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Generals Seek to Reverse Obama's Iraq Withdrawal Decision (are generals revolting on obama??)
IPS ^

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 ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bho2009; bhodod; centcom; democrats; iraq; obama; petraeus; timetable; troopwithdrawal; wot
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To: Tallguy

absolutely correct..the only people that’ll applaud are those on the FAR left who are demented anyway...everyone else is going to sit up, take notice and that’s when the waste will hit the oscillator at a high rate of speed..


21 posted on 02/03/2009 3:14:19 PM PST by GeorgiaDawg32 (A democrat will break your leg, then hand you a crutch and take credit for your being able to walk.)
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To: Sacajaweau

Oh, I dunno....but I’d start with “when he violates his oath of office.”


22 posted on 02/03/2009 3:14:33 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: chevydude26
Reporter: 0bama, are the generals revolting?

0bama: Yes, they're disgusting!

23 posted on 02/03/2009 3:14:37 PM PST by pgyanke (You have no "rights" that require an involuntary burden on another person. Period. - MrB)
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To: Sacajaweau

When a President, before he is elected to office, without the knowledge of Congress, conducts covert negotiations with the enemy

Thn as CinC, ordersmen to risk their lives in a battle he does not plan for them to win.


24 posted on 02/03/2009 3:14:45 PM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: chevydude26

Petraeus should simply resign.


25 posted on 02/03/2009 3:16:57 PM PST by NittanyLion
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To: The Anti-One

“... against all enemies, foreign and domestic...”


26 posted on 02/03/2009 3:17:01 PM PST by pgyanke (You have no "rights" that require an involuntary burden on another person. Period. - MrB)
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To: chevydude26

Say ya want a revolution, well ya know, we’d all love to see the plan. Beatles.


27 posted on 02/03/2009 3:18:23 PM PST by stockpirate (A people unwilling to use violent force to defend liberty deserve the tyrants that rule them. SP-09)
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To: RonF
"He’s trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory."

Thankfully, it may actually be too late for that. I realize that there is more work to be done in Iraq, but the critical mass of success may have already been reached, and the momentum of the Iraqi people is toward success.

28 posted on 02/03/2009 3:18:37 PM PST by ChicagahAl (It's mourning in America. Mourning our dearly departed freedom, liberty, security and wealth.)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Sadly, I think you may be right, that such little things will affect policy because a narcissist is president.


29 posted on 02/03/2009 3:19:11 PM PST by Valpal1 (Always be prepared to make that difference.)
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To: silverleaf

Didn’t the article make it pretty clear that it would be “retired officers” who would be making the public case for a slower withdrawal? I didn’t read it that Petraus or Odierno would be leading the charge...


30 posted on 02/03/2009 3:19:42 PM PST by Tallguy ("The sh- t's chess, it ain't checkers!" -- Alonzo (Denzel Washington) in "Training Day")
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To: RonF
“The military’s objective in a war is to win. Pres. Obama’s objective is to withdraw the troops. He’s trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”

Happened in Vietnam. Then it took us 10 years to convince our allies and friends that we were still a superpower and if they stood with us they could count on us.

Obama must not have read any history. Dolt

31 posted on 02/03/2009 3:21:09 PM PST by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS. Most forget about that and may have doomed us for a generation or more.)
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To: silverleaf
"Sedition"

I'm pretty sure that Sedition is the advocating for the overthrow of the US government. Not simply stating that the President is a moron.

There is that part of the Oath concerning allegiance to the Commander In Chief, so any General who want to go public might have to retire first, then go on Fox News and state the obvious.

32 posted on 02/03/2009 3:21:35 PM PST by ChicagahAl (It's mourning in America. Mourning our dearly departed freedom, liberty, security and wealth.)
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To: NittanyLion
Petraeus should simply resign

I agree. A man of honor simply could not serve under someone like Obama and keep his self-respect.
33 posted on 02/03/2009 3:23:10 PM PST by reagan_fanatic (Dissent Is Patriotic!)
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To: Frantzie

Keeping score:

- close Gitmo

- 10% reduction in the defense budget

- withdrawal from Iraq without analysis of the consequences

- aids have said gays can serve openly in the military

- 80% reduction in nuclear weapons

Did I miss anything?

And its only been two weeks of Obama.


34 posted on 02/03/2009 3:24:23 PM PST by Red Steel
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To: chevydude26

People will die. There will be an attack either on our soil or foreign soil. How many will have to die before he realizes the war is real?


35 posted on 02/03/2009 3:26:42 PM PST by Protect the Bill of Rights
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To: Tallguy

Liberty once lost is lost forever." John Adams, July 7, 1775

36 posted on 02/03/2009 3:27:55 PM PST by Colonial Warrior (Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.)
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To: NittanyLion
“Petraeus should simply resign.”

And the balance of the Generals and admirals.

37 posted on 02/03/2009 3:29:08 PM PST by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS. Most forget about that and may have doomed us for a generation or more.)
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To: Red Steel

Wait for more next week. This is from a guy who still refuses to release his birth certificate. Let me tell you - no guy born in Kenya should be risking any American soldiers life. And if he was born in HI, which I doubt, I want to know who came up with $750 million to elect him.


38 posted on 02/03/2009 3:29:23 PM PST by Frantzie (Boycott GE - they own NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and Universal. Boycott Disney - they own ABC)
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To: chevydude26
Here's what I'd like to see if 0bama insists on premature withdrawal: All Joint Chiefs resign their commissions simultaneously. On the same day, they hold a press conference stating that they resigned over the dispute; furthermore, that they tried every means of persuasion, but that 0bama refused to head their unanimous advice. Military confidence—and public confidence—in 0bama crumbles.
39 posted on 02/03/2009 3:30:39 PM PST by matt1234
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To: chevydude26

Would it not be ironic if Petreus ran against ZerO in the 2012 election?


40 posted on 02/03/2009 3:32:10 PM PST by TennTuxedo
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