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Throwing Gen. Pace Under the Tank
Opinion Editorials ^ | June 10, 2007 | Chuck Muth

Posted on 06/11/2007 10:41:16 AM PDT by conservativecorner

Back in July 2003, President Bush, in response to a question about stepped up attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq, famously and defiantly declared, “Bring ‘em on!” Oh, how that tune has changed.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates - using the old tactic of releasing controversial news just before the weekend in the hope of minimizing press coverage - announced Friday afternoon that “he will advise President Bush to replace Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (this fall), fearing that a contentious renomination hearing in the Senate would focus too heavily on six years of war.”

Apparently, President Bush has accepted the advice.

So let me get this straight, and borrow a famous scene from the movie “Animal House.” The Bush administration’s old attitude toward mass-murdering tyrants and terrorists around the world has been akin to this: “Hussein. He’s a dead man. Bin Laden? Dead. Kim Jung ll? Dead. AHMADINEJAD!!!”

But when it comes to standing up to pasty-faced Harry Reid and the Democrats in the Senate?

“I have decided that at this moment in our history, the nation, our men and women in uniform, and Gen. Pace himself would not be well-served by a divisive ordeal in selecting the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” said Gates.

What a crock.

Pace was/is eminently qualified (http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/biographydetail.aspx?biographyid=85) to run the nation’s joint military operations. Which is not to say Pace’s replacement isn’t an eminently qualified military professional, as well. He is. But the success or failure of the U.S. effort in Iraq will ultimately be determined by what happens over the next year or so following the “surge.” Why change horses midstream?

As CBS News reports, “Pace’s departure will put nearly an entirely new slate of leaders and military commanders in charge of the war.” Why oust Pace at this critical juncture and bring in a whole new team? It makes no sense.

And it’s a first-degree insult for Gates to suggest that he’s trying to save this Marine general from “a divisive ordeal” before Congress, as though Gen. Pace might not be able handle such a traumatic experience. Get real.

We’re talking about a guy with military decorations up the wazoo, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, with two oak leaf clusters; Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal with Combat V; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with gold star; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”; Navy Achievement Medal with gold star; and the Combat Action Ribbon.

I’m pretty sure Gen. Pace didn’t earn all those medals for baking cookies.

A lot of us have been losing faith in this administration’s ability to wage this war for some time now, fearing that political considerations were taking precedence over military ones. If President “Bring ‘em On!” Bush is willing to throw Gen. Pace under the tank for the sole reason of avoiding a political fight with Senate Majority Leader Harry “The War is Lost” Reid and his band of cheese-eating surrender monkeys, then maybe it IS time to bring the troops home immediately.

Semper fi.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fthemilitary; jointchiefs; peterpace; politicalcorrectness; sacrificallamb; usmc
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To: what's up

I made a very clear and concise statement that there are those who would think that. I am not one of them, but I shouldn’t have to explain that. You are the one doing the implying.


61 posted on 06/11/2007 11:49:02 AM PDT by TommyDale (Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy is fading faster than an abortionist’s conscience.)
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To: TommyDale
Well, I mean if you honestly believe the President is "failing his Constitutional requirement to uphold and defend the laws of the land" as you put it why WOULDN'T you back impeachment?

I mean, shouldn't you back your convictions?

62 posted on 06/11/2007 11:52:42 AM PDT by what's up
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To: conservativecorner
The Pink Hand (aka the Homosexual Mafia) had Pace thrown our because he was asked about a month ago what was his personal view of gays in the military. Pace said he believed in traditional marriage, and did not think gays in the military was a good thing.

So the Pink Hand made the move, and the Bush Administration caved on this like they caved on just about everything else.

63 posted on 06/11/2007 11:55:26 AM PDT by Sprite518
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To: what's up

When the time comes, that may very well be what I do. Right now we are deeply embedded in a Global War on Terror that demands a full time President. He should drop this immigration crap and serve the country as we elected him to do. And that includes enforcing existing laws. Get it?


64 posted on 06/11/2007 11:55:56 AM PDT by TommyDale (Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy is fading faster than an abortionist’s conscience.)
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To: Sprite518
and the Bush Administration caved on this like

No, they just didn't want the pink hand to get a gay-based show trial on TV with Hitlery Clinton's face on there for months in order to bolster her Presidential ambitions.

65 posted on 06/11/2007 11:57:33 AM PDT by what's up
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To: what's up
Get it?

Well, your point is really not that hard to get.

You may be a candidate for backing impeachment. That's what I thought.

66 posted on 06/11/2007 11:58:28 AM PDT by what's up
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To: MNJohnnie

“Gee I guess if you are a knee jerk Bush hater you simply ignore the fact that it was Democrat Senator Carl Levin who threw Pace under the bus. Said Pace would not get confirmed because of his opposition to “Don’t Ask, don’t Tell” so the nomination should not even be submitted”

No, just because S. Levin said he would not be confirmed.. that does not mean doodle..

P. Bush should have asked General Pace to face the liberal sacks down.. Let them vote against confirmation.. Let them explain it to the American People..

Let General Pace tell the true facts related to homosexuality in our military and it’s terrible affect on moral, good order and discipline when it pops up from time to time.

Let him describe in graphic and specific detail the conduct and the damage to good order and discipline homosexual behavior has caused.. I have seen it time and time again.. I watched an entire Battalion hang their heads in shame when their Commander during an alert and under stress got so excited he sexually attacked his driver... What? Exactly..

I have seen where some homosexual sexually attacked drunk soldiers late at night returning to their hooches.

Or in the British Army where many of the Officers in WWI were from the British Aristocracy and would keep one soldier safe as a clerk their “Boyfriend” while the other men “went over the top” and died.

People live and die on your word as an Officer or an NCO... they have every right to expect you will be a person practicing a greater level of moral and ethical conduct in your affairs both personal and professional.. To the extent that is not true you betray your position and the people in your command above and below..and the American people. It is not like anything else in the world. If you say do something people will do it knowing they may/will die or be horribly injured... They have the right to know you are not choosing them to suffer and or die to protect your “Luv”..

P Bush’s caving is just as disgusting.

W


67 posted on 06/11/2007 12:06:43 PM PDT by WLR
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To: what's up

I may be a candidate for governor too. So what? If the President fails to uphold the laws and the Constitution, should we just overlook it? I am so thankful that he is leaving office on January 20, 2009. It cannot possibly come soon enough.


68 posted on 06/11/2007 12:14:48 PM PDT by TommyDale (Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy is fading faster than an abortionist’s conscience.)
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68
I make it a point to notice the service ribbons worn by General Officers on teevee. General Pace may well be the very last General Officer on active duty who actually served in boots-on-the-ground combat (1968) in Vietnam.

Great question. There must be a database somewhere of general officers on active duty with the USMC or US Army who served as combat officers in Vietnam. The youngest of them would have to have been born in 1952 to have been 2LTs before the US Congress forced the POTUS to pull our troops out. Like General Pace, they'd be prety senior Generals by now, with a lot of service (nearly 45 years).

69 posted on 06/11/2007 1:07:07 PM PDT by CDB (The Democrats "support the troops," in the best PT Barnum tradition)
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To: TommyDale
I may be a candidate for governor too

Well, all I have to go on is what you've said. You haven't admitted you're interested in running for Gov. so that's beside the point.

But you have admitted to an interest in seeing Pres. Bush impeached.

70 posted on 06/11/2007 1:22:20 PM PDT by what's up
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To: MNJohnnie
“But of course for the ignorant Bush hater crowd, facts don’t matter, only what they FEEL is real.”

Oh, I must have missed the President standing behind his nominee...

If I disagree with the President cutting the cord on Pace I must be either a Bush-hater, or ignorant...or both.

Well, you sure showed me a thing or two about political debate. I’ll think twice before tangling with you.

71 posted on 06/11/2007 1:31:44 PM PDT by RavenATB
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To: what's up

You are trying to make something from nothing. Your energy would be better spent on telling the President to enforce the existing laws.


72 posted on 06/11/2007 1:35:48 PM PDT by TommyDale (Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy is fading faster than an abortionist’s conscience.)
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To: Lancey Howard

In order to help out Hillary with her fudge-packing Democrat base, the guy Bush has appointed to replace Pace is a liberal “perfumed prince of the Pentagon”. The perfect Democrat foil.

Please provide proof of your slander to a 4 star Admiral in the Active duty United States Navy. This is really uncalled for and let’s see what you can provide...(crickets)


73 posted on 06/11/2007 1:40:32 PM PDT by napscoordinator (.)
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To: what's up
“The knee-jerk types claim to admire Gen. Pace but don’t mind the fine man being put through a media show trial about homosexuality.
They are confused people.

I have a difficult time understanding how anyone who knows of General Pace and respects the man and his accomplishments would think that Pace would shrink from such a debate, or that Pace would be anything less than armed to the teeth to support his point.

I suggest that Pace wanted to get into the Senate and take some of those political idiots apart. He knew that his statement would bring reaction, and he was ready for that reaction and debate before he approached the subject.

Rolling over for the Democrats on this only makes the White House appear to weakened to stand tall in a contentious debate on an issue of huge importance for many in the military.

74 posted on 06/11/2007 1:42:43 PM PDT by RavenATB
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To: what's up
“I thought maybe you were implying you were in that camp because you also believe Pres. Bush hasn’t upheld the law.”

Is this a debatable position? I suspect that even the White House would have to admit that they turned a blind eye to illegal immigration. I do believe that entering the US without going through the established system and gaining approval is still a violation of federal law, is it not?

75 posted on 06/11/2007 1:46:47 PM PDT by RavenATB
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To: what's up
“I thought maybe you were implying you were in that camp because you also believe Pres. Bush hasn’t upheld the law.”

Is this a debatable position? I suspect that even the White House would have to admit that they turned a blind eye to illegal immigration. I do believe that entering the US without going through the established system and gaining approval is still a violation of federal law, is it not?

76 posted on 06/11/2007 1:46:54 PM PDT by RavenATB
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To: TommyDale
You are trying to make something from nothing.

Just examining the dynamic of 2 people on one FR thread leaning toward wanting to impeach President Bush during this time of War. And noting how FR has changed. It interests me how the current "far right" works.

Don't worry about my energy level. I've got lots of energy for lots of different things. Posting a few comments on a thread doesn't take much.

77 posted on 06/11/2007 1:53:37 PM PDT by what's up
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To: RavenATB
would think that Pace would shrink from such a debate

Who calls it "shrinking". I would call it wisdom in refusing to be drawn into a 24 hour a day media show trial which will just make a lot of money for the networks over the topic of homosexuality; he knows a guy in his position needs to spend all his time engaged in the real War.

78 posted on 06/11/2007 1:58:23 PM PDT by what's up
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To: what's up

I have been patient up until now. You are either an idiot or you just want to pick a fight here, which you Bushbots like to do then run for cover. President George W. Bush is losing popularity and respect each minute he supports his amnesty bill, no matter what he wants to call it. You can defend him all you want, but until he secures the borders and enforces the current laws, he isn’t much of a president, in my opinion.

I personally don’t support an impeachment, but I wouldn’t blame others if they pursue it. I really don’t care, because I have lost ALL respect for the man. He can go pound sand for the remainder of his term. I am finished with him and the GOP. How’s that for spelling it out?


79 posted on 06/11/2007 1:59:44 PM PDT by TommyDale (Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy is fading faster than an abortionist’s conscience.)
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To: TommyDale
I have been patient up until now.

Well, it looks like perhaps you're the one who might think of using your energy for something other than posting here then. Maybe soon you will be using your energy to begin working toward impeachment hearings, eh?

I am finished with him and the GOP.

Yeah, well, I doubt either of them care much. The WOT will continue with or without your support for current Republican leadership.

80 posted on 06/11/2007 2:06:48 PM PDT by what's up
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