tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post5163519509886657616..comments2024-01-03T05:18:54.650-05:00Comments on CDR Salamander: McChrystal fired; Petraeus demotedCDR Salamanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05981221786954902349noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-20881451417524248252010-12-19T20:38:53.089-05:002010-12-19T20:38:53.089-05:00I am really Glad i discovered this blog.Added cdrs...I am really Glad i discovered this blog.Added cdrsalamander.blogspot.com to my bookmark!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-13539700966906107112010-06-26T08:35:15.000-04:002010-06-26T08:35:15.000-04:00I fear that Petraeus has been handed a poisoned ap...I fear that Petraeus has been handed a poisoned apple by the crook that is running your country, what with eliminating a potential presidential adversary and providing himself with a scapegoat if AF goes to the dogs. Plus, as you say, it is not the normal chain of command.<br /><br />Even so, it is heartening to read that from the start, Petraeus tries to make the best of a potential trainwreck. He's shelving the lunacy of "courageous restraint": <a href="http://patdollard.com/2010/06/petraeus-makes-first-moves-to-change-afghanistan-rules-of-engagement/" rel="nofollow">http://patdollard.com/2010/06/petraeus-makes-first-moves-to-change-afghanistan-rules-of-engagement/</a>Outlaw Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-16757159749945392732010-06-26T07:15:43.000-04:002010-06-26T07:15:43.000-04:00If he was just a place holder and current strategi...If he was just a place holder and current strategic commander, why would they need senate confirmation of Gen. Petraeus for the position?Tom Goeringnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-23663816696181963292010-06-26T01:25:51.000-04:002010-06-26T01:25:51.000-04:00This is a good one
http://spectator.org/archives/...This is a good one<br /><br />http://spectator.org/archives/2010/06/24/macarthur-defeats-truman-the-rOld NFOnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-22851515539265074992010-06-25T03:14:08.000-04:002010-06-25T03:14:08.000-04:00You know, Sacto, you could have made your main poi...You know, Sacto, you could have made your main point (a legitimate one) without all the sophomoric trash-talking.<br /><br />Instead you drove by, dropped a major troll-bomb, and departed. All crap-throwing, no class.<br /><br />Anyone who has spent more than five <i>minutes</i> on this blog has a good idea who's served, and how much. (clue: most of 'em, and LOTS)<br /><br />It's sad when people get more jacked up over a cheap-shot drive-by than actual debate. Not to mention one of my good friends really is a lesbian socialst (she's a lovely person, except for her economic views), and she doesn't like Obama much, either. She's a non-official PUMA. :)Casey Tompkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-27303231316598711742010-06-25T03:01:25.000-04:002010-06-25T03:01:25.000-04:00MTH, I'm not just comparing Petraeus to Barry....MTH, I'm not just comparing Petraeus to Barry. I'm looking at the historial record, which shows at least as many scoundrels (if not more) as good leaders. General Grant was a great general, but a lousy politician, as was General Scott. Lincoln had no real military experience, nor did FDR, but they turned out pretty well.<br /><br />General McClellan was a war hero, but a terrible politician, as were George McGovern, John Murtha, and Randy Cunningham. Dick Nixon was "just" a supply officer, but arguably pursued the Vietnam War far more capbably than Navy Lieutenant Command Lyndon B. Johnson. Barry Goldwater was "just" a USAF cargo pilot, but do you claim he wasn't one of the brightest lights of the 20th-century conservative movement?<br /><br />Ronald Reagan "just" served as member of an Army movie unit, but I doubt many here would consider him a lesser leader than Jimmeh "I'm a certified member of Rickover's Superior Nucular Navy" Carter.<br /><br />John "Do You Know Who I Am?" Kerry is an award-winning Navy hero with three Purple Hearts, but is he a better political leader than Dick "Six Draft Deferments" Cheney?<br /><br />I'm addressing the general case here; historically speaking, the mere fact that someone was a "war hero" has little or no bearing on whether they would be a capable political leader.<br /><br />Perhaps instead of Petraeus, we should be following Jindal, Christie, or Barbour.Casey Tompkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-8934705233426518192010-06-24T23:26:51.000-04:002010-06-24T23:26:51.000-04:00MTH, Yeah but like the guys in the song General Mc...MTH, Yeah but like the guys in the song General McChrystal didn't get his "...picture on the cover of the 'Rolling Stone'". It was Lady Gaga this week.C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-37319399043033047772010-06-24T21:13:32.000-04:002010-06-24T21:13:32.000-04:00Thanks, Commodore. Rasta, I stand corrected.Thanks, Commodore. Rasta, I stand corrected.Salty Gatornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-79268606210413191042010-06-24T19:14:58.000-04:002010-06-24T19:14:58.000-04:00DR Hook air time just increased me thinksDR Hook air time just increased me thinksMR T's Haircutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-13761689631820102762010-06-24T18:59:48.000-04:002010-06-24T18:59:48.000-04:00I'm loving these true confessions. Rolling St...I'm loving these true confessions. Rolling Stone, the Grateful Dead...now that I know all about you and General McChrystal, I'm getting this image of our military academies all populated with counter-culture types. :) <br /><br />You'd know a lot more than I would about what it's like to be a staff officer. I'm sure that your observations are correct, and I think you and the CDR probably wind up in about the same place. Kristennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-72791109942330987492010-06-24T18:02:54.000-04:002010-06-24T18:02:54.000-04:00Kristen, BTW, I still like the Grateful Dead.Kristen, BTW, I still like the Grateful Dead.C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-1959596155935587682010-06-24T18:01:55.000-04:002010-06-24T18:01:55.000-04:00Kristen, I think it's more subtle than that. ...Kristen, I think it's more subtle than that. The good USN Flag Officers I worked for tended to have a couple of guys as "Special Assistants" who were well-educated and who were there to challenge the Boss' assumptions. The problem is that guys on the Personal Staff of a 4 star tend to have been around the FO/GO for repeated tours and they tend to start thinking alike. Here this tendency may have been exacerbated by the number of folks who came from the Spec Ops community. The section from the Irish Pub in Paris is revealing.<br /><br />Yep...I was a hippie at heart when I was a Mid :) ...then I went to war.C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-45675107274219473642010-06-24T17:07:27.000-04:002010-06-24T17:07:27.000-04:00DB, I think this is where the CDR's piece from...DB, I think this is where the CDR's piece from USNI comes in - senior commanders tend to have staffs who are continually telling them how terrific they are. It distorts reality.<br /><br />C-dore, you've given me a whole new image of you. :)Kristennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-78916952773949501112010-06-24T17:00:47.000-04:002010-06-24T17:00:47.000-04:00Well, here on 11 Sept 2007 is Sen. "Was that ...Well, here on 11 Sept 2007 is Sen. "Was that a question, Barry?" Obama's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4MvGm-3wr8" rel="nofollow">ranting </a>about how we didn't have unlimited resources (oh, really????!) and how the previous administration was setting its military up for a mission that was extraordinarily hard to achieve. (Now, get the job done in Afg, and get out by July 2011!) I remember watching that at the time and thinking Petraeus has more self control in his little finger than I have in my whole body, because I would have either lunged at him and shaken him like a rag doll or laughed in his presumptuous little face. DeltaBravonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-70257780829128609222010-06-24T16:40:29.000-04:002010-06-24T16:40:29.000-04:00Gator, According to CENTCOM's website Petraeus...Gator, According to CENTCOM's website Petraeus assumed command in October 2008.C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-33620664256378828312010-06-24T16:38:34.000-04:002010-06-24T16:38:34.000-04:00DB, You may be on to something. BTW, I used to lo...DB, You may be on to something. BTW, I used to love "Rolling Stone" when I was a Mid and a JO.C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-44683191003637543362010-06-24T16:36:32.000-04:002010-06-24T16:36:32.000-04:00Sacto, You don't have to be a conspiracy theor...Sacto, You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist or a Fox News devote (I'm neither) to see some possibility, however slight, that domestic political motives could have been involved in Petraeus' selection. What better way to preoccupy a potential rival than to give him/her a job with a demanding portfolio. How do you think the previous administration got Colin Powell out of the way?<br /><br />You can relax, however, I think most of us here believe that Petraeus was selected because he was credible, could be confirmed quickly, and (if things don't work out) they can say they sent their best guy to try and save things.C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-39605343257469154512010-06-24T16:07:56.000-04:002010-06-24T16:07:56.000-04:00WW,
I would hope All GO/FO's would resign whe...WW,<br /><br />I would hope All GO/FO's would resign when the integrity check requires it.... regardless of WHO is the CINC.MR T's Haircutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-47129342532558535172010-06-24T16:06:39.000-04:002010-06-24T16:06:39.000-04:00Casey, I'll take a General over a Community Or...Casey, I'll take a General over a Community Organizer (er Socialist) anyday.. except for one like Sestak....MR T's Haircutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-31053770344539475232010-06-24T16:05:07.000-04:002010-06-24T16:05:07.000-04:00Meant for DBMeant for DBMR T's Haircutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-31260009515661444852010-06-24T16:04:54.000-04:002010-06-24T16:04:54.000-04:00I think they invaded to corner us in the middle ea...I think they invaded to corner us in the middle east and increase their access to a mid east port for oil import/export. POCKEESTAN might have been next.MR T's Haircutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-35102009177890449022010-06-24T16:03:46.000-04:002010-06-24T16:03:46.000-04:00Full of winFull of winMR T's Haircutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-17416286338882896722010-06-24T16:00:53.000-04:002010-06-24T16:00:53.000-04:00What's the old quote? "If selected, I wil...What's the old quote? "If selected, I will not run, and if elected, I will not serve."<br /><br />Don't know why so many people get excited about a General running for office. Being a "war hero" makes it easier to get elected, but there's litle historical evidence they perform better than civilian candidates. And I use quotes in the above as many who ran as war heroes weren't very heroic.Casey Tompkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-67185547964702187542010-06-24T16:00:09.000-04:002010-06-24T16:00:09.000-04:00It was more functional when they arrived than when...It was more functional when they arrived than when they left. They went in to prop up a Marxist government which the Afghans didn't want. They destroyed the infrastructure and drove millions of Afghanistan's best and brightest out of the country. Some would say the way they treated the Afghans lessened their credibility in their own 'stans.DeltaBravonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-80141414952273906252010-06-24T15:47:11.000-04:002010-06-24T15:47:11.000-04:00The Soviets didn't invade a functional society...The Soviets didn't invade a functional society. Indeed, they invaded because Astan was a failed state, and they were concerned that the instability there would bleed over to the other 'stans on their borders, causing political turmoil in their own land. XBradTCnoreply@blogger.com