Pentagon Weighs Top Iraq General as Chief of NATO (Petraeus)

[ursi]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is considering Gen. David H. Petraeus for the top NATO command later this year, a move that would give the general, the top American commander in Iraq, a high-level post during the next administration but that has raised concerns about the practice of rotating war commanders.

A senior Pentagon official said that it was weighing “a next assignment for Petraeus” and that the NATO post was a possibility. “He deserves one and that has also always been a highly prestigious position,” the official said. “So he is a candidate for that job, but there have been no final decisions and nothing on the timing.”

The question of General Petraeus’s future comes as the Pentagon is looking at changing several top-level assignments this year. President Bush has been an enthusiastic supporter of General Petraeus, whom he has credited with overseeing a troop increase and counterinsurgency plan credited with reducing the sectarian violence in Iraq, and some officials say the president would want to keep General Petraeus in Iraq as long as possible.

In one approach under discussion, General Petraeus would be nominated and confirmed for the NATO post before the end of September, when Congress is expected to break for the presidential election. He might stay in Iraq for some time after that before moving to the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, but would take his post before a new president takes office.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/washington/21military.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[Diclotican]

1. ursi

ursi

I hope that this man never get the top job in NATO.. Never.. I know by tradition the Supreme leader in Europe, NATO would be an american, but serious, cant US and Pentagon find someone with more creditably than this man?..Even former Sec of State Collin Powell would to a much better job, and be better qualified for the job..

And more to the point, he would at last manage to LISTEN TO THE ALLIED FORCES IN EUROPE, and just not do the bidding of a president.. Mr Petaus are maybe a good soldier, but you have to ha diplomatic skills to serve as the top commander in NATO.. And I seriously doubt that mr P would be that a man.. Not after the Iraq war, where he was given to much prove for his "less than stellar" work...

Sorry, I might offend many american soldiers here, but you must find a senior general, who can more than given lip service to the american President. You need a soldier, and a officer who KNOW how to handle more than 26 member of a alliance, and to work with the alliance, not against it.. And the alliance may get other members too... And it Will take some time to get the other member up to speed, specially the eastern part of the Alliance...

But then, I am just a little member of a alliance who once in the times, was standing for defending against the russian "treat": After 1991 NATO just was not as they used to be, and they have just worked hard to become something new... And I doubt they really have worked that out either..

But US must remember one thing. NATO is NOT A TOOL IN YOUR TOOL SHADE when it come to military conflict. Europe have some other interest than US have, and even we do are in Afghanistan, where we are trying to help the afghan government build up some thing, we are not a tool US can wake up,when needed... and then tell "hey want you not here anymore":. Or as mr Rumsfeld once was called us. "the old europe, the irrelevant europe":. Good grief what a stupid man..

Diclotcan

Sorry my bad English, not my native language

[ursi]

4. Diclotcan, I totally agree with you and appreciate your serious concern

..and your English is quite well.

Petraeus represents all that is evil with the current administration in the United States. And this appointment must not come to fruition. But look how slick Bush and Cheney are with the timing of this appointment. One can only hope that there can be some intervention to prevent this but we haven't had the leadership we need in this country to stop anything wrong that has happened with our mistakes in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else that these creeps have forced our presence.

And NATO, yes, that is another story.

Peace, my friend.

[Diclotican]

6. ursi

ursi

I just hope that in a years time the nightmare who have been the Bush jr administration is over, and that LAW of the land once again is the Hallmark of how US are doing business.. Even that I might disagree with the US in many cases, the worst is over,and it is just the last straw of a administration who are desperately to get "someone" in the NATO headquarters for some year to come. They sees to believe that the neo-con policy Will be followed for a long time to come in the world affair..

I do believe that the NATO alliance have something to say about the supreme leader in NATO?.. If 25 nations say no to the new leader, US cant just say "take him, or leave it" either.. US need The NATO alliance, and the NATO alliance need US... But if US doesn't want to be a member of the alliance, then the alliance is dead.. more than 60 year after its founding...

Or, it Will be a very european alliance, when US are out of the picture..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad English, not my native language

[BearSquirrel2]

2. Translation ...

Translation ...

Every former Iraq commander has trashed the Bush administration for not letting them do their job. If we promote Patreaus instead of retiring him, he'll still be under the uniform code and he'll be incapable of bad mouthing Bush.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Let's see how many Democrats will vote to confirm this moron!

I have no faith whatsoever in the Pelosi/Reed Congress!

[tabasco]

5. Yes, we need to completely destroy whatever goodwill remains with Europe

by putting a Bush ass-kisser and proven liar as head of NATO.

I think Betrayus would do as well as Bolton at the UN.