We’re heading toward a serious crises in civil-military relations:
The US army general, David Petraeus, made clear today that he would not be bound by Barack Obama’s promise to start withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan by July next year.In his first interview since taking command of Nato troops in the country less than two months ago, the top general said he could foresee circumstances where conditions would make it impossible for him to recommend a reduction in forces.
Petraeus thinks he should be in the policymaking business. Fine, resign your commission and run for office.
That is not what Petraeus said. That is the Guardian’s interpretation.
I don’t think P was saying that he would disobey Obama’s orders. Rather he was saying that he may disagree with Obama’s policy if it conflicts with his professional assessment of the situation. Obama wants his honest opinion. Once orders are given, however, P knows it is his job to execute. (and his opinions better be expressed privately…)
If P has political ambitions, as it certainly seems he does, I wonder what’s his long game? Afghanistan isn’t going to be won in any meaningful sense, and I imagine P knows this. Knowing that Obama wants to pull out of Afghanistan, I wonder if P might intend to use his stated desire to “stay the course” as a political tool in the future, especially when another bombs goes off in the States. If Obama pulls out and another attack happens, P would have a very strong hard to play if he is on record saying that he wanted to continue the fight…
Actually, Petraeus said all sorts of things. Some of them seems to accept the idea of the timeline, others did not.
But look, why is Petraeus going on TV to make predictions about what he might, or might not, advise the president to do next year? He could make his recommendations privately if he wants. But that’s not what he wants. What he wants is to box the President in through public declarations. He wants to make clear that the decision of whether to stay, leave, or escalate will be taken at ISAF HQ and not the White House.
It is inappropriate. And it is to Obama’s shame that his concern about the upcoming electoral drubbing the Dems are going to take is making him willing to turn over policymaking on war and peace to the military. But that’s precisely what is going on. Obama’s political position is why he had to turn to P4 when M4 went off the reservation.
And Eric, actually, I doubt he has quite such clear political ambitions. What I think Petraeus wants is to make policy, but I don’t think he’s sure he wants to run for office. This is a way for him to have his cake and eat it too.
[...] Bernard Finel writes, it appears it’s time for Petraeus to “resign his commission and run for office.” [...]
[...] recommend a delay to Obama because of the conditions on the ground, replied: "Certainly, yeah. As Bernard Finel writes, it appears it's time for Petraeus to "resign his commission and run for office." Only our elected [...]
[...] Bernard Finel writes, it appears it’s time for Petraeus to “resign his commission and run for office.” [...]
[...] Bernard Finel writes, it appears it’s time for Petraeus to “resign his commission and run for office.” [...]
[...] recommend a delay to Obama because of the conditions on the ground, replied: "Certainly, yeah. As Bernard Finel writes, it appears it's time for Petraeus to "resign his commission and run for office." Only our elected [...]
[...] Bernard Finel writes, it appears it’s time for Petraeus to “resign his commission and run for office.” [...]
[...] As Bernard Finel writes, it appears it’s time for Petraeus to “resign his commission and run for office.” Only our elected representatives, responsible to us, can make the kind of decisions Petraeus is throwing around on Meet the Press. Civilians make policy, and if the generals fail to keep their noses out, they get fired: The conduct represented in the recently published article does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general. It undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system. And it erodes the trust that’s necessary for our team to work together to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan. [...]