Bush/WH sics an active US Gen (in Iraq) on Senator Warner:

[rodeodance]

> http://www.belgraviadispatch.com/
September 06, 2007
The Coming Iraq Extravaganza on The Hill

Bruce Ackerman, writing recently in the FT:

President George W. Bush’s campaign to stay the course in Iraq is taking a new and constitutionally dangerous turn. When Senator John Warner recently called for a troop withdrawal by Christmas, the White House did not mount its usual counterattack. It allowed a surprising champion to take its place. Major General Rick Lynch, a field commander in Iraq, summoned reporters to condemn Mr Warner’s proposal as “a giant step backwards”.

It was Maj Gen Lynch who was making the giant step into forbidden territory. He had no business engaging in a public debate with a US senator. His remarks represent an assault on the principle of civilian control – the most blatant so far during the Iraq war.

Nobody remarked on the breach. But this only makes it more troubling and should serve as prologue for the next large event in civilian-military relations: the president’s effort to manipulate General David Petraeus’s report to Congress.

Mr Bush has pushed Gen Petraeus into the foreground to shore up his badly damaged credibility. But in doing so, he has made himself a hostage. He needs the general more than the general needs him. Despite the president’s grandiose pretensions as commander-in-chief, the future of the Iraq war is up to Gen Petraeus............

[TwilightGardener]

1. This is absolutely, insanely inappropriate and dangerous--

Military cannot dictate policy. Military does NOT tell Congress what to do--it is CONGRESS that sets war policy, the military IMPLEMENTS it. A major line has been crossed here--where is the outcry? Is thsi what Petraeus has been groomed to do--to bully Congress? Unbelievable--thanks for posting this.

[Mountainman]

2. Truman fired Mac Arthur for that I think.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. DING, DING, DING

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I wonder is Warner retiring because

he is eighty or was he pressured?

Enquiring minds want to know...

[SalmonChantedEvening]

5. Hope like hell there are 2 Petraeus reports

Bremer memo to the nth power.