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

IPS ^

[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...

[Red Steel]

If that were to happened Obambi would have lit the fuse of a political firestorm.

[rfp1234]

*Obambi is also willing to scrap anti-missile defense scheduled for deployment in Poland & Czech Rep.
*Wants to talk with Ahminamadjihad & Syria.
*First leader he called was Mahmoud Abbas.
*First public interview was a cowering, apologetic appearance on Al-Arabiya.

[Diogenesis]

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same,
or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children
and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
President Ronald Reagan

[Uncle Miltie]

Actually, the Generals have three courses of action:

1) Implement the requested withdrawal
2) Convince Obamessiah to the contrary
3) Resign

“I’ll take door number 3, Bob!”

[JSteff]

“Military confidence—and public confidence—in 0bama crumbles.”

However, would that be a direct attempt to undermine the CIC and thereby a seditious act?

[Gritty]

"Petraeus made the mistake of thinking he was still dealing with George Bush a patriot instead of with Barack Obama."

There. I fixed the quote...

[Red Steel]

4) sloooow leak Obambi’s order.

[rfp1234]

“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.” I believe this is against the UCMJ. Sedition

I call B.S.

IPS is a notorious left-wing think tank, and they may be trying to smear Petraeus in Stalinist fashion.

[matt1234]

However, would that be a direct attempt to undermine the CIC and thereby a seditious act?

I don't know the law well enough to answer that question.

[Colonial Warrior]

[Deetes]

Any body “let go “ from Gitmo should have a tracer chip installed in their brain . Then we can just explode them whenever :-))

[pallis]

If there is going to be a military revolt, let it be soon, before these Marxist goons can ruin us. Hint to military leaders, 0 isn’t a natural born citizen. We are under an unconstitutional oligarchy. These losers will make martial law seem like a walk in the park.

[silverleaf]

“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.”

don’t see the word retired- that’s what caught my eye!

[silverleaf]

I think Petraeus would not resign while there are soldiers in the field risking their lives under a strategy he helped develop.

This military does not leave its own men behind.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Foreign and domestic comes to my mind.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

We did’nt get ourselves into SHIT.This was and is a coup.

[tarheelswamprat]

When does a President’s actions become treason?

When they give "aid and comfort" to our enemies, precisely as the Constitution specifies.

[lt.america]

“Petraus can either accept the order, or resign.”

You are touching on something. During the Vietnam war, one of the most beloved Generals, Harold Johnson, Army Chief of Staff drove to the Oval Office and told the president he was resigning. LBJ begged him to stay because he knew of Johnson resigned, he was going to lose the military.

Resignation is a huge trump card and I am sure that if General Petraus played it, Obama would be terrified. However, I do not take the General for a man who plays politics, but a man who loves his troops.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Petraeus should simply resign.

No because he would be turning his back on his men.