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Home Front: Politix
Obama says He'll vote for Petraeus for new military job
2008-04-28
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, who has called for withdrawing U.S. combat troops from Iraq, said on Sunday he will vote to confirm the top commander there for a new job as head of the military's Central Command. "Yes," Obama told "Fox News Sunday" when asked if, as a senator from Illinois, he would approve Petraeus. "I think Petraeus has done a good tactical job in Iraq."

President George W. Bush has nominated Gen. David Petraeus, who led the buildup of troops in Iraq, to be in charge of operations across the Middle East and Central Asia. If confirmed by the Senate, Petraeus will still be in that job when the next president replaces Bush at the White House in January 2009. Obama hopes that person is him.

Obama has said he would start pulling out more troops as soon as he became president. "My hope is that Petraeus would reflect that wider view of our strategic interest," he said on "Fox News Sunday."I will listen to General Petraeus given the experience that he has accumulated over the last several years," Obama said. "It would be stupid of me to ignore what he has to say.

"It would be my job as commander in chief to set the mission, to make the strategic decisions in light of the problems that we're having in Afghanistan, in light of the problems that we are having in Pakistan, the fact that al Qaeda is strengthening," Obama said.

Obama also said he was a "big respecter" of Petraeus' predecessor Adm. William Fallon, who resigned after a magazine article depicted him as openly criticizing Bush administration policy over Iran. "It was unfortunate that the administration wasn't listening more to the observations of Fallon, that we have to think about more than just Iraq, that we've got issues with Iran and Pakistan and Afghanistan, and our singular focus on Iraq I think has distracted us," Obama said.
Posted by:Pappy

#28  George Smiley, Even you can see the Clinton Machine using Rev. Wright as the current 'Willie Horten' in this race! Billy Boy has attached that worm to the line and lowered it into the lake; now all the little guppies have swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. Then again, those who are trained in the advantages of the fog of war, can be blinded by the backwinds therefrom.
Posted by: smn   2008-04-28 19:46  

#27  LOL - thanks George ;-)
Posted by: Frank G   2008-04-28 18:45  

#26  "falls on his sword..." = retire (For Frank G)!
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Frank G is not in your class, he'll never understand that. Rantburg is lucky to have found you, or should I save be founded by you?
Posted by: George Smiley   2008-04-28 18:11  

#25  "Trunks owned Congress and didn't make the noise or efforts in keeping the military better manned or equipped either. Just as they followed the Donk tune of pork, they also found it good to save money at DoD. "

actually the GOP DID want more money for the DOD. Mainly for Ballistic Missile Defense, and there was also some concern about readiness in the USAF, overstretched (so it was said) by Iraq no fly zones and Bosnia and Kosovo, and other deployments.

There was nothing in particular about ground troops, that I recall. Probably cause NOBODY predicted what would happen in 2001, or how it would play out.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-04-28 17:30  

#24  Don't forget Bobby, while Willie was playing the Trunks owned Congress and didn't make the noise or efforts in keeping the military better manned or equipped either. Just as they followed the Donk tune of pork, they also found it good to save money at DoD.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2008-04-28 16:22  

#23  I would judge Obama to be worse than Hilly was to the military when Willie was President.

And I read Patterson's book. Hilly HATED the military.

Hilly's Willie reduced the military enough to make the world's second-largest military machine with the cast-offs.
Posted by: Bobby   2008-04-28 16:11  

#22  Yes.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2008-04-28 16:11  

#21  Is smn always this stupid? Obama is an empty-suit with a huge ego. He doesn't give two shits about the military and he sure as hell doesn't care what they say. He's a patronizing moron who just says what he thinks the people listening to him at the time want to hear. He also hates white people, I mean, you can't sit there and listen to the verbal vomit of a race-baiting hatemonger like Wright for 20 YEARS and not either believe it or start believing it. There's lots of reasons to be afraid of a President Obama. The man is a danger to this country and I pray he doesn't ever get close to the White House.
Posted by: AllahHateMe   2008-04-28 15:25  

#20  What are you afraid of Old Patriot? Obama hasn't said he'd have an all black cabinet, more likely it would be stacked with Republicans, Democrats and mostly white. Obama hasn't said he'd only pick an African American for Vice President, although being politically correct (the previous 46 holders did), he would do so! The Presidency is all about listening to advisers then making your decision; And I believe Obama will listen intently just as JFK did during his cabinet sessions. Sounds like YOU don't have confidence in the military establishment to adequately inform the Commander In Chief...that's the way your statement implys!
Posted by: smn   2008-04-28 14:52  

#19  Well i figgered that if you go + you gotta go - sometime. give him a cat shot with his head about 3" off the headrest, that is not a fun experience. (quick learner, only took once)
Posted by: USN,Ret.   2008-04-28 14:38  

#18  Positive G forces don't make you puke, negative G forces and rotation make you puke. I've never disgraced myself, but I know a few "joy riders" who lost their lunch. BO wouldn't last past wheels-up.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2008-04-28 14:10  

#17  So Obamaramadingdong was shooting hoops wearing USMC colors, and now is praising (however superficially) Petraeus, i can hardly wait for either the USAF or the USN to give him the opportunity to ride in the back seatin a fighter. Pull about 6 G's a couple times and he might just earn a new nickname 'Two bags' (of puke)
Posted by: USN,Ret.   2008-04-28 13:54  

#16  Yes, TW, I think you have distilled the essence of his move.
Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700   2008-04-28 11:42  

#15  Did anyone see Barack playing basketball in a USMC T-shirt yesterday?

This is just more pretending to care about the "bitter people" in fly-over country.

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al   2008-04-28 11:29  

#14  smn: of course a President has the right to choose the leading generals. That's not the issue or the complaint. The complaint is that he's all but snubbing a very capable man. The issue is that he doesn't understand what's happening in Iraq, 2008. That doesn't bode well should he be elected.
Posted by: Steve White   2008-04-28 11:14  

#13  "Isn't he just a great big cuddle-boots, and he's good at military tactics, too!! Yes he is. Aren't you, General Petraeus?!"

/disgusting baby talk voice.

Candidate Obama can not vote against a successful general without losing half the country even as he pleases the left-most ten percent, so he won't. Which wouldn't stop him from making the general, and the Armed Forces, become unsuccessful after Obama were sworn into office.
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-04-28 11:04  

#12  Obama's comments seem more to me as an attempt to claim some military validity and looking like he is centralist without completely pissing off the liberal loons. Typical politician.
Posted by: DarthVader   2008-04-28 10:16  

#11  "A good tactical job? That's it? That's either a major snub, or Obama doesn't know what Petraeus' role is."

Or like most lay people who dont follow military affairs they dont know what "tactical" means. Obama is thinking that the decision to invade or withdraw from Iraq is 'strategic' and ALL decisions made on the ground in Iraq - including where to send particular brigades, how much effort to put into training vs fighting, whether to cover the whole country or to clear and hold one area at at time, etc are "tactical" He probably is unaware of the terms "operational" and "grand strategic" or what they cover.

Hillary, who has served on the armed services comm, probably at least vaguely is aware of "operational" and McCain of course will know this stuff down pat.

Methinks also, Obama may not be averse to Petraeus staying on. His advisors seem to be broadly aware that an immediate withdrawl could be disastrous. Since Obama is committed to quick negotiations with Teheran, its to his advantage to still have bargaining chips going in, to avoid being humiliated, and the troops in Iraq could well be envisioned as such chips by his for pol team. But he will have screams of rage from the base when he institutes only a token withdrawl on taking office. He may well need Petraeus as a shield then.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-04-28 09:55  

#10  Be careful of what you wish for, Senator Obama.

General Petraeus has been playing Vulcan mind chess with Arab sheikhs for years now.

The drawdown might not exactly cover you with the glory you are seeking.
Posted by: Seafarious   2008-04-28 09:50  

#9  I think it takes a willing suspension of disbelief to credit B. Hussein Obama with any motive but his own self-interest.
Posted by: Excalibur   2008-04-28 09:03  

#8  It's not a snub, it's praise for a fine general who deserves a promotion.
Posted by: Grack Munster3335   2008-04-28 08:50  

#7  statesman like qualities

Like ignoring the consequences of pulling out the troops on the eve of victory, just so he can make it a second Vietnam and blame Bush?

Or is that taking his daughters to a hate-filled church to perpetuate the practice of looking at the past, instead of forward? Or is that "change"?
Posted by: Bobby   2008-04-28 07:04  

#6  A good tactical job? That's it? That's either a major snub, or Obama doesn't know what Petraeus' role is. Maybe Obama will tour a base soon, and give the division commander high praise for keeping such clean latrines.
Posted by: Vanc   2008-04-28 03:47  

#5  "falls on his sword..." = retire (For Frank G)!
Posted by: smn   2008-04-28 02:13  

#4  Actually Steve, Obama as President has the right to choose his Generals, promote his Generals and retire his Generals, just as "W" and all preceding Presidents have done. General Petraeus knows that "W" is 'lameduck', and it wouldn't be unorthodox for him to thread lightly, in this time of shifting winds (unless of course he falls on his sword after the November elections to save face). Obama could have signaled a cut and slash mentality as regards the Pentagon, such as the 'Hildabeast' is suggesting (I'm sure she hasn't forgotten 'the bird' the Pentagon gave her on that letter she inquired of the Iraqi pullout preparations)! Shows all the more, the statesman like qualities Obama will bring to his administration, if given the chance!
Posted by: smn   2008-04-28 02:11  

#3  It's actually a snub to the General: Obama says the least amount he possibly can in praise.
Posted by: Steve White   2008-04-28 01:36  

#2  Sounds reasonable, looks Presidential. Knowing 'Maha Rushy's' feeling about the General, I can't wait to hear his spin on Obama's feelings about Petraeus!
Posted by: smn   2008-04-28 01:19  

#1  "I think Petraeus has done a good tactical job in Iraq - and I want to win the Presidency, pull out our troops and lose this war before it's too late."

There - fixed (if politicians were honest).
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2008-04-28 01:18  

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