Posted on 02/15/2011 3:04:29 PM PST by VRWCTexan
General David Petraeus, the most celebrated American soldier of his generation, is to leave his post as commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. The Times can reveal that the Pentagon aims to replace General Petraeus, who was appointed less than eight months ago, by the end of the year
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/petraeus-out-2011-2#ixzz1E4UKvDdB
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Supposedly this is “normal” rotation but it might be an attempt to undermine him.
Alienate? What happened to "annihilate?"
If I recall correctly, he was for allowing open homosexuality in the armed forces, too.
There is no job in the Army that isn’t a thankless job. And that’s how we like it.
RE: Petraeus, more than anyone else, has been identified with the intensified military campaign in Afghanistan which, according to critics of the policy, has reduced prospects of a political settlement by alienating Taliban leaders who might otherwise be coaxed into peace talks.
This tells me than Petraeus is a WARRIOR more than a politician. His main task is to crush the enemy until they are rendered helpless, but the administration would not allow him to finish his job.
Reminds me a lot of George Patton.
After the surrender of May 8, 1945, eliminated the threat of Nazi Germany, Patton was quick to assert the Soviet Union would cease to be an ally of the United States.
He was concerned that some 25,000 American POWs had been liberated from POW camps by the Soviets, but never returned to the US. In fact, he urged his superiors to evict the Soviets from central and eastern Europe. Patton thought that the Red Army was weak, under-supplied, and vulnerable, and the United States should act on these weaknesses before the Soviets could consolidate their position.
In this regard, he told then-Undersecretary of War Robert P. Patterson that the “point system” being used to demobilize Third Army troops was destroying it and creating a vacuum that the Soviets would exploit.
He said thusly,
“Mr. Secretary, for God’s sake, when you go home, stop this point system; stop breaking up these armies, Let’s keep our boots polished, bayonets sharpened, and present a picture of force and strength to these people, the Soviets. This is the only language they understand.”
Asked by Patterson—who became Secretary of War a few months later—what he would do, Patton replied: “I would have you tell the Red Army where their border is, and give them a limited time to get back across. Warn them that if they fail to do so, we will push them back across it.
To make a long story short, he was not given the permission to crush the Soviets and the rest is history... a 45 year cold war that only the steely resolve of Reagan/Thatcher/Pope John Paul II helped to end.
....”while Obama tries to figure out what it means to be the commander in chief.”.....
Beautiful and says it all Munz. Good post!
I like this post because most of the neo con feeepers like him because he is in the military, not knowing his stances on most issues. The same thing with the New Worlder Cheney- just because he is hawkish he is “conservative...
When he took the job I said he would live to regret it.
Palin/ Keyes
Palin/ West
Palin/ Rand Paul
My picks...
Why? Has Petraeus come out in favor or cap and trade, amnesty and campaign finance reform?
Thanks VRWCTexan.
God help us...and them. I cannot imagine who will fill those shoes.
X-soccer player of mine just got back from third tour predicted this. While he won't say much said he was toast because he wanted to win.
BTW my soccer player was given awards for calling in real attacks on locations with drones. Was given awards by the General. So proud of him.
I don’t care what the article says. This is unusual.
Pissant’s explanation — running for office — is reasonable.
Frustration with the unwillingness to do what needs to be done to win could be another possibility. Clashes with superiors could explain the decision.
I suspect we’ll know eventually. These things have a way of coming out.
It turn out it was just a rumor. he ain’t retiring yet.
Oh no .. the most brilliant military mind of our time.
Is this all BHO-Dictator’s handiwork, softening even more
and caving in for the muslim beasts, calling it ‘victory’
when our troops leave, while he prepares for the next
attacks here?
And Hillary getting involved in a delicate military
situation. Jeeesh. She’s so very political.
I pray for Gen. Petraeus’ health and especially for our
courageous, long suffering troops and their families.
Maybe he would run in 2012. Pray our remaining patriot
military leadership stands up for the defense and survival
of our dear nation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Reuters, Myra MacDonald speculates that Petraeus,
who’s ramped up the campaign against the Taliban, is being
phased out as the White House phases in a negotiation
strategy ahead of the 2014 withdrawal deadline.
Petraeus had been trying to negotiate too — “talk and
shoot,” as David Ignatius dubbed his blueprint — but
presumably the thinking is that the Taliban might be more
amenable to dealing with a general who hasn’t been
hammering them for months.
Besides, as MacDonald notes, Mike Mullen’s term as Joint
Chiefs chairman is up this year and Obama will need a
replacement who not only knows the theater but who can
provide him with crucial political cover by blessing the
idea of negotiations.
And there’s only one man with the credibility to do that.
Exit question: How much longer will he remain in command?
Presumably he’ll be there at least until summer for
continuity reasons, as the U.S. expects a major spring
offensive by the Taliban — especially against local Afghan
leaders who have cooperated with NATO.
_______________________________
The reshuffle will involve the return to Washington of the
top five US diplomats in Kabul, including its Ambassador,
Karl Eikenberry, as well as the likely departure of
Lieutenant-General David Rodriguez, deputy to Petraeus.
The changes follow the appointment this week of Marc
Grossman, a career diplomat, as Obama’s new special envoy
to the region with the urgent task of rescuing US-Pakistani
relations after the arrest of an American diplomat who is
charged with a double murder in Lahore.
Many of the moves are expected to coincide with a reduction
in US troop numbers, which Obama has promised will start
this summer, despite General Petraeus’s objections.
The news that the general himself would be leaving Kabul
stunned close observers of US strategy, but the Pentagon
insisted Tuesday it was a natural development, given the
demands of running the war and Washington’s need for fresh
blood in a crucial role.
I have doubts Petraeus would accept the Joint Chiefs
position. And now when it’s so critical, the most
experienced team leaves Afghanistan. Lord help us,
please.
Hate to read that.
After reading the Wikileaks release, and going through the assault on his character by the media. He apparently put the info Mubarak gave him and the Administration orchastrated attack together.
I’d quit too. Especially since he probably knows the Lefties are more interested in feeding our troops to the Islamofascist Muslim Brotherhood Al Quaeda.
Will be in DC Thursday night with someone who would know, though.
How good a politician would he be? Remember, upon graduation, he married the daughter of the 4-star Superintendent of West Point. Takes a lot of skill, and a lot of balls, to date, then marry, the Sups daughter!
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