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 ...
Excuse my ignorance, but how does a DoD Directive signed by the Deputy Secretary of Defense constitute "law"? My understanding of law is that is created by the legislative branch, approved by the executive branch and ruled constitutional/unconstitutional by the judicial branch.
They can tell who hasn't payed their taxes but they can't tell where Obama’s campaign money came from. China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria? Who is responsible for the president we have now?
Our generals are going to mobilize the people in a coup against the president?
TREASON ????
PATRIOTIC!!!!!!!
Money bought the concealment of almost everything about the background of this man. The first people whose lives are on the line in our nation are in the Military, and the military are being forced to face the reality of who Barry really is. It is morbidly fascinating to hear the same manner of confidence when Barry changes a proclamation he confidently made the previous day. He is a remarkably skilled confidence man. Natural Born, the Logan Act, lies about his name for the Bar and position after position - we are paying the price of a Constitution of Convenience.
Absolutely! I hadn’t thought it any other way, DoughtyOne. We have Codes of Military Conduct for a reason and I would never suggest that General Petraeus would do anything to dishonor himself nor our military.
Your point is understood and I agree completely.
Thanks CaribouCrossing. I hope it didn’t seem I was implying you would think otherwise. I had no intention to.
Take care bud. Glad we agree here.
DoD Directives are broad DoD policy documents containing what is required by legislation, the President, or the Secretary of Defense to initiate, govern, or regulate actions or conduct by the DoD Components within their specific areas of responsibilities. DoD Directives establish or describe policy, programs, and organizations; define missions; provide authority; and assign responsibilities.
He promised to side with the Islamists and he is doing so.
no, the miltary is under civilian authority for a reason
That bothers me as well.
Another thing:
Why on earth would you tell the enemy when you are going to leave the battlefield?
This talk has always, and still does, boggle my mind.
If Obambi pushes retreat, he will resign. Look for very low re-enlistment at any rate. And new enlistment numbers should already be dropping now. The military will have to lower standards and/or induce a draft (which the anti-war libs seem to like now that they're above draft age).
As long as it's right-wing volunteers that care about the country, he won't care. It's doubtful that his side on the war is the same as that of the US military and the citizens anyway.
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
ART. 88 - CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS
Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
Agreed.
Shows the same old utter contempt that the left has for the military.
Shameful..
Ol’ Cowboy saying.......
“It’s not the size of the man in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the man”.
POTUS MUZZIE HUSSEIN enjoys no more immunity from a military coup than any of the other THOUSANDS of tyrants that have been overthrown.
One disrespects the military at their peril.
A war is going on and our soldiers sacrifice will be in vain if the crypto-muslim in the White House is allowed to surrender to his brethren.
I would think someone with enough money could hire some professional investigators and get to the bottom of all this rather quickly.
His actions in office to date are extremely suspect with respect to national security.
I thought O was going to “listen to the commanders on the ground” . He’s all talk and lies. Says one thing does another.
“I agree. A man of honor simply could not serve under someone like Obama and keep his self-respect.”
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All truly great military officers are very concerned for the welfare of the men who carry out their orders in the field at the risk of their lives. This is a great burden, General Petraeus cannot simply walk out the door and say,”Take this job and shove it”. If he is who I think he is then all those men still under his command are like family. It is not something to take lightly. If the General only thought of himself who knows what might happen.
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