Petraeus Promoted, Odierno to Take Over Iraq-Nam War

The Bush administration has decided to promote General David Petraeus to the top job at Central Command, the unified command covering US military interests in 25 nations from the Horn of Africa to the Gulf and Central Asia. Moving up to take over the war in Iraq-Nam is Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno. This change in responsibilities stems from the resignation of Admiral William Fallon who retired after publicly disagreeing with the White House on the war. Admiral Fallon had to go, but the change also ties the next president’s hands, and one has reservations about General Odierno.

The fundamental cornerstone of the American military is its subordination to the civilian authority. Sometimes, the officers don’t like it, and most assuredly, it creates situations in which troops die – troops who might, under a different system, live. One doesn’t have to like the deal to appreciate that a military that doesn’t recognize the inherent authority of the civilian government is a worse arrangement. When Admiral Fallon resigned, it was to support this principle.

However, the timing is unfortunate, as there are just 270 more days of the Bush administration. By the time Congress approves these appointments (and there is no reason to think otherwise), it will be more like 250, just about 8 months. Were the incoming president to dismiss either or both, it would be a significant statement on policy, and essentially a vote of no confidence in the entire Iraq-Nam fiasco. Not that there is anything wrong with admitting the truth, but one wonders if a new Democratic administration wants to start off on the wrong foot with the Pentagon. Remember Mr. Clinton’s troubles over gays in the military, troubles that never really abated. Of course, if Mr. McCain is elected, the point becomes moot.

The military subordination to the civilian authority, though, means that the military must pursue the policy of the civilians by the appropriate means. That was why the selection of General Petraeus, the man who literally wrote the US Army handbook on counter-insurgency, to run the Iraq-Nam War was a significant move by the administration. A different approach required a different kind of general.

That brings the conversation to the suitability of General Odierno. He has served in Iraq-Nam, and therefore, does have firsthand knowledge of the situation. Yet as commander of the 4th Infantry Division, which missed the initial fighting because the Turks wouldn’t allow it to pass through their territory, General Odierno set an excessively belligerent tone and took the Nixonian opinion regarding winning hearts and minds – “when one has the enemy by the balls, their hearts and minds follow.” He has since worked with General Petraeus, and perhaps, he has learned the error of his ways in that regard. One can only hope.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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