Gates Forced Pace To Resign To Avoid Congressional Oversight Of Iraq War
Gates Forced Pace To Resign To Avoid Congressional Oversight Of Iraq War
Gen. Peter Pace is the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff not to be renominated for a second term since the military was centralized under the joint chiefs position 21 years ago.
Today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the reason he made this unusual decision was because the administration wants to avoid a “contentious” nomination hearing with hard questions about the war in Iraq:
However, after consultations over the course of several weeks with Republican and Democratic senators, I concluded that because Gen. Pace has served as chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the last six years, the focus of his confirmation process would have been on the past, rather than the future.
Appointed as chairman by Donald Rumsfeld, Pace has been intimately involved in the U.S. failures in Iraq and has consistently touted the administration’s rosy rhetoric, despite the reality on the ground. Some highlights of his tenure:
On the situation in Iraq: “I’d say they’re going well. I wouldn’t put a great big smiley face on it, but I would say they’re going very, very well from everything you look at.” [3/5/06]
On troop withdrawal: “[W]e have published no orders saying come up with a complete plan for total drawdown.” [5/21/07]
On civil war in Iraq: In 2006, Pace “said Iraq isn’t on the brink of civil war and that there isn’t any deadline for withdrawing American and coalition troops from the country.” [3/5/06]
On U.S. troop casualties: On Memorial Day, Pace stated that “we had more than 3,000 Americans murdered on 11 September, 2001. The number who have died, sacrificed themselves since that time is approaching that number.” But in reality, the death toll in Iraq had already passed that of 9/11, with 3,455 troops killed. [5/28/07]
On the back-up plan if escalation fails: “Plan B was to make Plan A work.” [3/5/07]
On his support for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: “I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral, and that we should not condone immoral acts.” [3/12/07]
On Rumsfeld: “He leads in a way that the good Lord tells him is best for our country.” [10/19/06]
UPDATE: The New York Times notes, “When he steps down at the end of September, he will become the shortest-serving chairman since Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor in 1964, during the early years of the Vietnam War.”
Transcript:
GATES: It had been my intention, from early in my tenure, to recommend to the President that Gen. Pace be renominated for another two-year term as chairman.
However, after consultations over the course of several weeks with Republican and Democratic senators, I concluded that because Gen. Pace has served as chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the last six years, the focus of his confirmation process would have been on the past, rather than the future.
And further, that there was the very real prospect that the process would be quite contentious. I am no stranger to contentious confirmations, and I do not shrink from it.
However, I have decided that at this moment in our history, the nation, our men and women in uniform, and Gen. Pace himself would not be well-served by a divisive ordeal in selecting the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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38 Responses to “Gates Forced Pace To Resign To Avoid Congressional Oversight Of Iraq War”
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Could be true, but I never trust anything a Bush stooge spews.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:14 pm“…because Gen. Pace has served as chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the last six years,…” - - Oh really? That’ll be a surprise to Gen. Richard Myers who held that post until 2005.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:21 pmSorry, TP, but Pace isn’t linked to most of the failures. He has no operational authority and can’t force Bush, who is CINC, to make use of even his best advice. It all comes down to the Congress and the President. In addition, he’s made plenty of honest assessments, which you’ve documented before.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:24 pmSomeone please send this aggie back to Texas. What a dubya a$$-kissing stooge!
June 8th, 2007 at 2:25 pmComment by Badmoodman
Vice Chairman (2001-2005)
June 8th, 2007 at 2:25 pmChairmain (2005-2007)
“Sorry, TP, but Pace isn’t linked to most of the failures.”
Only in your dried up raisin brain.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:26 pmBush is favoring the Navy because he plans to attack Iran soon. This is becoming more obvious daily.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:27 pmIn addition, he’s made plenty of honest assessments, which you’ve documented before.
Comment by CompTROLLER V-1
You have to admit that it appears Gates is nervous about Pace testifying under oath in the nomination process.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:27 pmU.S. officials back off Iraq progress report
WASHINGTON (Jun 8, 2007)
The Bush administration and top military commanders are looking beyond the promised September progress report on Iraq and are preparing Congress and the American public for a long-term presence of U.S. troops in the occupied nation.
Officials have started downplaying the importance of the September assessment by Army General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker as they work to lower public expectations about any quick progress in Iraq.
Army Major General Joseph Fil, commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad, confirmed yesterday that barely one-third of Baghdad’s 457 neighbourhoods have been secured by American forces five months after the start of the emergency U.S. troop buildup that President George W. Bush announced Jan. 10. Fil said he hopes to gain control of at least half the city of 7 million by September 2007.
http://antiwar.com/
June 8th, 2007 at 2:28 pmBush’s Pick for ‘War Czar’ Says Withdrawal ‘Ought to Be Considered’
June 8th, 2007 at 2:30 pm“The Bush administration and top military commanders are looking beyond the promised September progress report on Iraq and are preparing Congress and the American public for a long-term presence of U.S. troops in the occupied nation.”
Like you couldn’t see that coming from a million billion miles away.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:32 pmSo, they don’t expect that the Congress will ask these “hard questions” of the new nominee?
These neoCON Republics will do everything in their power to avoid taking responsibility for what they have done. But, I say keep it up. Every time they pull something like this, there are a few more Republics who will jump ship. Pretty soon, there will only the the 28% left.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:32 pmIraqi Kurds report Turkish, Iranian shelling
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, or PUK, the party of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, reported the Turkish and Iranian shelling on its website. Turkish military authorities at the General Staff in Ankara were not immediately available for comment.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:33 pmWell, heaven forbid we actually study what happened in the past; the voting public might gain some understanding of what has been going on in the past 6 years. That might get in the way of making this a generational war. /snark/
June 8th, 2007 at 2:34 pmOn Rumsfeld: “He leads in a way that the good Lord tells him is best for our country.†[10/19/06]
That’s the one, right there. Pace responds “Boo rah, Sir yes sir!” when Rummy tells him the voice in his head is Jesus. Should have put this one out to grass there and then.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:34 pmThe administration will do all it can to avoid answering questions and being held accountable.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:35 pmFunny that Bush can say the US will remain in Iraq for 50 years, but he is supposed to be leaving office in about 19 months. Which means either he is not leaving in January 2009, or the future president has already been chosen in advance and agreed to continue Bush’s sordid policies?!
June 8th, 2007 at 2:36 pmComp- you’re beginning to read through things! Congrats! What it comes down to however, is the President and the Republican Congress. Make that distinction. And the prime reason he was resigned is that the this Congress will exercise the oversight and ask the tough questions which will certainly embarass- let’s see- the PRESIDENT! Questions like why did this war start, was sustained and remains one of the greatest f-ed up misadventures in US history? Were you incompetent, not watching- or sidelined by political considerations? Of course the Congres can still call him on the carpet- which dovetails neatly with the WH just hiring 9 new lawyers as counsel!
June 8th, 2007 at 2:37 pmComment by Badmoodman
Vice Chairman (2001-2005)
June 8th, 2007 at 2:50 pmChairmain (2005-2007) — D’OH! Can’t work and read simultaneously.
They’re just replacing him with someone who’s even MORE of a loyal BushCo employee, this news isn’t really news - being neither good nor bad.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:52 pmFrom the transcript:
GATES: It had been my intention, from early in my tenure, to recommend to the President that Gen. Pace be renominated for another two-year term as chairman.
What does it say about Gates that he wanted to keep this top commander on after the record shows he has been so wrong?
And then there is this absolute gem:
“On Rumsfeld: “He leads in a way that the good Lord tells him is best for our country.†[10/19/06]”
Like Bush and Boyken, Pace either also listens to the “good lord” for guidance or he thinks its a great idea. What we have here is a failure to separate church from the military (communicate). Apologies to “Cool Hand Luke.”
June 8th, 2007 at 2:52 pmComment by tobeannounced
I have to agree with somebody for once. Well explained.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:56 pmAsk just ONE question of the “nominee sycophant”:
WHEN do you expect us to be OUT OF IRAQ???
THAT is the question that needs to be asked.
If he says “really long-term”,
Then it is TIME to IMPEACH
TRAITOR Bush the MURDERER coxucker PUNK
June 8th, 2007 at 3:05 pmLOL here is a good one, looks like the Christian fundamentalists have more in common with the Islamic fundamentalists then they thought.
Any thoughts Harry? Ringo? or do you need to consult your approved talking points first?
http://news.yahoo.com/ s/ nm/ 20070608/ od_nm/ turkey_creationism_dc;_ylt=AoZAk3fEJORiDv.FxdHa8bnMWM0F
June 8th, 2007 at 3:11 pm“…I wouldn’t put a great big smiley face on it…”
Well Jesus God, I should hope not!
June 8th, 2007 at 3:16 pmGood News! But Good Lord! Anyone have a headcount on all the generals this administration has retired?
June 8th, 2007 at 3:25 pm#
Good News! But Good Lord! Anyone have a headcount on all the generals this administration has retired?
Comment by John — June 8, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
June 8th, 2007 at 3:33 pmEnough to fill up the late night talk show circuit
yeah you know, I like totally hate it when nominees have to talk about like, things that have happened…you know..the past….its such a bummer..I mean..just because the sun came up yesterday…
June 8th, 2007 at 3:40 pmFrom the article:
Appointed as chairman by Donald Rumsfeld, Pace has been intimately involved in the U.S. failures in Iraq and has consistently touted the administration’s rosy rhetoric, despite the reality on the ground.
Problem:
Pace had burned out as a mouthpiece for BushCo. He was more a liability than an asset. No longer believable and too much attached to failure. As stated, he represents the past “framing” the neocons were using. They want to shift strategy now, with new framing.
Solution:
Replace him with a fresh face, who will have a honeymoon and buy more time as they change rhetoric toward “the Korean Strategy” of staying for 50 years. Pace was part of the old “we are winning” group talk.
We are entering a “new” phase, folks. Look for the signs of it. Permanent bases, 50 years, stepped up pressure for the oil… And they are now telling it all openly… with new framing to boot.
As a Bush advisor told Ron Suskind:
June 8th, 2007 at 3:43 pm“We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality… we’ll act again, creating other new realities…”
Say good night, Pacey!
June 8th, 2007 at 4:52 pmNo matter who gates tries to slide in to replace Pace…
…If there ISN’T oversight, investigation, turning us-side-down…
…of this illegal invasion and occupation…
…and those responsible aren’t brought to justice…
…America is lost…
…and should be…
…because the people will have failed to secure…
…justice and democratic rule…
If bush and Cheney walk…
…America is DEAD…
June 8th, 2007 at 5:32 pmIf bush and Cheney walk…
…America is DEAD…
Comment by big papa
We were seriously wouned when Nixon walked — we just didn’tknow it then.
We know now….
June 8th, 2007 at 5:40 pmWe were seriously wouned when Nixon walked — we just didn’tknow it then.
We know now….
Comment by Zooey #32
L’il Dick’s resurgence is proof of that…
…kill it before it grows…
…any bigger…
June 8th, 2007 at 5:54 pmThanks Democrats! (for military spending bill 2 weeks ago)
June 8th, 2007 at 6:58 pmPeter Pace just another military incompetent general who governed his military by kissing up to a commander-in-chief ’s rethoric over reality in the 2nd Gulf war.Pace like his predecessors(Franks & Myers)were “yes men” more than military generals.
June 8th, 2007 at 9:31 pmPace was essentially fired for two reasons. Firstly in the Pentagon he was seen as a stooge for Bush and company as was Myers. Secondly there was no way the administration wanted him in front of a confirmation hearing having to answer all kinds of very nasty questions about the genesis of this war and the advice the administration received. It has nothing to do with Iran, and forget the conspiracy theories. We are not going to attack Iran it would produce an economic meltdown the last thing Bush and the Republicans want in an election year.
June 9th, 2007 at 12:34 pmOh, so the firing of the General has nothing to do with his actions or failure of action, but rather with a divisive congress. This man has dishonored himself, his soldiers and his country and he deserves the same discharge that he recently recommended for one of his soldiers, who after fighting for his right to free speech and wearing HIS uniform to a protest, was then upbraided by this starred prick, and given a less than honorable discharge. Good riddens to this neo-clone!
June 9th, 2007 at 4:04 pmGen. Pace hurt his credibility when he chose to inappropriately comment on issues that have nothing to do with his job as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. His comments about gay Americans are both troubling and out of place. He should have kept these comments to himself. Further he was one of the chief planners of this war before the invasion yet he continued to paint a rosy picture that was contrary to the reality on the ground. His support of Scooter Libby was inappropriate and he should have never defended a convicted felon in light of his position. He has chosen to politicize his job which is wrong. His allegiance should be to all soldiers who want to serve their country regardless of their sexual orientation. Sec. Gates made the right decision. It is time for Gen. Pace to go.
June 9th, 2007 at 8:59 pm