Book: Petraeus almost quit over Afghan drawdown

Associated Press ^ | 12/30/11 | Kimberly Dozier

[Nachum]

WASHINGTON — Four-star general-turned-CIA director David Petraeus almost resigned as Afghanistan war commander over President Barack Obama's decision to quickly draw down surge forces, according to a new insider's look at Petraeus' 37-year Army career. Petraeus decided that resigning would be a "selfish, grandstanding move with huge political ramifications" and that now was "time to salute and carry on," according to a forthcoming biography. Author and Petraeus confidante Paula Broadwell had extensive access to the general in Afghanistan and Washington

[Nachum]

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[skeeter]

Although the news media now seems uninterested, it is a fact that Obama's handling of the war in Afghanistan has killed more American soldiers in 3 years than were killed in the 6+ years previous.

Petreaus should have resigned long before.

[Rapscallion]

I respect General Petraeus. He should reserve judgement about the “wisdom” of the political decisions for the draw-downs, until he sees how the commander in chief uses these troops before the election. Some still believe suppression is still an option.

[gunnyg]

Awesome...as the...(never mind) say...!

I am impressed!

Maybe he shoulda even stamped his foot good and hard!

Semper Watching!
*****

[bigbob]

Fine, glad he stayed. But saying this now has a tinger of “selfish, grandstanding” IMHO. Why not leave these thoughts for his memoirs?

[Yo-Yo]

. Petraeus decided that resigning would be a "selfish, grandstanding move with huge political ramifications"

Like subsequently being appointed CIA Director.

[Perdogg]

Didn’t Kimberly Dozier (AP reporter) used to work for CBS; she was almost killed in Iraq, correct?

[SargeK]

I will not conflate my outrage over the MoveOn.org full-page "Betrayus" ad with admiration for the good General. I'm not inclined to buy the 'salute and drive on' stoicism that this little paean seeks to portray.

He seems to have adapted well to the Obeyme regime and without discernible inflection on the Wun's slow motion surrender. He was offered plata o plomo and chose plata.

[Turbo Pig]

Hmm, he ALMOST quit, but he didn’t. He ALMOST stood his ground against a bad military decision, but he didn’t. He ALMOST, he almost, he almost...but he didn’t.

More US soldiers ALMOST made it home alive in the last 3 years than in the previous 6, but they didn’t.

[kreitzer]

Petraeus could have shown real guts and called the Usurper out on his ineligibility. Instead he was bought off with a promotion like just another punk. God Bless Terry Lakin.

[dfwgator]

Petraeus could have shown real guts and called the Usurper out on his ineligibility.

And he was too worried about what some preacher in Florida was doing.

[gunnyg]

See Ms Google for ...Admiral Fallon Vs Petraeus...

[Navy Patriot]

No General Douglas MacArthur there.

[Cicero]

As far as I could see, whenever Obama told Petraeus to jump, he asked, “How high?”

Wasn’t it Petraeus who burned those Bibles, declared that the Koran was sacred, and gave his troops all kinds of politically correct instructions, including Rules of Engagement that didn’t allow them to defend themselves?

In the end, just another Perfumed Prince.

[blueunicorn6]

Wow. A book. How rare. Why did we let this guy out of his job? Win, or no retirement. What incentive is there for any of our generals or admirals to win? What punishment is there for losing? “With your shield or on it” has putrified into “What other job would you like?”

[Kenny Bunk]

Foxtrot Uniform to General Petraeus. This guy, I was hoping, would stick his finger in the faux-POTUS' eye, kick his ass, and run for President himself.

Me? I am looking for the yanqui equivalent of General Pinochet to delay our inexorable slide into euro-weenieism, or worse, the Marxism that is the ideology of Team Obama.

[gunnyg]

The Pullers, MacArthurs, Pattons, Lemays, etc. have long since been systematically purged from the ranks along the road to serfdom!

Semper Watching!
*****

[Erik Latranyi]

This is an unfortunate example that our top military leaders are totally politicized today.

Our troops have very few people left who will watch their backs anymore.

[RobbyS]

Petraeas’ reaction reminds me of Irving Berlin’s tune, “What do you do with a general after he has stopped being a general?” It is hard to give it all up. Which is why the Joint Chiefs allowed LBJ to go to war in Vietnam, even though they realized—unlike LBJ—that Vietnam is NOT a “little old country.” but a country large as ill-suited for major operations as Italy was in 1943. To resign is to end up on the golf course, chatting with defeated pols and aging celebrities.