Obama Foreign Policy Transition Criticized For Zinni Mess: "Amateurish"

Democratic foreign policy hands say that a senior Marine general's public frustration with Obama's top aides is a symptom of a national security transition that has been historically speedy--and at times opaque, chaotic, and deeply frustrating for some of Obama's supporters and would-be aides.

Retired General Anthony Zinni told Foreign Policy that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Advisor James Jones had both indicated to him that he would be Ambassador to Iraq, and that Vice President Joe Biden "called and congratulated me" on getting the job.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[ratcityreprobate]

Zinni's whining underscores that he was not suitable for an ambassador job.

[fightorleave2]

First of all, Zinni has no business anywhere near Obama, Iraq or Saudi Arabia. Second, America should not care who is the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a real enemy of the US. Third, Politico is a known media tool of the rightwing. Fourth, the sources cited by Politico all seem to be either Republicans or friends of Zinni. In other words, it actually looks like Obama is trying to do what needs to be done and that is dis-empower the US military and corporate control of this nation.

[libcrusader]

Many people on Huffpo have said now the grown ups are going to be running things. Let's hope that will be the case...doesn't look that way with Geitner, Daschle, etc....

[mimigrammy]

Nothing worse than a whinning general.

[casengo]

He should apply at the RNC I hear they're looking for excuse making whiners.

[Howard Dean]

He showed his true colors when he backed cut-and-run/war-is-lost in Iraq. But you whiny liberals LOVED him then.

[x004Ronin]

Bush showed his true colors when he backed out of fighting in Vietnam. But you whiny conservatives LOVED him for 8 years.

[aznurse]

BAM!!!

[Howard Dean]

Its funny that you want to defend someone who as never held a leadership position being called "amateurish."

[x004Ronin]

Its funny that you think that post is so clever that you've copied and pasted it multiple times in this thread as a desperate cry for attention.

[bygollymissmolly]

How about we criticize Zinni for being a whiny little brat?

I am soooo glad they didn't choose him as a diplomat. He has shown his true colors.

[Howard Dean]

He showed his true colors when he backed cut-and-run/war-is-lost in Iraq. But you whiny liberals LOVED him then.

[aznurse]

number 2

[Howard Dean]

Zinni probably flunked because he paid his taxes.

[toddag]

maybe he failed the vetting.

[bygollymissmolly]

That's exactly what happened. Zinni is just pissed because they passed him over and that they didn't call him before he called them.

[reliant1]

In what way did he fail the vetting - just curious - since I have seen nothing as exact as your reporting and would appreciate the links.

But just to keep it straight - he was offered the position - he did not go seeking it.

It is inexcusable for him to be airing this gaffe - but it was inexcusable of Jones to not have the stones to withdraw the offer as he had made the offer, with courtesy.

Zinni's work directing the aid programs to the PLO and in Somalia might have been helpful in Iraq...or maybe not and who cares.

His loss may do more to hurt the Palestinians and they may care... or maybe not.

To someone with the smarts to run 2 successful mid east and african aid programs - in really hot spots and at really hot times - then a tad of courtesy may not have been so horribly out of line...or maybe not.

The game got a lot more complicated tho with the insult to Zinni - when it didn't have to.

Poor planning or maybe not....

[Pharos]

There is so much wrong with this article it's hard to know where to start. Firstly, the only reason this is public information is because Zinni disclosed it. He should not have. That alone disqualifies him for any diplomatic position. Secondly the idea that the ambassadorship to Saudi Arabia is not important is ludicrous. It is Zinni who has that attitude, not the Obama administration. Again that Zinni would think that way further disqualifies him. Thirdly this article does virtually no analysis, repeats rumor as fact and never tries to put events into perspective. Obama deos exactly what the Republicans refuse to do. He picks smart competent people who want to get things done and don't always agree. That will cause some friction,but they are certainly grown up ladies and gentlemen and can take it and even realize it is good for the country to have a vigorous discussion of policy before it is implemented. As Zinni, of all people should realize, it is not always in the best interest of our country for those internal discussions to be publicly disclosed.

Zinni is not qualified for a diplomatic post under these United States, no matter his other qualifications and accomplishments. The author of this article should go back to journalism school.

[LittleRedHenSez]

Not sure what is so objectionable about this comment but it went to the cen sors so I'll try again.

I love Obama and yet I think there have been some bro ad mistakes like a) overestimating Republican desire to help the average American b) underestimating Republicans' thin skins and base mea nness and hyp o crisy. But why yet another article with a different headline regarding this thin skinned general. I'm really getting tired of Hu ff Po. I want genuine articles if there is true in comp etence, etc., not some person's hurt feelings.

[bygollymissmolly]

HP decided for some unknown reason, after the election, to morph from a news blog to a tabloid blog. They are well on the way to completing the transformation. Screaming misleading headlines, badly written and sourced articles abound. Yellow journalism at it's finest.

[thaneb]

But for keeping it in the news cycle, this adds to the discussion and chest beating of 2 days ago how?

[mortrefuge]

It was a bad mistake no doubt about it. But how much of the error was caused by the lack of phones and computers at the White House and the continued ramping up of the new administration. It sure would have been nice to have had a 21st century phone and computer system in the White House when Obama arrived but apparently technology and science was not a Bush Admin strong suit.

[Pharos]

I think it was fortunate that Zinni's true colors came out before they considered him for any other Diplomatic post.

[HC4BO]

Hey general Zinni .. Obama is just NOT that into you ....

zing ..............................