“btw, in no way did Petraeus “deride the Constitution”....by direct statement, nor by inference.”
While I agree with your, “different place, different time” attitude, and appreciate it after my posting screw-up, (are the lessons still available?:-)), I think a military General singling out any American citizens actions, especially legal actions, before the world, and acting like he has any right to tell him what to do, and how he should conduct his political protest, does not reflect our Constitutional freedoms at best, at a time when they need to be seen and understood clearly, worldwide.
There is a choice to be made, and, as Michigan shows, it is coming faster and faster. The challenges to our sovereignty and freedoms has never been more deep, nor as damnably obvious.
PR should come fron the State Dept., not a field General, standing up for our country’s ideals and freedoms strengths before the world.
I wish and hope you and yours happiness, and above all, safety on their way home.
Be well, and stay on my back, I appreciate it.
There is nothing in this statement that is not accurate, nor was inappropriate, IMO. He didn't say that nutcase Jones didn't have the Constitutional right to do it. He said that it was inappropriate, wrong, stupid, and should be condemned.
He is EXACTLY right. And nothing he said in any way reflects negatively on his oath to defend the Constitution.
This was not "PR." This was his opinion. And unless you believe that Petraeus doesn't have Constitutional free speech, he had every right to say what he said.
btw, my son is home. Thank you for your concern for him. He was part of Petraeus' surge (in the belly of the beast in East Baghdad - it was ugly) - part of the brilliant plan which lessened the violence against our troops, and allowed us to succeed in an almost impossible situation.
Because of Petraeus' strategy and love for his troops, I will never, ever take a single statement and distort its interpretation to infer that he doesn't honor the Constitution - the document he has spend most of his life in danger in order to defend.
Usually kneejerk reactions are wrong. Petraeus is a man of immense character and courage. Think it through.
I think it would be best for me to leave it alone now. No more to say. :)