The WaPo has released some interesting excerpts of Bob Woodward's new book, "Obama's Wars". Granted, Woodward should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, he is a treasure trove of conventional wisdom and D.C. douchebaggery. However, with that said, in the book, Woodward details the struggles of the Obama administration has and continues to have with the military in the never ending wars that are costing us dearly in terms of blood and treasure.
But there is a money quote in the WaPo piece that needs highlighting.
Shorter version: Petreaus needs to be fired. Period.
Among folks that have been following this administration closely, this part of the story is well known:
But most of the book centers on the strategy review, and the dissension, distrust and infighting that consumed Obama's national security team as it was locked in a fierce and emotional struggle over the direction, goals, timetable, troop levels and the chances of success for a war that is almost certain to be one of the defining events of this presidency.
However, TMCP (the man called Petraeus) has crossed swords with this president in regards to policy and strategy:
Obama is shown at odds with his uniformed military commanders, particularly Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. David H. Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command during the 2009 strategy review and now the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan.
Woodward reveals their conflicts through detailed accounts of two dozen closed-door secret strategy sessions and nearly 40 private conversations between Obama and Cabinet officers, key aides and intelligence officials.
However, if this story is to be believed, here is where TMCP has crossed the Rubicon:
Tensions often turned personal. National security adviser James L. Jones privately referred to Obama's political aides as "the water bugs," the "Politburo," the "Mafia," or the "campaign set." Petraeus, who felt shut out by the new administration, told an aide that he considered the president's senior adviser David Axelrod to be "a complete spin doctor."
During a flight in May, after a glass of wine, Petraeus told his own staffers that the administration was "[expletive] with the wrong guy." Gates was tempted to walk out of an Oval Office meeting after being offended by comments made by deputy national security adviser Thomas E. Donilon about a general not named in the book.
The NSA refers to admin officials as "water bugs" and "Politburo"? And really, Petraeus? Your boss is "fucking with the wrong guy"?
If this is true, Petraeus needs to be fired immediately. No questions, no inquiries. Gone. Canned, Terminated. As does James L. Jones.
I'm sick and tired of the cheeto-eating armchair generals in this country giving deference to the actual military. Our military, contrary to the popular belief of the authoritarian right, is civilian controlled.
Mr. President, yank the choke chain on these dog and shut their fucking yaps.
Hell, you may even get lucky and TMCP may decide to run against you in '12. That would be an easy win IMO.
If all of this turns out to be true, fire his ass, then can Jones. Clean out the entire shit bin. This needs to be done. The military in this country needs to be brought to heel or we risk losing what is left of our civilian control.
You did it with McCrystal. You can do it with Petraeus.
Oh, and while I'm ranting, get the fuck out of Afghanistan.