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November 18, 2007
Petraeus Helping Pick New Generals
Petraeus Helping Pick New Generals
washington post.com ...for complete article
The Army has summoned the top U.S. commander in Iraq back to Washington to preside over a board that will pick some of the next generation of Army leaders, an unusual decision that officials say represents a vote of confidence in Gen. David H. Petraeus's conduct of the war, as well as the Army counterinsurgency doctrine he helped rewrite.
The Army has long been criticized for rewarding conventional military thinking and experience in traditional combat operations, and current and former defense officials have pointed to Petraeus's involvement in the promotion board process this month as a sign of the Army's commitment to encouraging innovation and rewarding skills beyond the battlefield.
Some junior and midlevel officers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan have been particularly outspoken in their criticisms, saying the Army's current leadership lacks a hands-on understanding of today's conflicts and has not listened to feedback from younger personnel.
"It's unprecedented for the commander of an active theater to be brought back to head something like a brigadier generals board," said retired Maj. Gen. Robert Scales, former head of the Army War College. A senior defense official said Petraeus is "far too high-profile for this to be a subtle thing."
The board, composed of 15 Army generals, will examine a pool of more than 1,000 colonels to select about 40 brigadier generals, expected to lead the service over the next decade or longer. Although each board member has an equal vote on the candidates, Petraeus will be able to guide the discussion.
Petraeus, a four-star general with a doctorate in international relations, has spent three of the past four years in Iraq and has observed firsthand many of the colonels under consideration for promotion. He is well-regarded by military officials for his political skills in Iraq and at home, including winning support from a skeptical Congress for a U.S. troop increase in Iraq.
"Dave Petraeus in many ways is viewed as the archetype of what this new generation of senior leader is all about," Scales said, "a guy . . . who understands information operations, who can be effective on Capitol Hill, who can communicate with Iraqis, who understands the value of original thought, who has the ability through the power of his intellect to lead people to change."
Wild Thing's comment........
I hope this mean they are going to retire the last of the Clinton mushhead Generals. and the POS like Wesley Clarke.
Posted by Wild Thing at November 18, 2007 12:47 AM
Comments
General Hap Arnold...William Tecumseh Sherman...George S. Patton Jr.,... Erwin Rommell... Robert E. Lee...Iron Duke Lord Wellington...Mongol Genghis Khan...
Alexander the Great... Julius Caesar... Sitting Bull?
Posted by: drstrangeloveb52isok at November 18, 2007 03:43 AM
The Army and the Marines need to prepare for both conventional and insurgency roles. The Thunder Run from Kuwait to Baghdad was a conventional operation with heavy emphasis on massed armor. The Special Forces operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan was an unconventional guerilla operation using local indigenous forces backed up by air power. There should be plenty of colonels with recent experience in both fields to make the BG selection successful. I hope Gen Petraeus goes for the quality and not the "good ole boy" merit system to staff our commands in the near future.
Posted by: TomR at November 18, 2007 06:25 AM
Thanks for including Wm T Sherman--he married a relative of my husbands, the daughter of Senator Thomas Ewing of Ohio.
But Robert E Lee (one of mine) was so good, both sides asked him to lead, but he chose the wrong side. And Grant--don't forget Grant.
Maybe now we'll get some decent, damn fine generals who know what they're doing and will let our boys and girls take command and WIN!!!!
Cochise, Octavius, Marc Antony, too.
Posted by: Lynn at November 18, 2007 08:58 AM
Probably a majority of the senior military brass has never really been in combat. Other than Desert Storm and Somalia, our last major war was Vietnam and most of the combat vets from that war have retired. The Lieutenants, Captains, and Majors who fight todays battles are going to make the best Generals of tomorrow. They're the ones out in the field and doing the actual fighting, not in some command post ensuring the coffee is ready or shuffling papers.
Posted by: BobF at November 18, 2007 08:59 AM
drstrangeloveb52isok some good choices there.
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 18, 2007 09:19 AM
Tom...."I hope Gen Petraeus goes for the quality and not the "good ole boy" merit system".....I sure do too. You so right that this is what has to be done.
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 18, 2007 09:21 AM
Lynn that is so neat, thank you for sharing that.
Yes, this is a big chance now to put the right people in position.
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 18, 2007 09:22 AM
Bob, I sure hope so. I get so angry when the political kissing up comes to play picking these leaders out and that should not happen.
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 18, 2007 09:25 AM
TomR, truer words are not spoken today. I think the root of the problem is that our Generals are not permitted to act independently or lead OUR troops. They (Generals) are being circumvented and PREVENTED from winning by our politians and the press. You know of what I speak, but the average American does not. They are sheep being led to the slaughter by the Liberals and most DEMONcrats. The are not smart enough to let the Great Pyrennes protect the flock. That's our job but our paws are being tied down by the enemies of the flock.
Army Special Forces, Marine Force Recon, SEALS, Air Force Black Berets and Boy Scouts FOREVER.
Posted by: SSgt Steve (Old Corps) at November 18, 2007 12:14 PM
I hope this puts an end to the Wesley(recalled from Clinton's al Qaeda support mission)Clarke and Colin (Ceasefire) Powell picks to lead combat men instead of some of the company clerks that have been picked in the past. Keep the politicians and the politically correct off the battlefield. Can you imagine a "Murtha" being picked?
Posted by: Jack at November 18, 2007 03:12 PM
God bless your family tree Lynn! WOW!! Blest to see Gettysburg and Gunny dad was stationed at Bull Run Quantico when Roger Maris belted 61 homers...Glad Barry Bonds was finally disgraced. Roger did it on Schlitz beer, hotdogs and Lucky Strikes in 1961. - General WTS March To The Sea 300 miles long by 60 miles wide 1864!
Posted by: drstrangeloveb52isok at November 19, 2007 12:10 AM
SSgt Steve,
"Army Special Forces, Marine Force Recon, SEALS, Air Force Black Berets and Boy Scouts FOREVER"
I agree!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 19, 2007 12:54 AM
Jack,I agree, I would love never to see or hear from Clarke or Powell ever again. Yes keep politicians out of it. I pray he does all the picking himself and no input from the PC bunch or politicians.
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 19, 2007 12:59 AM
