http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/11/world/middleeast/11pentagon.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=sloginIn a closely held effort, Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has assembled a team of some of the military’s brightest and most innovative officers and told them to take a fresh look at Iraq and Afghanistan, among other flashpoints.
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But Pentagon officials stressed that the review extended well beyond Iraq, and that some unorthodox ideas on how to fight terrorism were being weighed. The review reflects the recognition that military efforts need to be part of an overall approach that includes all aspects of American power, including diplomatic and economic.
Pentagon officials said the military review, which formally began Sept. 25, is being coordinated with the rest of the government, but that the military team had not met with members of the Iraq Study Group, the commission that is also looking into options for Iraq. The creation of that commission, headed by a former secretary of state, James A. Baker III, and Lee H. Hamilton, a former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had raised the possibility that fundamental decisions on how to proceed in Iraq might be determined largely outside of the Pentagon. The commission is being advised by former military officers, but none of its members have served as senior military commanders.
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Initially, the Pentagon tried to keep the existence of the review secret. But in recent days the Bush administration has advertised its willingness to consider fresh approaches in an effort to counter criticism that it was rigidly adhering to a faltering strategy. General Pace referred to the review in general terms in TV appearances today.
Sounds to me like this is quite the subordination of the Pentagon leadership and brushing aside the WH and the State Dept.
I can't help but wonder if some of this wasn't born out of the very real fear that Iran was about to be attacked and that the use of nuclear weapons was NOT off the table. Remember Hersh's reporting of the military commanders genuinely afraid of that?
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