Rapid turnover at top worries U.S. military

Washington Post via MSNBC ^ | June 27, 2010 | Greg Jaffe

[John W]

WASHINGTON — Since 2001, a dozen commanders have cycled through the top jobs in Iraq, Afghanistan and the U.S. Central Command, which oversees both wars. Three of those commanders — including the recently dismissed Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal — have been fired or resigned under pressure.

History has judged many others harshly, and only two, Gen. David H. Petraeus and Gen. Ray Odierno, are widely praised as having mastered the complex mixture of skills that running America's wars demands.

For the military, this record of mediocrity raises a vexing question: What is wrong with the system that produces top generals?

[Wolfie]

Ha! Wars aren’t all that complex. The perfect job for the military. The ONLY job for the military. Nation Building? Not so much.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

As a “side note” to this circus. I’ve been reading the McCrystal was really a far-left lib. Voted for Obama, the Rules of Engagement were his, the “medal” for not shooting, etc. So it is starting to look like Obama put one of his “buds” in there and as all libs do, the guy’s head exploded and now Obama goes with someone he can trust ... a “conservative” chosen once by Bush. At first I thought firing McCrystal was a mistake ... but the more I read, the more it looks like a good idea and that it will be darned good for our troops and their morale. IMHO.

[peyton randolph]

Yes, he’s a flaming lib. Also banned Fox News from HQ televisions. Guess he wanted his staff to get “accurate” propaganda reports from Obama’s state run media instead.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Perhaps they should cease looking at credentials and pay closer attention to abilities.

[rellimpank]

—probably oversimplifying, but peacetime produces bureaucrats—wars have to be fought by warriors, with the bureaucrats sorted out and discarded—look at what Lincoln had to go through before he got to U.S. Grant-—

[neodad]

No, that’s exactly it. Peacetime military is full of mind numbing paperwork, inspections, dog and pony shows, and worst of all: powerpoint presentations.

[Rappini]

If I’m not mistaken I think McCrystal also booted Michael Yon from Afstan as Imbed reporter.

[John W]

How many of these reached their current level or were very near it under Clinton, Aspin, Perry and Cohen?

[John W]

Boy, is that sickening to read that roster and realized the power it had for eight years?

[MinuteGal]

"What is wrong with the system that produces top generals?"

First of all, this sentence appears wrong....perhaps the writer means "what is wrong with the system that is producing such turnover in top military officers?"

Second, it's not the system, Virginia. It's the PC that now rules the defense of our nation, causing premature retirements, resignations and out-of-the-ordinary behavior in the officer corps.

Real warriors at the top will not accept indefensible rules of engagement, defeatism, insufficient funding and deployment numbers, slanders against their troops, civilian micro-management plus a traitorous State Department and a kissy-ass Defense Department.....and medals awarded to individual military for "exercising reasonable restraint" in LETHAL BATTLE.

Other freepers can add to this list as you will.

Leni

[DUMBGRUNT]

sorted out and discarded

Not discarded. Remember that Lincoln brought McMclellen back and after all the BS. Because he was a good manager.

[Future Snake Eater]

Gasp! Say it ain’t so! A dozen people through three major commands in a nine-year period? We’re doomed!

Casey and McChrystal sucked, their removals were good. The rest is just standard command turnover, it’s not a huge deal. This article is much ado about nothing.

[ETL]

"only two, Gen. David H. Petraeus and Gen. Ray Odierno, are widely praised as having mastered the complex mixture of skills that running America's wars demands. "

Clinton Spars With Petraeus on Credibility
September 12, 2007

WASHINGTON — Senator Clinton squared off yesterday with her possible challenger for the White House in 2012, General David Petraeus, and came closer than any of her colleagues to calling the commander of the multinational forces in Iraq a liar.

Using blunter language than any other Democrat in the last two days, Mrs. Clinton told General Petraeus that his progress report on Iraq required "a willing suspension of disbelief." ..."

http://www.nysun.com/national/clinton-spars-with-petraeus-on-credibility/62426/

[lt.america]

My .02:

Plucking officers early has unintended consequences. Immediately after 9/11 in Afghanistan, what went unnoticed was the amount of Bn Cmdrs getting relieved. The common thread was that most of these guys experienced accelerated promotions in the mid to late 90’s due to shortages of Majors. They missed those key developmental assignments along the way to command.

Trying to look at Petraeus’ career path and apply it to the rest of the military is folly as well. Petraeus would have risen to the top regardless. He was the honor graduate in about every school he attended (of note: Command and General Staff College where the Army used to only hand select the best and brightest to attend; now it is the “No Major Left Behind” mentality that permeates so much of society today).

Lastly, I would not consider all of the Generals in the article “failed”. Franks did not anticipate an insurgency with the ferocity that was experienced (no one else did either). Casey did a fine job of building Iraq's security apparatus, which set the table for Petraeus to institute the surge. Sanchez seemed to be adrift though. Not sure if there was any lasting contribution he made to the effort.

[jetson]

We are at a vulnerable point and the Soviets and Chinese are just waiting for a big move to break our legs.

[ETL]

I’ve been reading that McChrystal was really a far-left lib. Voted for Obama

If it is true McChrystal voted for the Marxist Traitor-In-Chief Obama, there is clearly something deeply wrong with him. He is not some naive college kid. He surely understood how dangerously left Obama was.

And since the General can easily confirm or deny it, I doubt they (Rolling Stone) would have just made it up.

Quote from the Rolling Stone article:

"Even though he had voted for Obama, McChrystal and his new commander in chief failed from the outset to connect".

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37847841/ns/us_news-military

[lt.america]

Excellent point. The Union was in a blind retreat after the second Bull Run until McClellan arrived on the scene and restored order. McClellan had several other shortfalls, but no one else could have got the union into shape. That cannot be understated.

[ETL]

We are at a vulnerable point and the Soviets and Chinese are just waiting for a big move to break our legs.

The "new international order" that Obama and the rest of the commie left seek is one and the same as Russia, the ChiComs, Hugo Chavez, Castro bros's, etc...

From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html
____________________________________________________

"Joint war games are a logical outcome of the Sino-Russian Friendship and Cooperation Treaty signed in 2001, and reflect the shared worldview and growing economic ties between the two Eastern Hemisphere giants."

http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed092605a.cfm
____________________________________________________

From the Russian News and Information Agency:
July 27, 2006
"'I am determined to expand relations with Russia,' Chavez, known as an outspoken critic of what he calls the United States' unilateralism, told the Russian leader, adding that his determination stemmed from their shared vision of the global order.":
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060727/51913498.html
____________________________________________________

“We are creating a new world, a balanced world. A new world order, a multipolar world,” Chavez told reporters during a visit to Communist China, one of many. His “new world order” includes [RUSSIA], China, Iran,... and a significantly weakened United States, he explained.

Resurgent Communism in Latin America
by Alex Newman, March 16, 2010:

http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/world-mainmenu-26/south-america-mainmenu-37/3122-resurgent-communism-in-latin-america?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=
____________________________________________________

The two sides [Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Russia] agreed to "promote and enhance friendly relations" in line with the joint declaration of July 19, 2000 and the Russia-DPRK friendship and good neighborly cooperation treaty of February 9, 2000.

Putin and Kim agreed during their talks to promote a Russian- DPRK political dialogue on the Korean issue and international affairs, and discussed many topical international problems, deputy head of the Russian presidential administration Sergei Prikhodko told reporters following the talks.

The two leaders spoke for an independent and peaceful solution to the issue of reunification of the Korean Peninsula, and against "any outside obstacles to this process" as "unacceptable."

http://www.china.org.cn/english/2001/Aug/17008.htm
____________________________________________________

President Obama and Venezuela dictator Hugo
Chavez at the 2009 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad.
Note the "soul bro" handshake. (my caption)

Obama, Chavez shake hands at Americas Summit:
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/04/17/2698451-obama-chavez-shake-hands-at-americas-summit
____________________________________________________

Russia's Medvedev hails "comrade" Obama

Associated Foreign Press (AFP) ^ | April 2, 2009 | Anna Smolchenko

"Russia's Dmitry Medvedev hailed Barack Obama as "my new comrade" Thursday after their first face-to-face talks"

http://www.france24.com/en/20090402-russias-medvedev-hails-comrade-obama

April 1, 2009:
"Obama, Medvedev pledge new era of relations":
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090401/wl_afp/usrussiadiplomacynuclear_20090401152002

[ETL]

Russian nuclear bombers in Cuba?
July 23, 2008

The media has been abuzz today at the prospect of Russian nuclear bombers being stationed in Cuba if the US goes ahead with plans for missile defense bases in Eastern Europe.

The story has riled the US enough that a US general has been wheeled out to tell the world’s press that any Russian attempt to build another nuclear base in Cuba would cross US “red line”.

The story broke earlier this week, when Russian newspaper Izvestia quoted an un-named source from within the Russian military. He told the Russian daily:

“While they are deploying the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, our strategic bombers will already be landing in Cuba.”

The quote hasn’t been independently confirmed, but the Russian Defense Ministry added fuel to the fire when they refused to comment on the story.

The prospect of Russian nuclear forces being stationed in Cuba - which is, after all, only 90 miles from the US coast - would bring back some rather unpleasant memories for the US of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, where the Soviet Union under Nikita Kruschev launched an audacious and foolhardy bid to station nuclear missiles on the Caribbean island.

http://www.siberianlight.net/2008/07/23/russian-nuclear-bombers-cuba/
_____________________________________________________

Russia to help Cuba modernize weaponry, train military

September 18, 2009

HAVANA, September 18 (RIA Novosti) - Modernization of the Soviet-made military equipment and training of Cuban military personnel will be the focus of Russian-Cuban military cooperation in the near future, the chief of the Russian General Staff said on Friday. Gen. Nikolai Makarov arrived on a working visit to Cuba on Monday, met with Cuban President Raul Castro and the country's military leadership, and visited a number of military installations.

"During the Soviet era we delivered a large number of military equipment to Cuba, and after all these years most of this weaponry has become obsolete and needs repairs," Makarov said.

"We inspected the condition of this equipment, and outlined the measures to be taken to maintain the defense capability of this country...I think a lot of work needs to be done in this respect, and I hope we will be able to accomplish this task," the general said.

Makarov said the Cuban request for assistance with training of military personnel will also be fully satisfied.

Although the Cuban leadership has repeatedly said it has no intention of resuming military cooperation with Russia after the surprise closure of the Russian electronic listening post in Lourdes in 2001, bilateral military ties seem to have been improving following the visit of Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin to Cuba in July last year.

A group of Russian warships, led by the Admiral Chabanenko destroyer visited Cuba in December last year during a Caribbean tour.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20090918/156170428.html