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An Afghan Surge - In Waste And Corruption
Newshoggers.com —
... hands of Kurdish terrorists in Turkey, and Petraeus' aide is believed to be involved in at least some of that trafficking. During the same period, half of the entire Iraqi defense budget for a year was stolen. We already know from previous reports that the Bush administration turned a willing blind eye to much of this corruption and if you believe a Lt.Colonel is as high as the baksheeh rose then you're smoking the good stuff in your hookah.
No wonder the generals are plotting to slow down any Iraq withdrawal while advocating escalation in ...
An Afghan Surge - In Waste And Corruption
Crooks and Liars —
... Kurdish terrorists in Turkey, and Petraeus' aide is believed to be involved in at least some of that trafficking. During the same period, half of the entire Iraqi defense budget for a year was stolen. We already know from previous reports that the Bush administration turned a willing blind eye to much of this corruption and if you believe a Lt.Colonel is as high as the baksheeh rose then you're smoking the good stuff in your hookah.
No wonder the generals are plotting to slow down any Iraq withdrawal while advocating escalation ...
That Chain Of Command Thing
Balloon Juice —
... Charming report out of a source I have never heard of before, so I have no clue about the validity of the story (and doubt it is true, as what is being suggested is pretty insane), and readers should beware: ...
Novice In Chief
Jules Crittenden —
... Reportedly opts to ignore his generals. IPS : WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (IPS) - CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus, supported by Defence Secretary Robert Gates, tried to convince President Barack Obama that he had to back down from his campaign pledge to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months at an Oval Office meeting Jan. 21. But Obama informed Gates, Petraeus and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen that he wasn’t convinced and that he wanted Gates and the military leaders to come back quickly with a detailed 16-month plan, according to two sources who have ...
Service Time Is Lonely
Whiskey Fire —
... Here is a report from Gareth Porter about how Top Military Figures do not like Obama's commitment to remove troops from Iraq in 16 months, and are planning to strike back against the Commander in Chief: ...
Grim Milestone: US Casualties in Iraq Continue to Mount*
The Jawa Report —
... , the lowest number since the invasion. Patreaus, the hero. But how does his Obama respond? By ignoring Patraeus' request that he back away from the 16 month timetable. *By definition, even a single casualty causes the total number to rise. While technically true, it's also totally misleading. It's one of the many tricks the MSM has been using since the beginning of the war. By Rusty at February 3, 2009 10:58 AM | | l ...
Salt Shaker, Please
Comments from Left Field —
... I’m sorry, but this story from the Inter-Press Service (the what?) stinks like three-day-old fish left out on the counter in the middle of July: ...
Note to General Odierno - You Have a New Commander in Chief
Firedoglake —
Remember our pal General Odierno, you know – the fellow who told everyone about his great plan to get around the just signed SOFA requirements to withdraw US forces to bases in Iraq by simply renaming them?
Well it looks like he’s been talking again.
Gareth Porter writes in his important story at IPS: ...
The Generals' Hagiographer Helps Iraq Withdrawal Pushback
Newshoggers.com —
... Faced with Obama's intention to withdraw the bulk of US troops and keep the remainder out of direct combat, there's a strong pushback from within the military and pro-war conservative groups. That pushback is centered around Gen. Keane - military and then political patron to both Petraeus and Odierno - who has assembled a cadre of serving and retired generals to work alongside neocon think-tankers in a PR campaign designed to weaken Obama's resolve. The point man is General Odierno, who may not even realise he's potentially a sacrifice - with Obama forced to ...
Tom Ricks and the Neocons
At-Largely —
... discussed how Pentagon propaganda operations represent the confluence of Big Oil, Big War, Big Bucks, Big Brother and the Big Schmooze in the new American century. Part IV examines how General David Petraeus and his followers are waging unrestricted information warfare on President Barack Obama’s foreign policy mandate. Pentagon correspondent Thomas E. Ricks has become the center of gravity in the U.S. military’s information war on the American public. On February 2, policy analyst Gareth Porter reported that General David Petreus, General Ray Odierno, retired Army general ...
General Petraeus Springs A Leak
Firedoglake —
... Porter reports that “a military source close to the general, who insisted on anonymity” contacted him after his report 'Generals Seek to Reverse Obama Withdrawal Decision’ was published – and that source pitched the account of the January 21 meeting that was picked up in the weekend press: ...
Tell Me Now if You Want Me to Stay, It Don't Matter, 'Cause I'd Stay Here Anyway
Obsidian Wings —
... and Petraeus have been waging a rather unseemly media battle against the ostensible Commander in Chief over the future of US policy vis-a-vis Iraq. In Ricks' book, and subsequently, he echoes the Odierno/Petraeus line that we need to maintain 30-40,000 troops in Iraq until at least 2015, and that we can't risk pulling out sooner. Sullivan, for his part, seems resigned to this timeline - and its extension indefinitely into the future - despite the "drain on our wallets." ...
Tell Me Now if You Want Me to Stay, It Don't Matter, 'Cause I'd Stay Here Anyway
Newshoggers.com —
... and Petraeus have been waging a rather unseemly media battle against the ostensible Commander in Chief over the future of US policy vis-a-vis Iraq. In Ricks' book, and subsequently, heechoes the Odierno/Petraeus line that we need to maintain 30-40,000 troops in Iraq until at least 2015, and that we can't risk pulling out sooner. Sullivan, for his part, seems resigned to this timeline - and its extension indefinitely into the future - despite the "drain on our wallets." ...
Half A Withdrawal Is Better Than None
Newshoggers.com —
... and Petraeus have been waging a rather unseemly media battle against the ostensible Commander in Chief over the future of US policy vis-a-vis Iraq. In Ricks' book, and subsequently, he echoes the Odierno/Petraeus line that we need to maintain 30-40,000 troops in Iraq until at least 2015, and that we can't risk pulling out sooner. Sullivan, for his part, seems resigned to this timeline - and its extension indefinitely into the future - despite the "drain on our wallets." ...
(F-Bomb) Iraq, Or Lie?
Jules Crittenden —
... : All combat troops out in 18 months. Earlier reporting on deep opposition by military commanders suggested the possibility of a face-saving fudge factor … not refering to combat troops as combat troops, but keeping them on hand, so Obama could have his withdrawal and the Iraqis wouldn’t have to eat it, too. And the fact is, no matter what kind of troops are left in Iraq after August 2010, if Iraq doesn’t happen to be operating on Obama’s schedule by then, they’ll be combat troops before they’re out of there. And the progress the Dems insisted on … Previously: ...
