Brilliant Brilliant political move today

[oviedodem]

Yes I know the war should end now but lets look at reality for a minute.

1. By promoting Petraeus Republicans are TOTALLY nullified as it is one of their lord and saviors taking over.

2. IF Petraeus is able to somehow bring Afghanistan under control and we leave in 2011; Obama wins

3. IF #2 does happen, repubs cannot even bring up national security in 2012

4. Petraeus will NOT able to run (I know he said he won't) because he will be linked to OBama's war strategy and since it is in his best interest to be successful he will try his hardest thus making Obama look good in 2012 if #2 happens.


I could be completely wrong but initially this is good politics

[Jennicut]

1. Oh, neutralizing Petraeus is very smart in my opinion.

[ClarkUSA]

2. You're right. Checkmate again by Team Obama.

Republicans have had their lips sewn shut.

[kjackson227]

3. Even though the president wasn't playing "politics" today, yes it was a good move.

[oviedodem]

32. I firmly believe EVERY decision a president makes contains some shred of politics

[kjackson227]

44. ...

;-)

[CTyankee]

47. That was the genius of it! His remarks were spot on. Very firm, very authentic.

Our Prez doesn't screw around. I like the way he had McChrystal in and out in a hurry and then literally moved on to the Rose Garden with General Petraeus. Done and done. Boxes checked. Clean and efficient.

[volvoblue]

4. Obama did the ultimate STFU of the press and gop.

You saw how drolling Andrea mitchell and Matthews was over this.
and it will keep the press off his back on this front at least.

the gop will confirm him and no games.

[Mz Pip]

6. The GOP is not likely

to trash one of its own, that's for sure.

Game, Set, Match.

[vaberella]

20. Basically..when I came on and saw that decision...I said well then that was over quick. n/t

[doc03]

5. Yes but my guess is McCrystal will be on Faux trashing

the Administration for the next couple years.

[impik]

10. Nope, he won't.

He'll be very very quiet for a long time.

[Ikonoklast]

11. Let him do so, and sully what is left of his reputation.

He belongs there, as lying seems to be his strong suit.

[doc03]

It sure worked out for Ollie North, he will be a national

hero to the right.

[Ikonoklast]

37. Okay.

They can have him.

[Spazito]

12. Given he was turfed, it will be taken by all but the most extreme of the right wingers as...

whiny sour grapes by a loser. I hope Faux DOES hire him as another of the irrelevant former/turfed 'experts'.

[vaberella]

21. Because of Petraeus---Obama has given himself an innoculatin against criticism on this. n/t

[impik]

7. Also: Petraeus, it pains me to say, is good at his job

[Whisp]

8. wasn't Petraeus in that position before? sorry

I'm not up on this at all.

what post did Patraeus have that this is a promotion for him?

ty in advance

I want to know this for when husband asks me about it later today

[nsd]

13. Petraeus is actually stepping down one level to take this job.

He's head of US Central Command, responsible for both Iraq and Afghanistan. McChrystal reported to him.

[Whisp]

14. ty! n/t

[Inuca]

18. Is he actually leaving CentCom?

I am at work, so cannot follow that well. I listened to the announcement but there was conversation going on in the office so I may have missed some. Did Obama say that he will leave his current post? Can't he have both?

[monmouth]

9. Petraeus is a great choice, continuity for the troops and their morale

should be utmost in importance. Petraeus knows what he's doing. I'm a happy camper. Did you guys hear Joe Lieberman??? Wow, said the President was smart, decisive and made absolutely the right decision. Thought he was gonna run to hug and kiss him...LOL.

[CTyankee]

50. I agree with you but don't talk to me about Joe Lieberman giving hugs.

He's a traitor to this admin. so while I'm glad he offered his praise, I really don't want to hear from HIM. I just want him to go away and be quiet...thanks for the praise for Obama, no thanks to you for your efforts for McPalin, you treasonous bastard...

[zipplewrath]

15. And if he doesn't bring it under control?

He is now in the position of being able to sell the idea that "Obama stopped him".

It's not going to go well.

How does that change your political views on this?

[vaberella]

22. I don't know what you mean.

Petraeus went to the committee just last week and stood by the timeline Obama proposed and said in no uncertain terms that it's over. If it works then we'll send in more servicemen and hope NATO forces work for nation building. However, we're drawing down military soldiers in 2011 and if it doesn't change we're still leaving 2011.

[zipplewrath]

25. Because drawing down and leaving are two different things

And he can claim that we drew down too fast. There is a timeline for starting, the time for being gone is far more flexible, on paper. We are all pretty sure Obama wants it done by the end of 2011, or early 2012 so he doesn't have to run on it. But Petraeus isn't constrained by that and can advocate for a much slower draw down, or a pause, or a secondary surge in the middle, or any other kind of variation. His support of the the timeline was VERY weak.

[vaberella]

33. Yes they are, but drawing down is to lead to leaving...which is what O said.

But he wants responsible withdrawal for both. I agree on Petraeus, but as I said in another post. I hope he stands by his word.

[zipplewrath]

36. Leaving how soon?

If it's not done by 2016, it may never be done.

[vaberella]

42. That's a valid point.

I remember for the Iraq situation, people are saying that's the fastest withdrawal they have seen, basically some troops were sent in to help troops take down a lot of what was up before and also help with the final details. So Iraq is almost done and getting together. With Afghanistan that's one we have to wait on...you give it more time than I did, at 2013.

[oviedodem]

23. There is the rub UNLESS Petraeus comes out soon and says that

he is revising the strategy to fit, effectively putting his name on it.

At the end of the day, I do think that the US will leave in 2011 no matter what. Remember that the strategy is to get out, I guarantee that "get out" would not be in the vernacular is say McCain was prez.

[Inuca]

16. Agree, stroke of genius

and though I am sure many here will disagree and there was a time when I would not have believed myslef that I will say such a thing, I must add "Thank you, Gen. Petraeus". He did not have to say yes, but he did, and helped evrybody by doing so.

[grantcart]

17. Yep all that's left for the Republicans is to apologize to McChrystal.

[CTyankee]

48. Good one! Altho, I don't think we'll be hearing too much out of their pie holes soon.

[vaberella]

19. And publicly at the Senate committee hearings Petraeus stood by Obama's timeline.

I don't like the guy like the next person. But he stood by it and I think we can expect an exit out of Afghanistan now.

[oviedodem]

24. In addition he is the one person that does NOT get railed on by Republicans

[Phx_Dem]

26. I don't think politics played a part in his decision, but you're right

it was a great political move nonetheless.

[Spazito]

27. It was brilliant all the way around, politically, strategically....

and, simply put, the right thing to do.

I was pretty sure he would accept McCrystal's resignation and I was pretty sure McCrystal would submit one, not because he isn't an arrogant asshole, because he would have been told by Gates,etc, the ramifications to him if he did not.

Appointing Petraeus to replace McCrystal was nowhere on my radar at all but, damn, it is brilliant. repubs cannot do anything but praise Obama on his choice of replacement, it kills the "Petraeus in 2012" crap and, as was stated elsewhere, Petraeus would already be 'up to snuff' and can step in seamlessly.

Obama's gracious acknowledgment of McCrystal's 30 years of service was genuine I have no doubt but being gracious also has the bonus of taking away any whining by the right that the President 'dissed' a 30 year service member. Having acknowledged McCrystal's 30 years of service, he went on to make it crystal clear why McCrystal had to go.

[Arkana]

28. Petraeus isn't going to run anyway...he's not wingnutty enough for the wingnuts

and I don't think he has the desire to be President.

[spoony]

29. Some of you act like war is a fucking game.

Why should decisions about war be about "brilliant political moves"? It's sickening that while people are being maimed and killed, all some DUers give a shit about is how Obama looks to voters.

[oviedodem]

31. I agree with you but the reality is that at least with a democratic (supposed one) there is a

chance that it will end.

A republican.... not so much.

To that end, politically good means that if it gets them out now or gets a democratic elected in 2012 to get them out so be it.

[yeswecanandwedid]

30. Forgive me but...

If this is such a smart move, why wasn't Petraeus put in this position in the first place vs. them choosing McCrystal? Sorry for being out of the loop here if this seems like a silly question.

[vaberella]

34. he was in charge of Iraq and was on a higher level.

He basically took a down grade for this position. And the Iraq thing is dying down relatively and troops are already in the process of leaving.

[yeswecanandwedid]

38. Seems like a stud move, even though it'a downgrade, he stepped up. nt

[vaberella]

41. Yeah. I believe Petraeus was part of Center Command.

Kind of like the guys who oversea what's going on in both areas of war and who later report to the President along with the head guys on the field.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

35. Because McChrystal didn't fuck up in the first place with the RS interview.

[tekisui]

39. 1 is the only one that applies.

They won't be very critical of the McChrystal leaving with Petraeus coming on. 2 won't happen. There is no way the troops are out of Afghanistan by the end of 2012.

[JVS]

40. "I could be completely wrong"

[Aramchek]

43. Obama practices Judo. He uses an Opponents momnetum against them.

McChrystal and his supporters are left dazed on the mat.

[autorank]

45. The deal is already done - this is a manifestation

There sure seems to be a grand bargain for us to back out of Central and South Asia as warriors and
play by the rules. Obama met with Medvedev about a month ago and acknowledged that the "stans" and
that general area are within the Russian sphere of influence. That was a major move and not recognized
for it's significance. We're aligning and supporting Pakistan in return for real efforts on their
western border. They'd have no problem going into Afghanistan to finish the job, at least in their
sphere. AND we're not pushing for the Ukraine to join NATO.

All of these are mature, sophisticated moves worthy of an intelligent foreign policy.

The Afghanistan war is over. Petreus is there to make sure there is no blood bath and to
assure as good a transition as possible.

[mike_c]

46. what a fucked up world it is when a tool like Petraeus has a "silver lining...."

Sorry, I can't see anything good about this. Nothing.

[whatchamacallit]

49. Yep. (nt)

[sabrina 1]

51. I wish we had some of the ordinary people of Afghanistan

posting in these threads. I wonder what they would say, how much they would care who in this far off Empire that has caused so much death to their people, 'made a great political move' or didn't.

Today, I'm sure all they would be worried about was the statement from the leader of the occupying Empire, that things are going to get a whole worse for them 'before they get better'. What that means to the poor people of Afghanistan, is that more of their loved ones are about to die!

Sorry to spoil the party, but someone has to remember that when an Empire plays chess, the better they play it at home, the worse it is for the people whose countries they are invading.