Petraeus Gives Obama Recommendations on Afghanistan

I wish Obama would surprise us and withdraw all the troops or more than expected, but it's not likely. Gen. David Petraeus presented Obama his recommendations yesterday. Obama is expected to announce his plan for troop drawdown soon.

The Obama administration is seeking ways to curtail its military involvement in Afghanistan as U.S. budget pressures grow and public support dwindles for the nearly 10-year-old war.

Carney restated on Thursday that an initial drawdown would begin in July and said Obama would announce "relatively soon" how quickly and how many troops would be withdrawn.

The White House had been awaiting recommendations from Petraeus before fixing that plan. Petraeus has been nominated to become the new chief of the CIA.

The number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan has grown sharply since Obama took office, to 100,000 today from about 34,000 in early 2009. Read it at Reuters

Panetta to Replace Gates, Petraeus to Replace Panetta

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Tomorrow the President will announce four important appointments of the national security team.

First he’ll announce that Leon Panetta, currently the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, will be nominated as Secretary of Defense to succeed Secretary Gates. Second, he will announce his intention to nominate General Dave Petraeus as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Third, he’ll announce his intention to nominate Ryan Crocker as the United States next ambassador to Afghanistan. And fourth, he’ll announce his intention to nominate General John Allen, currently the Deputy Commander for CENTCOM, as General Petraeus’ successor as commander for ISAF and commander for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

I can give you some background on these appointments and then I'd be glad to take your questions.

First, these announcements tomorrow are the combination of a multi-month process of careful consideration by the President for the nominees for these important positions. As you all know, Secretary Gates indicated last year that he would be stepping down as Secretary of Defense by the middle of this year, and those conversations that he had with the President last summer led to a careful consideration of his successor and led to these other appointments, as well.

Karl Eikenberry, ambassador to Kabul, his appointment or tour was coming to an end after two years this spring, and we needed to make a change there. And we were also working on General Petraeus’ successor.

So it’s the culmination of a multi-month, careful process by the President of consideration.

Point two: The President has put in place here those nominees that provide the strongest possible team to execute our strategies and policies.

I stress the word “team.” We have been very fortunate in this administration from the outset to have an integrated and effective team, with an emphasis on how each member of the team, how the institutions work together as a team. The President places a high priority on this, and he carefully thought through how the various individuals here will interact, work together, to execute his strategies and policies on behalf of the country.

Next, we have laid this out in a way that we believe will provide for a seamless transition in each of these positions -- that is, no gap, no disruption in continuity of execution of policies.

Fourth, and I think this is an obvious point -- that the President has selected a deeply experienced group of people, really the best people for these jobs, very strong figures in their own right, each and every one of these individuals. And again, I think that's consistent with the approach that the President has taken from the outset with respect to his national security team -- strong figures who work together, who respect each other, who have deep experience in national security.

And if you work through this -- and we can go through each of the positions -- you have in Ryan Crocker, one of the nation’s most experienced and well-respected diplomats; in General Dave Petraeus, obviously, one of the nation’s preeminent military leaders; Leon Panetta, a deeply experienced public servant; and John Allen, really one of the great leaders of his generation in the military. Read the rest from the White House

Son of Gen. Petraeus Served in Afghanistan

Readout of Obama's Meeting With Gates and Petraeus

From the White House:

The President, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and General David Petraeus met today to discuss our ongoing efforts in Afghanistan, including the effectiveness of the military surge, the growth of the Afghan National Security Forces, and President Karzai’s expected March 21 announcement on beginning transition to Afghan security lead. They also discussed the plan to begin the reduction of U.S. forces this July, and the path to completing the transition to full Afghan responsibility for security by the end of 2014.

Petraeus updates Congress:

Petraeus Apologizes for Deaths of Nine Afghan Children

Imagine our outrage if the bombs of foreign countries killed nine of our children in the U.S. Foreign Policy has an interesting story on how the war in Afghanistan is echoing a time when the Soviet Union gave it a try.

Obama Speaks Out on Florida Bigot in ABC Interview -Video

We've heard from Hillary Clinton. We've heard from David Petraeus. We've heard from Obama. Where are America's Christian leaders? Where are the republican leadership voices?

Obama on the economy and John Boehner:

Obama on midterms:

Petraeus Says Bigots Could Hurt U.S. Troops

The U.S. commander in Afghanistan on Monday criticized a Florida church's plan to burn copies of the Quran on September 11, warning the demonstration "could cause significant problems" for American troops overseas.

"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," Gen. David Petraeus said in a statement issued Monday. Read more at CNN

Petraeus Listens to McCain's Rant on Afghanistan Withdrawal Deadline

The planned July 2011 withdrawal of SOME troops in Afghanistan has been a bug up John McCain's butt. The deadline, timeline, whatever you want to call it seems to be confusing to many. It seems to me that the withdrawal timeline isn't there to discourage our allies or so that terrorists can regroup, as McCain insists. The deadline is there so that the corrupt Karzai government has a time frame in order to get its act together.

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The video cuts off before Petraeus gets a chance to speak but here's some of what he said:

Petraeus tried to make his position clear, reiterating a comment he made during hearings on Afghanistan two weeks ago: “It’s important to note that July 2011 will be the beginning of a process ... not the date by which we head for the exits and turn off the lights.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) zeroed in on the essential difficulty facing the Obama administration — how to balance continued support for the war with calls from his liberal base to make plans to exit as soon as possible. Citing a quote attributed to Vice President Joe Biden in Jonathan Alter’s book “The Promise” — that “you can bet on it” that in July 2011 a large number of troops will come home — Graham asked Petraeus whether the comment was accurate.

Petraeus responded in his typically artful style by reframing it. Petraeus said he had a conversation with Biden immediately after meeting with the president in the Oval Office about the much-argued-over July 2011 withdrawal date.

“The vice president said, ‘You should know that I’m 100 percent supportive of this policy,’” Petraeus said, and he added that neither he nor Defense Secretary Robert Gates had heard Biden make the statement quoted in Alter’s book. Read more at Politco

Readout of Obama's Call with Karzai

Hopefully, Karzai has it clear in his mind now that the Commander in Chief runs the show, not the general. Apparently, Karzai has already switched loyalties. Now Gen. David Petraeus is his man. If you couldn't tell, I loathe Karzai. There's something about him that screams skeezy, icky and yuck.

In a call earlier today, President Obama informed President Karzai of his decision to accept General Stanley McChrystal’s resignation and his intent to nominate General David Petraeus to assume command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Both leaders expressed admiration and praise for General McChrystal’s leadership and service over the past year. President Obama underscored that this personnel change in no way impacts United States policy in Afghanistan or the level of our commitment to Afghanistan’s future. The President also emphasized that the United States and Afghanistan must continue to work together to sustain the momentum against the Taliban building on the constructive VTC that the two leaders held yesterday. President Karzai welcomed the nomination of General Petraeus and assured President Obama that he would take all steps necessary to support a successful transition.

Obama also called David Cameron:

Following up on earlier conversations between their national security teams, President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron spoke today on Afghanistan. The Prime Minister confirmed that U.K. Lieutenant General Nick Parker would serve as the acting Commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force mission until a new U.S. Commander is confirmed by Congress. The President reiterated his desire for the Senate to confirm General David Petraeus for this role as swiftly as possible. Prime Minister Cameron said that General Parker, who has served as the Deputy Commander to ISAF since September, 2009, asked him to convey to the President that the mission “would not miss a beat” and that he was fully confident in our shared strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

McCain Says Petraeus Will be Confirmed Quickly

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Amazingly, I agree with Joe Lieberman:

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Obama to Replace McChrystal with Petraeus

The more I think about McChrystal, the more I want to know: How could a General could screw up so badly. What was he thinking?

Update: Obama announces David Petraeus as Stanley McChrystal's replacement. Obama said that the strategy in Afghanistan, which is McChrystal's strategy, will NOT change. Some hoped it would. Obama showed McChrystal a lot of respect, saying he was saddened and that he respected and admired McChrystal. He allowed McChrystal some dignity for his past service, despite his recent poor judgement.
I guess this also means that Hamid Karzai knows who's boss now.

McChrystal Leaves White House After 30 Minutes With Obama

Update: AP says Obama will replace McChrystal with David Petraeus.
Update: Bye bye McChrystal! Firing him was the only choice.
Update: Obama to make a statement at 1:30 pm eastern. Live stream at msnbc.com.

Since Stan has left the White House when his name was on the list of people meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan strategy, my bet is Stan is fired. He probably turned in his resignation. 30 minutes is a pretty short meeting for someone who's going to be sticking around. Obama probably didn't say much, since their conversation might end up on the cover of the National Enquirer.

Folks are saying McChrystal's deputy, Dave Rodriguez, is a likely choice to take over.

Petraeus Speaks on Terrorism and Afghanistan - Video

Gen. David Petraeus speaks to Andrea Mitchell on Afghanistan and terrorists. Petraeus says the transition, scheduled for July 2011, is still on track. Petraeus says that Iran is what keeps him up at night. He says repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell takes time.
Hamid Karzai is visiting Obama May 12.

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Petraeus, who was recently in Pakistan, says terrorists want to be transnational and they are quickly adapting to new ways of terrorizing. What I want to know is why there isn't a photo of Faisal Shahzad angry and frowning man. He's smiling in all of his photos.

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Pakistanis in Shahzad's village believe Shahzad is part of a U.S. plot to defame Pakistan, which shows how disconnected and mistrustful Pakistanis are of the U.S. Shahzad's father was a prominent military official.

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David Petraeus on Meet the Press Feb. 21 Video

Wannabe president Tim Pawlenty is also on the show. Pawlenty says republicans are reformed and ready to govern. Anyone who falls for that is out of their mind.

Pawlenty criticizes the stimulus, saying government doesn't grow the economy. Well, he and Obama agree. Obama never says government grows the economy. He ALWAYS says it's small business, the private sector that grows the economy. Obama says government can help create an environment where business grows.

Pawlenty will never win the republican nomination. He's too much of a follower. That can be gleaned from his answers about climate change and god being in charge.

Mike Pence is part of the roundtable. He's just a liar. Peggy Noonan is a fine writer, but please, get her off the roundtable.

Interesting point by E. J. Dionne: Ron Paul won CPAC straw poll but who got the most press?

This is the full episdode:

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Petraeus Says He's Apolitical - Doesn't Vote

This is a smart stance for Gen. David Petraeus:

Petraeus Speaks on Afghanistan Plan

David Petraeus speaks to Joe Scarborough on the Afghanistan plan. "We're not trying to make Sweden in Afghanistan."

Petraeus says Obama was not dithering. "This process was quite good," he said. It sharpened objectives in a much more detailed and nuanced way, he said. Petraeus says he hasn't heard Dick Cheney's blathering.

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Petraeus Says Decision Near on Afghanistan

Jim Webb Says McChrystal's Actions Confusing

It's clear, Gen. Stanley McChrystal needs to remember that he's on a team--Team America. Obama reminded staff at the National Counterterrorism Center this morning that there is one mission and one team. The precedent McChrystal is setting is potentially dangerous. The military can't be the boss of the President. Chain of command is crucial.

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McChrystal Put Obama in a Tight Spot

Gen. Stanley McChrystal was supposed to use the chain of command to communicate with Obama, not make documents available to be leaked to Bob Woodward and make speeches in London. McChrystal should've known that, politically speaking, John McCain and the neoconservative war mongers are going to have a cow if the U.S. doesn't send more troops. What McChrystal did was make Afghanistan a political football. In real life, McChrystal should be fired.
Why did McChrystal undermine the Commander in Chief? That's what I want to know. What role is McCain playing?

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Gibbs doesn't diss McChrystal as much as the press presses. One thing that's off the table--withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The Story of Commander McKiernan's Ousting

In mid-March, as a White House assessment of the war in Afghanistan was nearing completion, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met in a secure Pentagon room for their fortnightly video conference with Gen. David D. McKiernan, the top U.S. commander in Kabul.

There was no formal agenda. McKiernan, a silver-haired former armor officer, began with a brief battlefield update. Then Gates and Mullen began asking about reconstruction and counternarcotics operations. To Mullen, they were straightforward, relevant queries, but he thought McKiernan fumbled them.

Gates and Mullen had been having doubts about McKiernan since the beginning of the year. They regarded him as too languid, too old-school and too removed from Washington. He lacked the charisma and political savvy that Gen. David H. Petraeus brought to the Iraq war.

McKiernan's answers that day were the tipping point for Mullen. Soon after, he discussed the matter with Gates, who had come to the same conclusion.

Mullen traveled to Kabul in April to confront McKiernan. The chairman hoped the commander would opt to save face and retire, but he refused. Not only had he not disobeyed orders, he believed he was doing what Gates and Mullen wanted.

You're going to have to fire me, he told Mullen.
....

The humiliating removal of a four-star general for being too conventional reveals the ferocious intensity Gates and Mullen share over a growing war that will soon enter its ninth year. It also demonstrates their zeal to respond to President Obama's demand for rapid success in a place where foreign armies have failed for centuries.

"There are those who would have waited six more months" in order to have a less abrupt transition, Mullen said in an interview. "I couldn't. I'm losing kids and I couldn't sleep at night. I have an unbounded sense of urgency to get this right."
Read the rest at WAPO