Retired Major General Scott Gration responds to Clinton's attack on Obama

[usregimechange]

Obama adviser Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration, USAF (ret) in response to Clinton's attack on Obama:

"Americans are looking for a Commander-in-Chief who will make the right judgments on Day One. It's ironic that Hillary Clinton compared Barack Obama to George Bush when she voted to authorize the war in Iraq, supports the Bush policy of not talking to leaders we don't like, and gave George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran and Pakistan. On these key questions, Barack Obama not only made a different judgment - he made the right judgment. That is why more and more Americans believe that he is the best choice to defend our security as Commander-in-Chief, and to restore our standing in the world."

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGgN3W





Bio:

Major General Jonathan Scott Gration

View High Resolution Image

Gen. Jonathan S. Gration is the Director, Strategy, Policy, and Assessments, United States European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany. As Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy, he is responsible for formulation and staff direction of the execution of basic military/political policy and planning for command activities involving relations with other US Unified Commands, allied military and international military organizations and subordinate commands. As Director of Capabilities and Assessments, he is responsible for the development of force structure requirements; conducting studies, analyses, and assessments; and for evaluating military forces, plans, programs, and strategies.

The general was raised in Africa and entered the Air Force in 1974 through the Air Force ROTC program at Rutgers University. He has previously served as a White House Fellow, operations group commander and two-time wing commander. Prior to assuming his current position, the general served as Director of Regional Affairs in the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs.

General Gration is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flight hours, including more than 2,000 hours as an instructor pilot. He has extensive combat experience in the Middle East and served as the Commander of Task Force West during Operation Iraqi Freedom. General Gration’s aerial combat experience includes 274 combat missions over Iraq (983 hours of combat time).
EDUCATION
1974 Bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.
1988 Master of arts degree in national security studies, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
1988 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
1993 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
1999 Executive Program for General Officers of the Russian Federation and the United States, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2002 National Security Decision Making Seminar, the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1974 - October 1975, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 14th Student Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. October 1975 - March 1976, Pilot Instructor Training, 12th Student Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. March 1976 - July 1978, T-38 instructor pilot, 50th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
4. July 1978 - November 1980, F-5 instructor pilot, 425th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Williams AFB, Ariz.
5. November 1980 - August 1982, F-5 instructor pilot and operations officer, Technical Assistance Field Team, Laikipia Air Base, Nanyuki, Kenya
6. September 1982 - August 1983, White House Fellow and Special Assistant to the NASA Deputy Administrator, Washington, D.C.
7. September 1983 - December 1983, F-16 replacement training, 63rd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
8. January 1984 - December 1985, F-16 instructor pilot and flight commander, 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. December 1985 - January 1988, international politico-military affairs officer, Office of Regional Plans and Policy, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
10. January 1988 - June 1988, student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
11. June 1988 - May 1990, Chief, Offensive Air Operations, Headquarters 6th Allied Tactical Air Force, NATO, Izmir, Turkey
12. June 1990 - August 1990, F-16 replacement training, 314th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
13. September 1990 - August 1991, F-16 instructor pilot and operations officer, 512th Fighter Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
14. August 1991 - June 1992, Chief of Safety, 86th Fighter Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
15. July 1992 - June 1993, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
16. June 1993 - July 1994, Deputy Director, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Operations Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
17. July 1994 - November 1994, Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
18. November 1994 - April 1995, U.S. Air Force planner for joint and National Security Council matters, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
19. April 1995 - June 1995, F-16 replacement training, 310th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
20. June 1995 - July 1996, Commander, 4404th Operations Group (Provisional), King Abdul Aziz AB, Saudi Arabia
21. August 1996 - June 1998, Commander, 39th Wing, and 39th Air and Space Expeditionary Wing, Incirlik AB, Turkey
22. June 1998 - January 2000, Commander, 3rd Wing, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
23. January 2000 December 2001, Deputy Director for Operations, J-39, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
24. December 2001 - July 2003, Director of Regional Affairs, Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. (January 2003 - June 2003, Commander, Joint Task Force-West, Southwest Asia)
25. August 2003 - May 2004, Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, Office of the Undersecretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
26. June 2004 - present, Director, Plans and Policy Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart Germany

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 5,000 (1,065 hours of combat and combat support time)
Aircraft flown: T-38, F-5, F-16, and F-15

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two silver oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with “V” device and two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with three bronze stars
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait)
Medal of Independence, First Degree (Kingdom of Jordan)

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1981 Ten Outstanding Young Men of America, U.S. Jaycees
Certified as fully qualified Foreign Area Officer, Middle East and Africa

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jan. 24, 1974
First Lieutenant July 24, 1976
Captain July 24, 1978
Major May 1, 1985
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 1988
Colonel Jan. 1, 1995
Brigadier General Oct. 1, 1999
Major General April 1, 2003

(Current as of February 2005)

http://www.eucom.mil/english/CommandStaff/gration.htm

[MadBadger]

1. Oh Snap!

[beezlebum]

2. nice! kick and rec n/t

[anamandujano]

3. I can't find the words photograph, costume or Drudge anywhere.

Are you sure this isn't old news?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. Maybe you should stop watching Drudge.

Just saying.

[anamandujano]

12. Does Drudge have a TV show? No where does this so-called response

address any of the current news of the day.

That's all I was saying.

[usregimechange]

20. This is the front page, is that what you are looking for?

[anamandujano]

25. That's not TV. Sludge is smearing Hillary by insinuating

that she forced Obama to put on that costume, get a photo taken, save her copy of the National Enquirer and then mail it to Drudge so the MSM could keep accusing her of running a dirty campaign.

And we thought she was smart enough to run for president.

[Why Syzygy]

4. K&R . votes count

[weezie1317]

5. That first quote says it all!

[FrenchieCat]

6. The best part......

"It's ironic that Hillary Clinton compared Barack Obama to George Bush when she voted to authorize the war in Iraq."

[zulchzulu]

7. He's obviously in a cult...

:sarcasm:

[Whisp]

17. and, and, he was in AFRICA!

maybe he's one of those muslims too!!! eeeeeeeek!

:sarcasm:

[H2O Man]

9. Nominated.

Thank you.

[monmouth]

10. This is huge and needs to get out there...K&R all the way..n/t

[NC_Nurse]

11. Great response! Spot on. K&R.

Hill's the one who's been voting with Bush all along.

[ProSense]

13. Also, General McPeak is a co-chair of Obama's campaign

As the military and foreign policy of the Bush administration coalesced, however, McPeak expressed strong objections, especially with regard to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. McPeak later openly campaigned for Howard Dean's nomination, and when Dean withdrew, acted as an adviser for the John Kerry campaign. He was also one of twenty-seven signatories to the statement of the "Committee of Diplomats & Commanders for Change" calling the Bush Administration a failure at "preserving national security" and calling for Bush not to be re-elected.

He now is working as a co-chair on Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

link

GENERAL IN NEW OBAMA AD

Former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Merrill A. (Tony) McPeak cites Obama’s “judgment,” “insight” and “courage” and calls him “our best hope to restore our security and standing in today's world” in a new 30-second TV ad up in Iowa.

“Many of you probably know I have a little combat experience,” McPeak said on a conference call with reporters. “I watched a couple Commanders-In-Chiefs up close. I maybe can give a little expert testimony on judgment. …I’ve gotten to know Barack Obama very well in the last 6 to 8 months. He has precisely the kind of judgment we need. …

“Lives are at stake, and that can’t be left to business as usual thinking.”

McPeak said Obama’s Senate staff approached him about setting up a meeting with the senator since McPeak had written op-eds opposing the war. They hit it off.

“He’s going to be a great Commander-in-Chief,” McPeak said. “Among this group of potential candidates, he’s head and shoulders above the rest in this regard.”

A FOX News questioner asked about the lapel pin flap. McPeak quickly dismissed any criticism, calling it “petty symbolism,” “business as usual” and “old politics.”

“Isn’t that the old politics,” McPeak said. “You know gotcha politics. He’s for turning the page. Let’s do something substantial here and solve the problems we haven’t been able to solve in the past decade or so because of this kind of nonsense.”

Here's the full transcript of the ad, "Gulf":

Full transcript:
Obama: I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message.

McPeak voice over: The combat pilot, and Air Force chief during Desert Storm, lives depended on the judgments I made.

McPeak (on-screen): And judgment is what we need from our next Commander in Chief.

McPeak (VO): Barack Obama opposed this war in Iraq from the start, showing insight and courage that others did not. And he's our best hope to restore our security and standing in today's world.

McPeak (on-screen): The old Washington hands have let us down. We need a new leader to lift America.

To Whom It May Concern:

As you might have seen, vicious smears are being circulated in anonymous emails attacking Senator Obama’s patriotism. These accusations are outrageous. As retired generals in the U.S. military and civilians who have served at the highest levels in the Department of Defense, we know something
about patriotism, and Senator Obama is one of the most deeply patriotic Americans we know.

What makes Senator Obama patriotic?

We admire his long record of public service. Over the last two decades, he has served the American people as a community organizer, a civil rights lawyer, constitutional law professor, a state senator, and a U.S. senator.

We also admire his strong support for our troops and veterans. As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, he has fought to improve care for wounded troops, slash red tape, and reform the disability review process. He also passed legislation to combat homelessness among veterans. As
President, he will expand housing vouchers, and launch a new supportive services housing program for at-risk veterans and their families. In addition, he will improve mental health screening and treatment at all levels: from enlistment, to deployment, to reentry into civilian life.

Above all, we admire Senator Obama’s courage in putting his convictions ahead of his political prospects by opposing the war in Iraq from the start. In 2002, Obama said the Iraq War could lead to an occupation of “undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.”

Today, he’s showing the same good judgment by fighting to responsibly end the Iraq War and by standing up to the rush to war with Iran, including opposing the Kyl-Lieberman amendment that would provide cover for an attack on Iran.

Senator Obama’s personal history represents the best of the American Dream. His grandfather fought in Patton’s army and went to school on the GI Bill. His grandmother worked on a bomber assembly line during World War II. His father crossed an ocean in search of the promise of America. And his mother taught him that America has a place for everyone’s dreams.

Senator Obama’s attackers are peddling lies and smears because they disagree with his strong opposition to the war in Iraq and the rush to war in Iran. They know that as President, Barack Obama will end the ugly, divisive, slash-and-burn style of politics that they have mastered. To all those trying
desperately to discredit Senator Obama’s patriotism, take it from us: we have served this nation for decades, and we know a true patriot when we see one. Barack Obama is a patriot. America needs him now.

Sincerely,
Gen. Merrill “Tony” McPeak, USAF (Ret)
Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration, USAF (Ret)
Richard Danzig, Secretary of the Navy (1998-2001)

PDF

GENERAL MERRILL A. MCPEAK

Retired Nov. 1, 1994.

General Merrill A. McPeak is chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. As chief, he serves as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipage of a combined active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian force of over 850,000 people serving at approximately 1,300 locations in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he and the other service chiefs function as military advisers to the secretary of defense, National Security Council and the president.

The general entered the Air Force in 1957 as a distinguished graduate of the San Diego State College ROTC program. He has commanded an Air Force wing, a numbered Air Force and, before becoming Air Force chief of staff, commanded the Pacific Air Forces, a major command. He is a command pilot, having flown more than 6,000 hours, principally in fighter aircraft. He flew two years as a solo pilot for the elite aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, and flew as an attack pilot and high-speed forward air controller in Vietnam.

EDUCATION
1957 Bachelor of arts degree in economics, San Diego State College
1970 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
1974 Master's degree in international relations, George Washington University
1974 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
1979 The Executive Development Program, University of Michigan Graduate School of Business

ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1957 - January 1958, student, Officer Preflight Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 1958 - January 1959, student, pilot training, Hondo Air Base, Texas, and Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
3. February 1959 - December 1959, student, F-100 combat crew training, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
4. December 1959 - August 1961, F-104C fighter pilot, 436th Tactical Fighter Squadron, George Air Force Base, Calif.
5. August 1961 - May 1964, F-100D fighter pilot, 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge, England
6. May 1964 - August 1965, fighter staff officer, tactical evaluation division, Headquarters 3rd Air Force, South Ruislip Air Station, England
7. September 1965 - December 1966, F-104G instructor pilot, 4443rd Combat Crew Training Squadron; later, F-104G weapons officer, 4510th Combat Crew Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
8. December 1966 - December 1968, demonstration pilot, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
9. December 1968 - January 1969, F-100D fighter pilot, 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Phu Cat Air Base, Republic of Vietnam
10. January 1969 - August 1969, operations officer, later commander, Operation Commando Sabre (Misty Fast FACs), Phu Cat Air Base, Republic of Vietnam
11. August 1969 - December 1969, chief, standardization and evaluation division, 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam
12. January 1970 - July 1970, student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
13. August 1970 - August 1973, air operations staff officer, Mideast Division, directorate of plans and policy, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
14. August 1973 - June 1974, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
15. June 1974 - April 1975, assistant deputy commander for operations, 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
16. April 1975 - June 1975, student, French language training (en route for duty as air attache to Republic of Cambodia), Foreign Service Institute, Washington, D.C.
17. July 1975 - June 1976, military fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York City
18. July 1976 - July 1977, commander, 513th Combat Support Group, Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall, England
19. July 1977 - July 1978, vice commander, 406th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, Zaragoza Air Base, Spain
20. July 1978 - February 1980, assistant chief of staff, current operations, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Boerfink, West Germany
21. February 1980 - June 1981, commander, 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Station Upper Heyford, England
22. June 1981 - October 1982, chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany
23. October 1982 - May 1985, deputy chief of staff, plans, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
24. May 1985 - June 1987, deputy chief of staff, programs and resources, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
25. June 1987 - July 1988, commander, 12th Air Force and commander, U.S. Southern Command Air Forces, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas
26. July 1988 - October 1990, commander in chief, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
27. October 1990 - October 1994, chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot, parachutist
Flight hours: More than 6,000
Aircraft flown: F-4, F-15, F-16, F-100, F-104, F- 111
Pilot wings from: Germany, Spain, Mexico, Thailand, Yugoslavia France, Israel, Russia, Bulgaria, Venezuela and Poland

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

PUBLICATIONS
"Training and Discipline, Keys to Maximum Performance," TAC ATTACK, August 1968
"Israel: Borders and Security," Foreign Affairs, April 1976
"TAC Air Missions and the Fire Support Coordination Line," Air University Review, Sept. - Oct. 1985
"For the Composite Wing," Air Power Journal, Fall 1990

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 19, 1957
First Lieutenant May 30, 1959
Captain Oct. 1, 1962
Major May 20, 1968
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 1972
Colonel April 1, 1974
Brigadier General July 1, 1981
Major General Oct. 1, 1983
Lieutenant General May 22, 1985
General Aug. 1, 1988

(Current as of May 1993)

[Coexist]

14. why I had no idea

thank you for that information.

[stevenleser]

19. Very proud that when I was active duty USAF, McPeak was Chief of Staff

Go General McPeak!

[usregimechange]

23. Thanks for posting

[grantcart]

15. k/r

[rinsd]

16. Love the dictation of Obama talking points!

Way to stand for yourself there General :eyes:

[shadowknows69]

18. Sweet!

You can bet this won't get much MSM attention.

[Scurrilous]

21. K & R

:thumbsup:

[City Lights]

22. Great post! K&R.

Thanks. :hi:

[ClayZ]

24. Wow! K and R

[donheld]

26. K & R

Wonderful

[TexasObserver]

27. Hillary has proved that her judgment in foreign policy is BAD.

Her entire theme reminds me of the guy who kept betting and losing horse races. After his bookie watched him lose one bet after another, the bookie said "why don't you try betting football?"

The losing bettor replied: "Fotball?! What do I know about football?!"

Like him, Hillary only THINKS she knows about horses (foreign policy).