Petraeus chosen as new Centcom commander.
By on Apr 23rd, 2008 at 10:49 am
Petraeus chosen as new Centcom commander.
The AP reports that President Bush has tapped Gen. David Petraeus, currently the Commanding General of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, to become the new commander of the U.S. Central Command. He will replace Adm. William Fallon, whose “premature departure” at least stemmed from policy disagreements with Petraeus, “a favorite of the White House,” according to The New York Times.
In March, former intelligence analyst William Arkin said that Petraeus was “the man most responsible for the departure of Fallon” because “the two were at odds on virtually every element of Iraq policy.”
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Ready for war with Iran?
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:51 amThis is very intelligent on the part of Bush’s idiot handlers. They know that now we are vulnerable to attack because we have someone that is incompetent at the helm of our armed forces.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 amWhen will our congress forcibly remove these tools? And before martial law?
looks like the bush administration is taking betrayus’s “pay em not to shoot at us” strategy global.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 amAnyone here have any friends in Iran?
Better send them a plane ticket out – quickly.
Bush and Cheney have their chosen whipping boy in place, and they will – of COURSE – only do what “he” recommends.
Yeah, right.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 amCool. Petraeus will get 15 more pieces of flair on his coat.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 amif we pay foreigners to cease killing our troops, why dont we start paying foreigners to cease trying to illegally immigrate to our country as well? or is border jumping a worse offense against god than kiling?
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:54 amNot at all surprised.
TP, this is going to invite that mnf_iraq poster. Could you please take care of it?
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 amAnd why not? Iraq has proven to be the model of success, let’s migrate that model to Iran and then Syria. The world’s our oyster!
Then we can break the USA up into a bunch of disparate states, all broke on our asses from Bush’s Vendetta.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 amWe’ll be bombing Iran in less than 6 months, put some money on it…
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 amBA BA BA BA BOMB IRAN
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 amIt’s the end of the world as we know it… and I feel fine
NOT
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:01 amThis will make McCain very happy. By September we will be involved in 3 preemptive wars. Now Iran. And then the corporate-controlled media will constantly play up McCain as the best to deal with this.
But, of course, the Cheney created 9/11: The Sequel. So, the American Sheeple will agree to bomb Iranina women and children and other innocent victims of America’s hubris and hegemony.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 amI meant :
First up: The Cheney created 9/11: The Sequel.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:11 amThis news is very depressing. Petraeus seems like too much of a lackey to be competent enough to head anything up.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:14 amGen. Betrayus is just another henchman for Cheney is wild ride to loot the American people. Gas will be $5+ a gallon of gas, more people will lose their homes — in essence, the Great Depression of ‘08 but all the Gas Companies, all the private contractors (KBR, Bechtel, Blackwater etc.) are ripping off America while we sleep.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 amYou know, when my child lies, he is punished, not rewarded!
Guess BushCo sees things a bit differently. But then, what would you expect from pathological liars?
PEACE
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 amWill the dems get testy during the confirmation hearing, or will they play dead? (Rhetorical question?)
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 amYesm the October surprise is war with Iran to enhance McBain’s electoral chances. Vice President Face of Evil, Satan, Beelzebub has it all worked out.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:17 amBetrayus is just another ‘yes’ man for Cheney’s Great neoCON adventure. Beef up the military and screw the American people because we are paying for these private contractors. Blackwater can kill mercilessly but not accountable for their actions under any laws. Cheney and the rest of the neoCONS are ripping off the American people. Get ready for 9/11: the sequel.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:20 amPetraeus? CENTCOM Commander?
No one could have predicted!
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:20 amThe good news, research shows that ED can be cured by having David H. Petraeus appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Source: Lindsay Graham
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:20 amSo who will replace General Petraeus?
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 amAnother duck in place for the march into Iran.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 amOdierno is to replace Petraeus. Not a comforting thought.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 amHey mnf_iraq,
Is this good news for the troops?
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:28 amHow now, brown nose?
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:30 am#1 Ready for war with Iran?
Darth Cheney’s been ready since Watergate. Feeling bruised after Watergate he and the rest of the PNAC bunch decided to go on a shopping spree: the largest military budget ever in the world. Let’s just bomb the shit out of the Middle East. \\
Meanwhile, Katrina looks like Dresden. Gas will be $5 a gallon, more people will lose their homes and jobs.
God help us all.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:32 amobviously I meant New Orleans looks like Dresden. Im so angry : I”m typing too fast.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:34 am> ED
Electoral Dysfunction? I, Doctor Jesus, recommend hash and, for the straight edge, shock theraphy…
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:34 amRuh Roh. This is not good news kids.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:35 amPerhaps McCorpse has been trotted out as the Repunks’ candidate because there ain’t gonna be an election anyway.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:44 amClinton on an Iran Attack: ‘Obliterate Them’
Clinton further displayed tough talk in an interview airing on “Good Morning America” Tuesday. ABC News’ Chris Cuomo asked Clinton what she would do if Iran attacked Israel with nuclear weapons.
“I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the president, we will attack Iran,” Clinton said. “In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them.”
http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/Vote2008/story?id=4698059&page=1
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:50 amThis new and predictable promotion of course increases the chance of Bush and the necons attacking Iran because…because they are insane, really.
What to do?
Well, Congress can divert this looming lunacy by calling Petraeus to testify about how he “lost” or actually lost, hundreds of thousands of weapons and millions of dollars when he was commander of MFN-I.
At the risk of being an attention seeker, here’s a link ( at the end of this comment)to a post on my long neglected blog which tries to make sense out of the debacle of equipping the ISF so that they could “stand up” etc.
The upshot is that under Petraeus’ command over two years anywhere from approx. 190,000 (reported by the WashPo) to 297,000 (my calculation) were purchased for the Iraqi forces with US money and then WENT MISSING! Better yet, the ISF was already situatted to already have or recieve all the weapons they needed and would need BEFORE Petraues took over.
And ‘better’ still despite a total of 701,000 weapons purchased and supposedly distibuted to ISF and the Iraqi police (who combined would number just 350,000), Maliki just stuck a $100 million deal with the Chinese last year for…wait for it….provide the ISF and police with the weapons they apparently need ( using Iraqi money this time.
In other words there’s been massive fraud,massive incomptence or both under Petraeus command and he needs to be called to account. Now would be a very good time to brin Petraeus back from his present and near future “duties” of doing what the neocons say, and demand he account for his quite recent past professional ‘duties’ and incomptence. Doing so should mean he’ll be too busy defending himself to plan an attack on Iran.
here’s the link from August 2007 (the content is longish and a bit complicated, but take a peek):
http://at5thestate.blogspot.com/2007/08/guns-and-money.html
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:50 amFallon thought that the Iraq war was a dead end and a drain on resources, that the surge should brought to a quick and successful conclusion, and that the drawdowns should continue. But most important, Fallon argued at the highest level that Petraeus was just not going to get everything he wanted, according to individuals privy to the fights.
After reading more about Adm. William Fallon, the more I like him. I completely understand why he resigned. He knew what needed to be done and that is get out of Iraq. That conflicted with George’s plan; you are not allowed to disagree with Bush.
Petraeus is a kiss a** and a lackey. That is what we are left with. Someone who walked all over his boss and disregarded the chain of command. Only in the Bush Administration would that be admired and revered..
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 amIn other words there’s been massive fraud,massive incomptence or both under Petraeus command and he needs to be called to account. Now would be a very good time to brin Petraeus back from his present and near future “duties” of doing what the neocons say, and demand he account for his quite recent past professional ‘duties’ and incomptence. Doing so should mean he’ll be too busy defending himself to plan an attack on Iran.
Yes, he should be forced to account, but unless the Dems grow some balls, he’ll be confirmed.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 pmFrom an earlier TP article:
Great, we have a total failure as leader and “an ass-kissing little chickensh*t” leading the military. All we need is a Maj. T.J. “King” Kong to complete the incompetent bass-akwards plummet into WW3.
Whomever cast a vote for bush is automatically classified a vegetable.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:02 pmMary @ 32 re: Clinton and Iran…
I don’;t know who your are rooting-for (and don’t need to know, I just want a DEM to win in November) but I happen to prefer Clinton over Obama for many reasons.
This kind of crap however from Hillary makes me despair, and makes me angry.
If I screw my brain into knots I can choke out an argument that she’s pandering to the hawks and middle America and what not and dosen;t REALLY mean it, but the trouble is the words aren’t carefully chosen, they seem adamant.
She’s not in the same “class” as John McCain as I note a lot of OBamadem’s like to claim–in general that is— but this is one aspect of the candidates’ expressed outlook at least where I favour Obama. If that one issue persuades anyone, caucus voter or superdelegate, to side with Obama rather than Clinton. I’d call that a rational and smart choice.
Just mu view, not worth “threading” really, just wanted to put that out there.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 pmListen to former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter on the Stephanie Miller radio program on Monday. It seems like Bush is planning on attacking Iran no matter what. Appointing his yes-man over CentCom just reinforces what Scott says.
http://www.stephaniemiller.com/files/mp3/2008_0422_ritter.mp3
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pmRitter has been right too many times — he deserves to be heard as he warns us where the nation is headed.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:20 pmI heard his interview yesterday. Check it out, people.
In the words of Samuel L. Jackson: Hold onto your butts.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:29 pm5th Estate #37:
It wrecks me that I cannot find the enthusiasm to support Hillary. Someday, before I die, I hope there’s a female candidate I can fully support. I’m hoping for Obama at this point, if only because he seems the least hawkish of the remaining three candidates, and the most trustworthy (not that I really trust any of them). I really, really, really don’t want us to end up attacking Iran. I think it’d be a huge mistake.
I can kind of understand why she, Hillary, feels the need to appear all tough, but, I hate it. At this point the truly “tough” route is going AGAINST all of the aggressive, saber-rattling that’s been going on for 8 years.
And, btw, if it’s your view I’m always glad to read it!
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:48 pm#37 5th Estate Says:
She’s not in the same “class” as John McCain as I note a lot of OBamadem’s like to claim–in general that is— but this is one aspect of the candidates’ expressed outlook at least where I favour Obama. If that one issue persuades anyone, caucus voter or superdelegate, to side with Obama rather than Clinton. I’d call that a rational and smart choice.
Just mu view, not worth “threading” really, just wanted to put that out there.
I really wanted to believe in her because of Bill. But there have been too many instant’s like this (what Mary posted), that killed it for me. It seemed like everytime she opened her mouth she made matters worse. The lying was the icing on the cake. But, in my case, I didn’t want either one. I wanted Kucinich, he is awesome and the media completely ignored him. If you check his voting record and what he has done in my state you would truly be impressed. The media calls him very liberal. They don’t like him at all…
Have a great day …5th Estate!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:56 pmGee. *What* a surprise. Nice of them to promote their trained monkey like that.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:07 pmJust another YES MAN for Bush to tell him what he wants to hear.So now the chimp has all the pieces of the puzzle for the bombing of IRAN and sink this country further into oblivion.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:13 pmresponse to Mary #41
“It wrecks me that I cannot find the enthusiasm to support Hillary”
Ironic LOL (on my part)! My support of Hillary has been based on calculation, not enthusiasm–I sure don’t have a crush on her but some do. Emotional appeal is an important and unavoidable factor, not to be underestmated or denigrated by anyone.
“I can kind of understand why she, Hillary, feels the need to appear all tough…”
I understand that too, but though I’d prefer to think she’s motivated to “appear tough” she’s either overdoing it ( poor political judgment) or she really is that hawkish. The former undermines the “experience” argument, the latter undermines the “representatice” argument (of public opinion and need).
It’s all quite extraordinary.Bring on the Conference and bring on the election! The owrst of Obama or Clinton is still bound to be a thousand times better than the GOP option and hopefully the energized and clearly majority Democrat voters will maintain their curent interest and force the professional politicains to pay attention to the public.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:16 pmDespite working for the devil, I think Petraeus is one of the good guys. He must really have to hold his nose every time he has any contact with the Bush White House, just like Colin Powell did.
http://newsprism.wordpress.com
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pmresponse to Freedom Rebel @ 42
So much for my “not worth threading” protestation! :D
Rather facetiously I have to say that Kucinich didn’t have the height or the hair to succeed, and no matter how smart ( and incidentally attractive) a Democratic candidate’s wife is, it doesn’t seem to help (whereas Republican idiot stepford-wives are a positive boon to electablity, apparently).
Edwards was too goddamm cute to order the invasion of a country and be taken seriously(in the general scheme of things you understand–not my opinion).
The DEPTH of the opening 2008 Democrat field when all this began was extraodinary–a far-cry from 2004. I’ve no idead, had i the powere, how to resolve Obama and Clinton, but Edwards and Kucinich IMHO would do us all proud in domestic cabinet posts–Edwards as VP perhaps, Kucinich at Interior?
Clinton or Obama. I;ve no idea how either of them view Kucinich, but IMHO they should empower him in some way–he’s got the heart and the intellect to motivate people and to initiate and execute smart and necessary policies.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:44 pmAnyone have an attic apartment in Canada or Sweden I could rent out. Hell, I’ll even negotiate for a mobile home.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:05 pmThank you again Pelosi, for doing nothing about bushbaby and his gang of criminals.
Think it’s ugly now? I’m afraid you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Great Depression 2, it’s coming!!
take care
tony and Lido
Bentley1, i’m in Canada and quite frankly at this point i’m quite glad i’m here. Our dear leader Mr. Harper has his own issues though. So i believe that if the US heads into Iran, Canada, along with the UK, Germany and France will join them. Russia and China will back the Iranians. Anyone else see a familiar patter with previous world wars?
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm