Obama redefines White House relationship with top field commander

L..A. Times ^ | 10/28/09 | Julian E. Barnes

[Nachum]

President Obama does not have the one-on-one relationship with Gen. McChrystal that President Bush did with Gen. Petraeus, but rather a more traditional one along the chain of command.

Reporting from Washington - President Obama and his predecessor differ significantly in their approach to America's wars. They differ at least as much in their relationship with their top battlefield commander.

During the Bush administration, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the then-ground commander in Iraq, assumed the role of a trusted advisor who frequently visited the White House or talked to the president by phone.

[griffin]

“There is no division” between Obama and McChrystal, said a Defense official, one of several speaking on condition of anonymity when discussing the relationship. “It is just an absence of a relationship.”

GROAN!!

[milwguy]

“There is no division” between Obama and McChrystal, said a Defense official, one of several speaking on condition of anonymity when discussing the relationship. “It is just an absence of a relationship.”

I posted about this very thing earlier this week!! My post was about how Obama has no relationship with any other world leader. Sarkozy and Brown despise the Messiah, Merkel is indifferent at best, Japan has a new PM, and Putin thinks he is a wimp.

It could be said that Obama, in his 9 months in office, has not developed a relationship with ANY world leader, friend or foe. The fact the MSM does not see this is a sign that while populations of countries like the Messiah, the folks who lead those country and have acutally met the guy have found him lacking. He has dissed our allies, apologized to our enemies, and generally acted like King of the World, instead of POTUS. The chickens will come home to roost for him soon I think.

[originalbuckeye]

I will never forgive any of my relatives/former friends for selling out my son with their stupid vote for Zero. Never.

[Scythian]

Maybe he should look deep into puty putin’s eyes or something, oh wait, Arnold already has a thing for him, nevermind

[Senator_Blutarski]

It could be said that Obama, in his 9 months in office, has not developed a relationship with ANY world leader, friend or foe.

Interesting observation. One should note that Fox News interviewed 400 Columbia students from the Obama years there, and no one could remember Obama.

So who are this man's friends?

[smokingfrog]

> Obama has no relationship with any other world leader. Sarkozy and Brown despise the Messiah, Merkel is indifferent at best, Japan has a new PM, and Putin thinks he is a wimp.

...............

And the whole Nobel Peace Prize thing was just an attempt by the puppet masters to prop him up in the eyes of the world.

0bama wants to maintain as much distance between himself and the military leaders, so he can deny responsibility in the event that the war strategy fails.

[Senator_Blutarski]

It says a lot that this "relationship" is playing out in the press. Normally, this situation would be handled in a very private way.

It may be that Obama instinctively sees the military as his enemy. Or it may be that Obama thinks that all military issues are just political issues to be played out through his spin machine. --Or perhaps both...

[KitJ]

You’re not counting Castro, Chavez, Kim...?

[D-fendr]

Short version: The Commander in Chief is not a very good commander or chief.

[D-fendr]

So who are this man's friends?

I'm old and have been in and around politics for 40 years. I've never seen a candidate without any family, friends, colleagues, college mates, mentors etc. in sight. Truly a lone ghost candidate.

[ridesthemiles]

So who are this man’s friends?’’

Ayers.
Dorn.
Rev Wright.
His cousin Odinga in Kenya whom he gave 1 million dollars for a campaign donation...which IIRC, is totally illegal.
Every Imam in the world.
Taliban.
Osama Bin Laden.
Soros.
ACORN.

.........

[La Enchiladita]

The difference is that President Bush RESPECTED the military.

All I can do, when I hear stuff like this, is say another “thank you” to every dumbass who voted for Thug-in-Chief.

And don’t any one damn liberal tell me you “support the troops!!” Stuff it!!

[Beckwith]

Obama is extremely uncomfortable around REAL men.

[BARLF]

God Bless you,your family and a special "Thank You" to your son for serving our great country.

I will never forgive any of my relatives/former friends for selling out my son with their stupid vote for Zero. Never.

I understand and agree with you.

[xkaydet65]

I qualified my comment by detaching the question from Obama and looking at this sort of command relationship outside of the reality of Obama. It is entirely credible for a POTUS not to have a personal relationship with a theater commander

I can't think offhand of a recent POTUS who developed such a close relationship as Bush 43 had with Petraeus. In fact the only one that comes readily to mind is the positive relationship Jefferson Davis had with Robert E Lee, and conversely the truly negative relations he had with both Joe Johnston and Braxton Bragg.

[originalbuckeye]

A quick glimpse-in 1998 I was driving a former friend back to her apartment (she's from NYC and doesn't drive) and I was lamenting the Military cuts that Clinton was making. She said ‘why do we need a Military? Who are our enemies?’ I said ‘we don't know yet who our enemies are’. Well, we found out on 9/11. This 30+ years friend, also Jewish, started in on me after Jindal’s response to Zero's speech. That was it for me. I haven't spoken to her since. I have known her since graduate school. She not only sold out my son, she sold out her faith and Israel with her vote for Zero. I doubt she gets it yet.

[originalbuckeye]

PS-My son is very proud to be serving his country. Thank you for your good wishes.

[BARLF]

You're welcome dear lady.

I have had the pleasure of shaking the hand of a few of these brave warriors, thanking them in person,their reply is always"My privilege"!

[ohioman]

I can agree with that.