tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post3456962108250079167..comments2024-03-26T05:18:53.709-04:00Comments on Pen and Sword: Long Live the War CzarJeff Huberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-66994343256139380792007-05-22T01:15:00.000-04:002007-05-22T01:15:00.000-04:00US President Tim Kalemkarian, US Senate Tim Kalemk...US President Tim Kalemkarian, US Senate Tim Kalemkarian, US House Tim Kalemkarian: best major candidate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-15713015951528700512007-05-20T00:34:00.000-04:002007-05-20T00:34:00.000-04:00"One has to wonder: if Lute understands war and go..."One has to wonder: if Lute understands war and government and knows how to get things done, what's he still doing in the Bush administration?"<BR/>*********************<BR/>He shoots... He scores...TexasFredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06412925337032937983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-71456266731261466402007-05-19T19:13:00.000-04:002007-05-19T19:13:00.000-04:00Good observations, Morinao. Thanks for posting, B...Good observations, Morinao. Thanks for posting, <BR/><BR/>Best, <BR/><BR/>JeffJeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1345733412358631732007-05-19T19:04:00.000-04:002007-05-19T19:04:00.000-04:00I don't buy that the war czar was invented by the ...I don't buy that the war czar was invented by the sane military establishment to register disapproval; if Gates et al have to appoint a flunky to deliver their nasty notes to the President rather than confronting him face to face, they don't have the spine to resign.<BR/><BR/>No, I think the war czar was invented by Cheney et al as part of their eternal bureaucratic turf war with the State Department. They've always griped about the diplomats dragging their feet; now they finally have a channel through which Defense can control State directly. I'm sure that's what Hadley envisions; currently he's the one relaying orders from Defense to State via his White House office and he'd like to offload that chore.<BR/><BR/>Possibly Cheney et al had more grandiose ambitions for the war czar, as evidenced by the timing. In February, a ploy to rattle sabers at Iran is shot down by Admiral Fallon, whose job as the new CENTCOM is to supervise the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In March, the administration starts trying to hire a general whose job as the new war czar is to supervise the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In April, five retired four-stars decline the job. And in May, the job is filled by a three-star whose low rank and active duty status preclude him from exercising any significant authority in the Defense Department, but not in the State Department.<BR/><BR/>So a win over State, but not over CENTCOM.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-38421806043677108242007-05-18T00:26:00.000-04:002007-05-18T00:26:00.000-04:00I have no personal knowledge as to the either char...I have no personal knowledge as to the either character or the competency of Gen. Lute -- and in such cases, I start by giving that person the benefit of the doubt. <BR/><BR/>I will say though, that I have 6 years of experience with the Bush administration. And I know that real power with these people is held in a very, very small circle. The worker bees in this administration are often given titles but are rarely granted the authority to perform the job their title suggests. <BR/><BR/>For example, Alberto Gonzales is Attorney General in name only. In fact, he remains counsel to the president and nothing more. It is crystal clear that as Attorney General, Mr. Gonzales wields no real power. His strings are being pulled -- 100% -- by those above him. He was named to the position of Attorney General not because he is well qualified and dedicated to serving the people but because he grovels to pleasure the president.<BR/><BR/>This administration has demonstrated time and time again that loyalty is value far more than competency. I have a very hard time believing, regardless of whatever fine qualifications and chgaacter General Lute has, that he will be granted the real power and authority to do the job he has been tasked with performing. Could I be wrong? Of course. But if I was a betting person, I'd bet on this being just one more giant CF from the gang that can't shoot straight. No slight of General Lute is intended.<BR/><BR/>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-29729647759849015472007-05-17T16:19:00.000-04:002007-05-17T16:19:00.000-04:00Thanks again for your insight and and analysis, I ...Thanks again for your insight and and analysis, I seem to put off to often my expression of gratitude for your sharing your thoughts and experiences. I truly do hope this slant may be true also, but, its getting difficult not to lose heart at this point in time. I am not a religious person but , i find myself praying for our future and our children' future. <BR/><BR/>alexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-47579455522489608012007-05-16T19:13:00.000-04:002007-05-16T19:13:00.000-04:00MME, I hope I am too.MME, <BR/><BR/>I hope I am too.Jeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-71482025030014274182007-05-16T17:56:00.000-04:002007-05-16T17:56:00.000-04:00I really hope that you are right on this one.MeMys...I really hope that you are right on this one.<BR/><BR/>MeMyselfEyeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com