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 ...
Reporter: 0bama, are the generals revolting?
0bama: Yes, they’re disgusting! and besides they can’t do that I won
Reporter: But Mr. President they are sworn to:
I (insert name), having been appointed a (insert rank) in the U.S. Army under the conditions indicated in this document, do accept such appointment and do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.
Obama: Doesn’t matter, I’ll do what I want. Read my lips peon, I won! Get it? If you don’t believe me ask Soros, he knows the details.
WRONG
“Petraeus should simply resign.”
And the balance of the Generals and admirals.
Are you crazy? and let him get generals and admirals that are loyal to him? Yea that’s real smart.
The political process would have to be exhusted before this could be tried. And, that includes impeachment and conviction and/or the finding of the SCOTUS that the POTUS is unfit to be in office and that removal is the only way to safeguard the country. Also, if a crisis (IE a terrorist attack or a missile launch) threatens the US in a major way (Survival of the US or threat to large numbers of civilans) and the POTUS either tries to allow the crisis to happen or helps out the adversary, and there is no time for the political process to intervene, a case for temporary removal can be made.
The military operates by different rules than civilians (they have to keep order within the ranks). And, the Civil Service workers within the military, and the troops have to follow federal government guidelines which prohibit politicking on ANY level (Federal, State, and Local), except for casting a ballot.
A little more information would be helpful. Possibly even a few details.
Excuse me, but don’t ever cross out George Bush’s name when you add the words “a patriot” to a sentence. We’re just shy of three weeks into Obama’s presidency, and the contrast between that sniveling coward and the courageous George W. Bush could NOT be more stark
AMEN
At this point I’d love to see them surround the Whitehouse and Capital and call all of the traitor’s out. Time to line them up against a wall and be done with them! Pateraus could take over until we can have another election shortly after the thinning.
We can only daydream. That is what this country needs, a thorough house cleaning. TERM LIMITS ON SENATORS. They are there too long, they all become corrupt.
Is it not treason for a president to refuse to uphold and defend the Constitution—particularly after he has sworn to do so? The Marxist Onada has said many times the Constitution and America are flawed. And right now, right before our very eyes he is attempting to subvert the US Constitution—a form of government that has rocketed this country from colonial status to the world’s preminent economy and military power in the short span of 235 years.
I don’t hear you calling The Messiah a traitor.
Exactly!!
Under the right circumstances, Petraeus’ resignation could be the very spark that saves so many of his men. All three and four start generals are political - it’s part of the job. But, when the CINC insists on doing something monumentally stupid, it may become necessary for the general to stand aside in order to bring public scrutiny on the actions of the Pres__ent.
Generals serve the needs of the country first, and the needs of their troops second. The needs of their CINC, when they coincide with one of those two areas, can usually be handled as a matter of course.
But a CINC like Obama may have to be pushed aside, politically. The only leverage a high-profile General like Petraeus has is his resignation, when the Pres__ent insists it’s “his way or the highway” because “he won”.
Just my $.02, of course.
I don't think this quote shows Obama's arrogance, but his staff's ignorance...
Or maybe they were trying to say that Gen Petraeus' mistake was in assuming he was dealing with a logical man.
YOU inserted the word “coup.” That is dramatically different from mobilizing public opinion to support their mission. As the article stated, they can mobilize public opinion.
The POTUS is Commander in Chief. If the generals and/or Secy Gates do not like his commands, and don’t wish to follow them, they can resign. They can, as civiilans, run for public office against Obama or anyone they choose. But they cannot undertake a coup d’etat. We are not a banana republic. General Petraeus and Secy Gates know that.
Retiring is an option, but what are the alternatives for the Army and its troops? Petraeus would have to consider who his successor, appointed by Obama, would be... so would he be better of resigning so Obama could appoint a Wesley Clark? Would his troops be better off in that scenario?
Giving them any kind of heads up would prove disasterous.Could you imagine the $hit storm that would follow.I cant see this country surviving this anti constitution fraud.
about your tagline - GE also does business with Iran.
http://bootsinbaghdad.blogspot.com/2008/05/general-electric-and-iran.html
Just contrast Sully, the USAFA grad and hero pilot, with the Obamaloon, the Harvard law grad.
QED
I, for one, certainly appreciate your post.
I consider George Bush a patriot, as do most others on this forum.
I was making a point about 0bama, not Bush, and trying to draw a contrast - not that one is needed between Bush and 0Bama. I'm sorry if my presentation was not exactly to your liking.
0bama is trying to throw away everything Bush and this nation has gained so far at a huge cost in lives and treasure. The Generals see it. I'm sure George Bush does as well.
This is appraoching the same ending as Vietnam all over again. We won in the field. We lost on the political battlefield. We've been here before.
I wonder how that makes O and the libs feel when they see a military man getting a standing O at the Super Bowl. It makes them mad as hell as they loathe the military. O is showing his training under his mentors, Wright and Ayres-two anti-American military haters. This is why friends are important. Who you hang around with tells all one needs to know about you. Maybe the MSM will start reporting on his past acaquaintences if things get really bad.
I thought it interesting that General Petraeus appeared at the Super Bowl. He did the coin toss. How prophetic!
The way you worded your post, you are, unmistakeably, accusing Gates, Petraeus and Oderino of treason.
I will elect to think you worded it badly and didn't mean it the way it came across.
If I'm wrong - let me know so I can write you off as a patriot.
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