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General Retreat - Secretary of Defense Levin picks a new war leader
Opinion Journal ^ | 6/12/07 | REVIEW & OUTLOOK

Posted on 06/11/2007 4:25:59 AM PDT by ricks_place

There's a rumor going around that Robert Gates is the Secretary of Defense. We'd like to request official confirmation, because based on recent evidence the man running the Pentagon is Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan. For that matter, is George W. Bush still President?

We can't help but wonder after the Bush Administration's refusal last week to renominate Marine General Peter Pace to a second two-year term as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mr. Gates had earlier sent the names of General Pace and his deputy, Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, to the White House for approval as his choices for the nation's top two non-civilian military posts. Mr. Bush had agreed.

But then on Friday, Mr. Gates, or some impersonator, declared at a Pentagon press conference that he had decided not to renominate the two men because he wanted to avoid a "quite contentious" debate on Capitol Hill over Iraq. Mind you, said Mr. Gates, his decision had "absolutely nothing to do with my view of General Pace's performance or that of General [sic] Giambastiani whatsoever."

It's just that General Pace was Vice Chairman for four years and has been Chairman for two more, and was one of Mr. Bush's main Iraq war generals....

Mr. Gates seems to think he can succeed as the anti-Rumsfeld by appeasing the likes of Mr. Levin, but his kowtow only makes Mr. Bush look weaker as a Commander in Chief who can't even select his own war generals....

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 06/11/2007 4:26:01 AM PDT by ricks_place
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To: ricks_place

I disagree...Gates is correctBush tossed Rummy over the side..so why should Pace have to sit up there and take all the crapola the Dems want to dump on Rummy..Pace is a superb leader...let him walk away with his honor and dignity intact...


2 posted on 06/11/2007 4:34:56 AM PDT by ken5050
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To: ricks_place

You know, I am very sick and tired of the infantile games these idiots are playing in Washington DC at America’s expense. May I remind these jackasses; they are there to help America; not hinder it.

I think very soon these people are going to find this out. We are sick of them abusing and using our country for their own agendas and pettinesses.


3 posted on 06/11/2007 4:36:23 AM PDT by freekitty
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To: freekitty
I think very soon these people are going to find this out. We are sick of them abusing and using our country for their own agendas and pettinesses.

Who, the Democrats or the Republicans? I don't know what the real reason for cutting Pace off at the knees was but I can't believe it was fear of a contentious renomination process. Blaming it all on the Democrats is a convenient excuse. Anybody they appoint to any position is going to go through a rough and contentious nomination process. Why suddenly cut and run on this one unless there was something else they didn't want exposed?

4 posted on 06/11/2007 4:40:45 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur (Save Fredericksburg. Support CVBT.)
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To: ricks_place

I’m sure General Giambastiani will be displeased with his demotion from Admiral. I guess Gates isn’t a details guy.


5 posted on 06/11/2007 4:41:19 AM PDT by Thrownatbirth (.....when the sidewalks are safe for the little guy.)
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To: Thrownatbirth
I guess Gates isn’t a details guy.

We'll always have Paris.

6 posted on 06/11/2007 4:45:34 AM PDT by Diogenesis (`)
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To: ricks_place
Secretary of Defense Levin. Now that is a scary concept. What has he done for Michigan that he hasn't already done to the country as a mere senator?
7 posted on 06/11/2007 4:46:37 AM PDT by Thebaddog (My dogs are tired)
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To: ken5050

If there is any honor and dignity in Washington these days, I believe Pace has most of it. Now just watch Bush break his butt sticking with and fighting for his Attorney General, Alfred E. Newman. Just wait. Funny, I don’t recall Attorney General as being one of those jobs Americans just won’t do.


8 posted on 06/11/2007 4:52:53 AM PDT by twonie (Keep your guns - and stockpile ammo.)
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To: Non-Sequitur

There were 10 Democrates what voted against bringing the immigration bill to a vote and a few Republicans who voted to bring the bill to a vote. Removing General Pace was the deal Bush made to get his immigration bill passed!


9 posted on 06/11/2007 4:56:47 AM PDT by Modok
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To: Non-Sequitur

Boih Democrats and Republicans. It’s just like the immigration debate.

The country is now run by an oligarchy. Average Americans need not apply. Look at the ridiculous scenario we are in now where the Presidency is becoming a game of two families - Clinton and Bush. In a nation of 300,000,000 people, you mean to tell me that these are the only people who can be President? Based on their failings and our experiences with them, you wouldn’t want anyone from these clans to wind your watch, let alone run a nation.


10 posted on 06/11/2007 5:05:33 AM PDT by oldbill
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To: ricks_place

SecDef Levin should be sending his picks to CinC Pelosi.

Doesn’t he know the chain of command yet?


11 posted on 06/11/2007 6:30:58 AM PDT by CPOSharky (An organization that kills those who do not believe it's dogma is NOT a religion.)
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To: ricks_place
But then on Friday, Mr. Gates, or some impersonator, declared at a Pentagon press conference that he had decided not to renominate the two men because he wanted to avoid a "quite contentious" debate on Capitol Hill over Iraq.

I want contentious debate on Capital Hill because it shows that some Republicans (and there are very few left up there) haven't been totally castrated. It used to be that every time Republicans got into a debate with the Dummys, they won. The current cast and crew wants to avoid debates for reasons unknown to me.

12 posted on 06/11/2007 6:39:00 AM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but DemocRATs believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: oldbill
boooorriiinngg... oh look paris is on the tv!!!

Every time I look around these days I keep remembering Reagan's quote about how freedom is only ever one generation way from extinction...
13 posted on 06/11/2007 6:39:23 AM PDT by Eyes Unclouded (We won't ever free our guns but be sure we'll let them triggers go....)
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