[STARWISE]

PING

[NutCrackerBoy]

I think the strategy before was a holding pattern waiting for several things to coalesce:
a. wait for Iraqi government to pull together, since it must for its very survival
b. keep training Iraqis --- let them sink or swim in the task of fending off terrorists
c. challenge the USA armed forces to work better in war zones with fewer troops

What the main enemies in Iraq are doing is just scorched earth. Make the place hell. If someone really wants to do that, how do you stop them? I think we were running a football "prevent defense" and that gives the terrorists too much running room to destabilize areas.

[dakine]

"...wants to replace Abizaid with Adm. William Fallon, the top U.S. commander in the Pacific"

Thus far, the rotation has been between the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army. Personnel recommended for the position are selected by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, interviewed by the Secretary of Defense, nominated by the President, and approved by the Senate.

Interesting, going the Navy route...

[Red6]

This is exactly what I said would happen! :)

What is normal is reported as a shake up because it coincidentally corresponds to a Congressional election.

Hint- Every year there is a "shake up" in the DoD. On average, one can expect that 1/3 of the crew is swapped out and moves away or into new positions, retires..... It's just normal.

Centcom Commanders and their times in office since its inception:

Robert C. Kingston January 1, 1983 November 27, 1985
George B. Crist November 27, 1985 November 23, 1988
H. Norman Schwarzkopf November 23, 1988 August 9, 1991
Joseph P. Hoar August 9, 1991 August 5, 1994
J.H. Binford Peay III August 5, 1994 August 13, 1997
Anthony Zinni August 13, 1997 July 6, 2000
Tommy Franks July 6, 2000 July 7, 2003
John Abizaid July 7, 2003 present

The average time a commander sits in a post like this is not 6 years! Abizaids' tenure was near TWICE the average time.

This is stupid news. News were correlations are made that do not exist, but just coincide with another event in time. I'm going out on a limb here (Not really)! In 1-2 years the division commander for 1AD will be replaced. Dempsey in Iraq will move on! and so on. But wait, in 2008 we have the Presidential elections. Will all these moves be because of a "shake up" after the elections? Probably.

[davidosborne]

bttt