Gareth Porter: Generals Seek to Reverse Obama Withdrawal Decision

[laststeamtrain]

Generals Seek to Reverse Obama Withdrawal Decision

Gareth Porter*

WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (IPS) - CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus, supported by Defence Secretary Robert Gates, tried to convince President Barack Obama that he had to back down from his campaign pledge to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months at an Oval Office meeting Jan. 21.
But Obama informed Gates, Petraeus and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen that he wasn't convinced and that he wanted Gates and the military leaders to come back quickly with a detailed 16-month plan, according to two sources who have talked with participants in the meeting.

Obama's decision to override Petraeus's recommendation has not ended the conflict between the president and senior military officers over troop withdrawal, however. There are indications that Petraeus and his allies in the military and the Pentagon, including Gen. Ray Odierno, now the top commander in Iraq, have already begun to try to pressure Obama to change his withdrawal policy.

A network of senior military officers is also reported to be preparing to support Petraeus and Odierno by mobilising public opinion against Obama's decision.

Petraeus was visibly unhappy when he left the Oval Office, according to one of the sources. A White House staffer present at the meeting was quoted by the source as saying, "Petraeus made the mistake of thinking he was still dealing with George Bush instead of with Barack Obama."

Petraeus, Gates and Odierno had hoped to sell Obama on a plan that they formulated in the final months of the Bush administration that aimed at getting around a key provision of the U.S.-Iraqi withdrawal agreement signed envisioned re-categorising large numbers of combat troops as support troops. That subterfuge was by the United States last November while ostensibly allowing Obama to deliver on his campaign promise.

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http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45640

[Bok_Tukalo]

1. Incredible Claims Demand Incredible Proof

These are soldiers of the highest caliber. They believe in the concept of civilian control of the American military. A public airing of differences with the Commander-in-Chief on any large level would be extraordinary.

[truebrit71]

2. Excuse me General, but what is it about "Commander in Chief" you don't understand?

...and you made a HUGE mistake thinking you were still dealing with the smirking simian you have been accustomed to..

[marylanddem]

3. So why the fuck did Obama keep Gates?

He's a slimeball.

[EPIC1934]

4. Walker incident.

We could be looking at a General Walker v. Kennedy incident. Kennedy had to fire Walker for politicizing the troops in West Germany with Birch materials.

Wonder if Obama is a serious about standing up to the war mongers as kennedy was. There is much about Obama that was chosen by the Corporations.

Gareth Porter has written an excellent book on how the permanent Military intelligence bureacracies prevented Kennedy from having flixibility in dealing with vietnam and proving like nearly all the books since the flareup over the movie JFK, that Kennedy was in fact getting out of Vietnam. There is no longer ANY DOUBT ABOUT THIS WHATSOEVER, except among gatekeepers? like Chomsky who never goes into details during his constant Kennedy bashing. Yes I used to be a Chomsky fan. Now I think of Encounter magazine and its history when I see a Chomsky book. No certainties here, just informed doubt.

[elleng]

5. As I've noted elsewhere,

Porter omits mention of this interview with General Keane and General Wes Clark:

http://securingamerica.com/node/3161

[classysassy]

6. Mac-Arthur vs Truman

Gen Petraeus,you serve at the pleasure of the CIC,and he should ask for your resignation asap.