Obama appoints neo-con Republican favorite, Ryan Crocker, as ambassador to Afghanistan! [View All]

[Better Believe It]

Obama’s Musical Chairs: Continuity in a Bad Way
By Matthew Rothschild
Editor of The Progressive
April 27, 2011

With Leon Panetta likely moving from the CIA to the Pentagon to take the place of Robert Gates, and with David Petraeus, who is now running the war in Afghanistan, likely to slide into Panetta’s old spot at Langley, what we’re seeing here is continuity, but not in a good way.

Actually, there’s continuity going all the way back to George H.W. Bush, whom Obama praised on the campaign trail. And then Obama kept Gates on at the Pentagon, who was a favorite of the elder Bush’s.

And for some reason, Obama keeps promoting Petraeus, a favorite of Bush-Cheney.

Another favorite of Bush-Cheney’s and the neocon crowd is Ryan Crocker, whom Obama is plucking out of retirement to be ambassador to Afghanistan after Crocker ran Iraq like it was his own little fiefdom when he was ambassador there. The idea for this appointment actually originated with the neocon artist William Kristol, who floated the idea almost a year ago in the Weekly Standard back on June 22, 2010.

Read the full article at:

http://www.progressive.org/wx042711.html


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Why not Petraeus-Crocker in Afghanistan?
A chance for President Obama to recommit to victory.
June 22, 2010

If Gen. McChrystal does step down, there are undoubtedly many able general officers who could replace him. Here’s one unconventional suggestion, though: Ask Gen. David Petraeus to give up his CENTCOM post and take command of the war in Afghanistan. President Obama should also accept the resignations on the civilian side of special envoy Richard Holbrooke and ambassador Karl Eikenberry; he could then ask Ryan Crocker to come out of retirement to head up the currently dysfunctional civilian effort.

In any case, if Gen. McChrystal does step down, President Obama should use this as an opportunity to recommit his administration to success in Afghanistan, and to correct the impression he may be more concerned to end our involvement there quickly rather than make sure it ends successfully.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/why-not-petraeus-crocker-afghanistan

Note: In January 2010 he became Dean of Texas A&M University's George Bush School of Government and Public Service. Isn't that just wunderful! BBI