General Petraeus Promoted
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:01pm Mark Noonan
Nothing like going with a winner:
President Bush is promoting his top Iraq commander, Army Gen. David Petraeus, and replacing him with the general’s recent deputy, keeping the U.S. on its war course and handing the next president a pair of combat-tested commanders who have relentlessly defended Bush’s strategies.
Bush will nominate Petraeus to replace Navy Adm. William J. Fallon as chief of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Wednesday. The command’s area of responsibility features some of the most vexing military and foreign policy problems facing this administration and its successor _ including Iran, Pakistan, Lebanon, parts of Africa and Afghanistan in addition to Iraq…
…Petraeus would be succeeded at a pivotal time in Baghdad by Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, who was the No. 2 commander in Iraq for 15 months. He has been credited by many with deftly managing security gains that Petraeus told Congress this month have opened a pathway for potential political progress in the country.
Gates said he hoped the Senate would act on both nominations by next month and expected Petraeus to switch to the Central Command job, which is based in Tampa, Fla., by late summer or early fall.
That is the point at which Petraeus is likely to make an initial recommendation to Gates and to Bush on whether conditions in Iraq are stable enough to permit a further reduction in U.S. troop levels.
At least we can rely upon it that whomever takes office in January will have the very best and most experienced advice available as they decide what to do about Iraq and the larger War on Terrorism in the future. Whether or not the advice will be listened to is, of course, unknown - though McCain is more likely to listen to wisdom than either Hillary or Obama, who would come into office entirely beholden to the kookiest of the kook left
As an aside, my view is that if things go as expected in Iraq over the next year (that would be American victory, for you lefties out there who are thinking it would be American defeat), then it would be entirely appropriate to give Petraeus a fifth star and make him a General of the Army.
Entry Filed under: War on Terror
11 Comments
1. Eric T | April 23rd, 2008 at 10:13 pm
The General did an excellent job turning Iraq from a bloody civil war into a stable country, in a short period of time. With performance like that, Al Qaida, Osama and his boys the Taliban better start saying their prayers. The General will be sending them to meet Allah very soon.
2. js | April 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 pm
“The Los Angeles Times reports that the CIA plans to brief key lawmakers in a closed-door session April 24 about the mysterious Syrian site that was targeted by an Israeli air raid last September”
http://www.debka.com/
if this indicates what they will be facing in the next 4 years, they are going to need all the help they can get…at least israel has the courage to face these cultists
3. LiberalNitemare | April 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I imagine that promoting Gen Patrius was one of the easier decisions Bush has had to make.
While some on this board hope that misdirection and hyperbole will just make it all go away - the facts cannot be denied, Iraq turned the corner because of the surge.
4. Iran » General Petr&hellip | April 24th, 2008 at 12:08 am
[...] Woman Honor Thyself wrote an interesting post today on General Petraeus PromotedHere’s a quick excerpt…most vexing military and foreign policy problems facing this administration and its successor _ including Iran, Pakistan, Lebanon, parts of… [...]
5. Kahn | April 24th, 2008 at 2:26 am
He seems like an intelligent, honest, and agressive soldier. Kudos.
6. OperationChaos | April 24th, 2008 at 5:46 am
David Petraeus for President!!!
7. Christian Wright | April 24th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Betrayus is a yes man. Sadr’s cease fire, which was brokered by the Iranians, reduced the violence. The surge had nothing to do with it.
With Betrayus in command, an unprovoked attack on Iran will be almost certain. Say hello to $200 a barrel oil.
8. Christian Wright | April 24th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Just read the story in the link.
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/1/iraq_has_become_somaliaa_collection_of
9. kimberly4victory | April 24th, 2008 at 9:44 am
This promotion is justly deserved for an honorable and extremely intelligent man! He is one million times a greater man than CW will ever hope to be.
CW: The “journalist” is a liar. I have NEVER heard nor seen anyone state the surge has brought peace to Iraq. While the surge has certainly helped, Iraq has a long way to go before anyone can say it is peaceful.
The problem the Dems have, as liberal nightmare stated above, is they cannot “afford” to have peace in Iraq. I can’t believe anyone can honestly hope for disaster and failure in Iraq. Unfortunately, when power and the position of POTUS is at stake, that is the ending Dems are counting on.
10. Kahn | April 24th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
CW, how’d you spell that? Got something to back up that slander? Or are you just an ass?\
World War 2 only stopped because the Axis surrendered. Viet Nam only stopped because Democrats forced a surrender. Only Only Only. What a pip. Oh, you’re Only a pip.
11. Christian Wright | April 24th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
What war did you fight in, Kahn?