Source: Petraeus Leaked Misleading Story on Pullout Plans

[Botany]

Source: Inter Press Service

Source: Petraeus Leaked Misleading Story on Pullout Plans
Monday 09 February 2009
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by: Gareth Porter, Inter Press Service


Washington - The political maneuvering between President Barack Obama and his top field commanders over withdrawal from Iraq has taken a sudden new turn with the leak by CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus - and a firm denial by a White House official - of an account of the Jan. 21 White House meeting suggesting that Obama had requested three different combat troop withdrawal plans with their respective associated risks, including one of 23 months.

The Petraeus account, reported by McClatchy newspapers Feb. 5 and then by the Associated Press the following day, appears to indicate that Obama is moving away from the 16-month plan he had vowed during the campaign to implement if elected. But on closer examination, it doesn't necessarily refer to any action by Obama or to anything that happened at the Jan. 21 meeting.

The real story of the leak by Petraeus is that the most powerful figure in the U.S. military has tried to shape the media coverage of Obama and combat troop withdrawal from Iraq to advance his policy agenda - and, very likely, his personal political interests as well.

This writer became aware of Petraeus's effort to influence the coverage of Obama's unfolding policy on troop withdrawal when a military source close to the general, who insisted on anonymity, offered the Petraeus account on Feb. 4. The military officer was responding to the IPS story 'Generals Seek to Reverse Obama Withdrawal Decision' published two days earlier .

Read more: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45720

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Why does he still have a job? Chain of command anybody?

[randr]

1. Me thinks the general has grown used to a weak minded leader.

[Botany]

2. Me thinks that Gates is going to fire his ass.

His career in the military is over.

Sandbagging the Commander in Chief is a bad career move.

[randr]

3. Last night on The Daily Show

John had a guest with some surprising details of our generals attitude about command protocol. Seems he completely kept the bushman out of the loop.
Hope to see it again so I can order the dudes book.

[starroute]

10. Thomas Ricks, author of "Fiasco" and "The Gamble"

http://www.amazon.com/Fiasco-American-Military-Adventure-Iraq/dp/0143038915/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234371597&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Gamble-Petraeus-American-Adventure-2006-2008/dp/1594201978/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234371664&sr=1-1

[randr]

14. Thanks

His name and book had slipped my mind.

[bluestateguy]

4. You've got a bunch of neo-cons still in the Pentagon

Ironically because of civil service rules, originally meant to take the sticky fingers OUT of politics.

The Jacksonian Democrats of the 1830's understood that patronage, for all of it's faults, was the best way to ensure that the people staffing the government would be loyal to the democratically elected people who put them in office.

[Javaman]

5. a mini macarthur in the making. nt

[47of74]

6. There needs to be some firings

[williesgirl]

7. This traitor should be fired immediately, with no pension. rec'd

[Chulanowa]

8. He's so vain, he thinks this war is about him, don't he?

Seriously, once generals see their name in the papers a few times, they start thinking they're star athletes trying to land a picture on a "Wheaties" box.

[spanone]

9. petraeus needs to be reminded who his cic is....

[kentuck]

11. He thinks he's General MacArthur?

He must have forgotten about what Truman did?

He has given President Obama a great opportunity to show his authority and the civilian authority over the military. It would be a great lesson at this time. He should bring him on the carpet for a good chewing out and if he cannot get with the program, he should be fired or asked to resign.

[Winterblues]

12. I think there is a desk job in Washington suited perfectly for this guy.

:shrug: I think Obama is sometimes too acquiescent

[DCKit]

13. Once again, BetrayUS lives up to his moniker.

Just think of all the fine gubmint jobs that will be available after a thorough house cleaning of the Pentagram, departments and alphabet agencies.