What Does the Petraeus Appointment Mean?

General Petraeus has been tapped to be the next commander of CENTCOM, which leads to a number of quick questions / observations.

First, it'll be interesting to see how he handles the tension of Afghanistan and Iraq from that position since Gates, Mullen and Fallon have all made clear that Iraq is hurting our mission in Afghanistan. Somehow I have a feeling that he will advise that we continue to place all of our strategic eggs in the Iraq basket.

Second, the confirmation hearings should give Democrats an opportunity to finally get Petraeus to answer some central questions. Is the mission in Iraq hurting Afghanistan and Pakistan? What is the central front in the fight against Al Qaeda? What about our overstretched forces? Is Iraq making America safer? Petraeus was able to dodge (Somewhat legitimately) on a number of these questions in the past by arguing that this wasn't his job. Well, now it is. So he really needs to answer.

Third, there was speculation that Petraeus was going to move off to NATO right around January. This guarantees that if there is a Democratic administration, Petraeus may end up playing a central role in helping design an exit strategy. Of course, in testimony last month he brought into question whether he'd actually be willing to do that. Which is huge, and must be asked again during the hearings.

Finally, there is the question of how many quotes Mike O'Hanlon will get today in the media. Because naturally, that's the only military expert worth talking to. I'm hoping we see some comments from Andrew Bacevich, Larry Korb, Tammy Schultz, Michele Flournoy, Tony Cordesman and a slew of retired generals (Who aren't part of the Pentagon media strategy). But I doubt we'll see that.

Comments

[surfcitysteven]

It used tok be in America, that you had to succeed at one level before you got promoted to the next. Betrayus got what he wanted out of the "surge".

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

First, second, third, and finally, the General got the job by saying what the President wants to hear. When questioned, he will tell the Congress what it wants to hear, as long as it's also what the White House wants to hear.

Get real.

[cobraxus]

GWB is hoping to leave just enough Loyal Bushies permanantly entrenched in our government so that if the next administration tries to change his failed policies The Loyal Bushies(his own brand of jhadists)can blow themselves up and derail the process.Neocons Serve The Machine That Empowers Them!

[leftLibertarian]

Grow a spine Democrats.

Impeach the criminals Bush and Cheney.

Grow a spine Democrats.

Impeach the criminals Bush and Cheney.

Grow a spine Democrats.

Impeach the criminals Bush and Cheney.

[Stevelagain]

And a question for you, Ilan Goldenberg. Do you support the "fight" against Al Qaeda or is it merely a convenient straw man to oppose Iraq?

[CranialRectalLoopback]

Petraeus is a yes-man. He was promoted as the final piece in the OIL 2 (Operation Iranian Liberation) puzzle. Does anyone want to put down odds he becomes our nations first 6-star General?

[Rog49Thomas]

Brother Ilan, you are sarcastically brilliant.

The hearings will indeed give the Democrats an opportunity to get Petraus to finally answer some key questions.

Getting an opportunity and taking advantage of one are of course two different things.

[GPRogueCowboy]

The Basra desertions in the heat of a major battle cast fresh doubt on the effectiveness of the American-trained Iraqi security forces.

A reported asked: "Who was in charge of training the Iraqi forces"?

Answer: "General Petraeus was in charge in 2004 and 2005"

What was General Petraeus' primary mission when assigned to Iraq in Feb. 2007?

Asnswer: General Petraeus's Primary Mission was to Secure Baghdad to allow the Iraqi Governemet a secure envirnment to pas key legislation.
Status: The Iraqi Govenment has passed 5 of 18 key legislations.
Over the past 3 days several US Troops and over a dozen Civilians have been KILLED and WOUNDED in THE GREEN ZONE!!
Basra and Mosel remain the most dangerous places in Iraq slightly behind Baghdad.

In June 2004, less than six months after the 101st returned to the U.S., Petraeus was promoted to lieutenant general ( 2 Star ) and charged with the task of training the new Iraqi Army and security forces as commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq.

Petraeus returned to Iraq in February 2007 ( as a 4 Star General ) to lead the "SURGE". He commands 650,000 Allied and Iraqi Forces that are trying to "DEFEAT" 6000 Al Qaida Terrorists that want to come to the United States and KILL Americans.
Sadr City is about to EXPLODE.
Petraeus is scheduled to return to the US later this year (MAY) with a PROMOTION to 5 Stars.

Give ME a BREAK!

[Rog49Thomas]

Hard to ignore concrete progress like this.

Imagine what Iraq will be like if McCrazy has his way and we're there 100 years.

(It will take one heck of an imagination!)

[jethrock]

And Fifth... The question you fail to ask:

Why did Fallon suddenly resign shortly after testifying before congress that we don't have have enough troops to continue the war?

[Zhonni]

Can someone substantiate the claim that before Petraeus was sent to Iraq that he worked in the office of a Republican lawmaker?

I know I saw something about that on TV or maybe on TV in dreamland but I believe it was on PBS's POV or something. Not so sure. If that were the case, are there not a lot of generals that are being over looked? No wonder a bunch of generals are retiring. You just can't pick juniors to command seniors.

[TXfemmom]

Even Petraeus isn't nuts enough to go along with hitting Iran, hopefully.

Remember, officers in the military get their commissions from Congress, and what Congress bestow, Congress can take away.

[Charles TW]

HuffPost's Pick

Although I agree in various degrees with your reasons for Petraeus's promotion, I don't believe that any of them is the primary reason. That dubious honor should be reserved for the President needing another candidate for history to shove under the bus. In terms of its stated purpose "The Surge" by any account was a complete failure. It moved us not one step closer to ending the war and it shoved Iraq not one step closer to toeing the line that we arrogantly drew before it. "Stay the Course" has proven to be nothing more than an abstract delusion and not the substantive strategy that we all hoped it would be. With there being virtually no chance of us achieving military victory in the region because no military objectives have been stated, it is certainly in Bush's historical best interest to train our focus on the Central Command and put a face to it for history to blame for our ever mounting blunders as he slips away to a tranquil, bucolic retirement in Crawford.

[rwe2late]

HUFFPOST apparently chooses to promote a limited and bland interpretation of the reason for the Petreaus promotion. Namely, that the primary motive behind the promotion is to help assure Bush"s "place in history" during his "bucolic retirement". That view too casually ignores the likelihood that the Petreaus promotion may have a much more ominous significance.

Neither the Huffpost Goldenberg article, nor the "Huffpost pick" comment mentions Petreaus" unflagging support for the phoney neoCON argument that problems in Iraq are not caused by resistance to foreign US occupation, but instead by "meddling" of Iran.
The greater likelihood of the cause for the promotion is that Petreaus is replacing Fallon in order to facilitate aggression against Iran.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JD25Ak01.html

[HST]

I have 2 questions about this.
Why doesn't the demos question Petraeus about his op-ed article supporting Bush for reelection in 2004? The obviously partisan general might have problems supporting a CiC from across the aisle.
More importantly, the dems should put a hold on his appointment until the whitehouse comes up with the emails they refuse to submit and the testimony from Miers and Bolten they refuse to allow. Congress should give back to the whitehouse exactly what they have been getting!

[JessWonderin]

Great questions - the real answer is this man is just a political sell-out positioning himself for the promotion and transition to a cushy Contractor Position - Bush will use him to stall and fog the details, prolonging this quagmire long enough to get out of office and leave the mess OR have Yes Man positioned to take Cheneys order to Invade IRAN . . . either way the RepubliCONS win.

Betrayus steps up in position over the bodies of real heroes.

The Dems cannot stop the shit until they have the power - THEN we investigate, prosecute and IMPRISON (to late for "Exit Pardon" all around)

[ChiMan1]

Thought you had something NEW to say, but, Oh well same old tired progressive whining.

[cobraxus]

as opposed to all the conservative success you can point to,eh ChiMan1?Oh right I forgot.Republicans have the best of both worlds:They Get To Make The Mess Then Bitch About What A Poor Job The Democrats Do Cleaning It Up.

[springsm]

I see this as an open door to take on Iran before November 2008. This bushbot will do what the incredible idiot in the wh wants. Bush is just setting the stage. WHERE O WHERE are the retired generals/admirals. Will the MSM have enough strength, smarts and fortitude to interview them non stop ad nauseum. Oh...I didn't think so.