have already begun to try to pressure Obama to change his withdrawal policy.
A network of senior military officers is also reported to be preparing to support Petraeus and Odierno by mobilising public opinion against Obama's decision.
Petraeus was visibly unhappy when he left the Oval Office, according to one of the sources. A White House staffer present at the meeting was quoted by the source as saying, "Petraeus made the mistake of thinking he was still dealing with George Bush instead of with Barack Obama."
Petraeus, Gates and Odierno had hoped to sell Obama on a plan that they formulated in the final months of the Bush administration that aimed at getting around a key provision of the U.S.-Iraqi withdrawal agreement signed envisioned re-categorising large numbers of combat troops as support troops. That subterfuge was by the United States last November while ostensibly allowing Obama to deliver on his campaign promise...
(Excerpt) Read more at ipsnews.net ...
Legally, no. They cannot.
Thank you.
Why can’t some special op team come up with the goods on Obama’s lack of citizenship and get rid of him??
Apparently it wasn't obvious to the poster to whom my comment was addressed. President Bush's name did not have to be crossed out from the quote in order to add the words "a patriot."
I take it as meaning they thought they were still dealing with someone with some sense.
No.
Hi JW. :)
Thanks and bookmark
:)
It's been an awfully long three weeks with 'Oh' in charge. God only knows where we'll all be four years from now.
Others have answered my question too, but I do thank you for confirming what I’ve learned. The reason that question came to mind was from watching old movies. How ‘bout that? I was thinking of an old war movie, where one of the naval officers released his commander from duty due to him becoming rather unglued.
No problem at all. It happens to me at times too.
Yes he does. We were lucky to have him. And if he’s upset with Obama, count me 100% behind him.
Thank you JWalsh07. It’s sure great how folks join in to provide resources on topics like this. I really appreciate the link.
D1
I’m usually an optimist, but it’s getting harder and harder to keep a positive attitude. With President Obama and the Dem’s in control, they have the power to embrace their inner socialist and force it on the rest of us. Once laws are passed, they can be very difficult to change, if not impossible.
Pigs are feeding at the trough....
He can only do that if he resigns his commission......and it could come to that.
Glad it’s not just me (double posting). And, like you, I’m behind our General 100%. I’d like to think that all true patriots are.
Good to see you Wolf. And you are absolutely right, it is going to be a long, and dangerous I might add, 4 years.
Anytime D1.
When I say that, it should be clear that I will back him to the full extent I can. It would have to be an incredibly extreme situation where I would back a general doing anything outside the codes of military conduct with regard to the presidency.
Petraeus should never take an endorsement such as my own to infer otherwise. And I consider it an insult to infer that he wouldn’t understand that without my stipulation. I wouldn’t seek to infer that at all. I just want it on the record.
It already exists on my hard drive filed away.
http://www.ips.org/institutional/get-to-know-us-2/our-regional-structure/
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