Posted on 06/08/2007 9:40:43 AM PDT by libtoken
FOX just picked this up...
Maybe Casey will be further fired up to the top?
The Corner at NRO says Admiral Mike Mullen may get the top job.
Y’all, if you want it without all the noise and graphics, C-SPAN will be covering the Gates Briefing too.
Fox briefly said he was “retiring”, then right back to Paris’ mansion.
Nothing on CSPAN yet
Makes me wonder if he got tired of the BS,,,FOX back on now...
There now. CNO new Chairman.
Mullen is being recommended for nomination when Pace’s term ends on September 30. ((This is somewhat different from the spins that were coming from talk radio)). And Gen. Cartwright is recommended for nomination from Stratcom to become the vicechief in place of the one who is retiring.
On CSPAN 1 now.
Gates said his plan had been to renominate Pace, but since Pace had been vice and chief for 6 years, the renom would have been quite contentious and focused on the past, so the nation would not be well-served by the ordeal. He said Pace deserves thanks.
He said that the vice-chief was to be renomed, but Mullen’s selection closed that out, so the vice-chief continued to retirement rather than take another job.
Pace has previously served as Vice Chief and Chief and Gates feels it may be best for him to move on after consulting with Democrat and Republican senators and thus avoid what could (read between the lines) a contentious re-nomination process.
Gates is making sense.........sad, but Pace deserves better than a long battle for confirmation. Pace has served for six years now. Time to move on, I guess.
—he didn’t want a “backward looking long contentious process” to nominate Pace. He states he wanted to nominate Pace again. Pace chose to retire rather, not take another assignment.
Gates was asked if Congress didn’t want Pace renomd? Gates said there were concerns about the renom process. He thought it was in the best interests of the country, and that he had originally intended to renom both, but the events of the last several months created an environment not in the best interests of the economy, NOT to do with Pace’s performance or that of the vice-chief.
No decision on the CNO replacement. A Q on how the hill affects the appointments of senior personnel. Gates agreed that he was disappointed in not being able to renom, but said a divisive ordeal was not in the interests of the country or the services.
A Q on whether the Hill recommed Mullen? Gates said no, he had consulted with Pace. Mullen is most senior of senior chiefs, “strategic thinker”, interest of services as a whole, CNO said he was most-concerned about the Army.
A Q on what the Hill had against Pace? Gates said they liked his integrity, but were concerned about the hearings and that he had been around over the last 6 years.
Gates said it was HIS decision that the divisive ordeal was not in the best interests of the nation. End of presser.
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