General Petraeus became a direct threat to Obama because of his success in Iraq and his popularity with the American people. He is conservative and it was rumored that Republican Party wanted him to run him against Obama in 2012. Obama knew that and put Petraeus as head of the CIA which is a position that normally stays in the background because of its stealthy activities. Obama also used the same tactic with Hillary Clinton making her obligated to him as the Secretary of State. This was a useless position for her dealings in the Middle East, because Muslims have no respect and will not negotiate with women but it kept her out of her political ambitions to run against Obama in 012.

Why do we need a book to tell us what the general public already knew; it was common knowledge that Patreus was contemplating resignation after the Afghanistan fiasco. The quote given was also in the news at the time. Seems like the pundits have nothing else to do except rehash old news.

I also served in Iraq and I was most disappointed when more Generals didn’t step up and support General McChrystal. The front office of any war is on the battlefield and for a neophyte (who has never served in any military force) decides how we will fight our wars encourages a disgraceful conclusion. While serving, our political leaders decided that the decrease in military casualties was worth losing the war. Many times we took small arm fire and rocket fire and immediately turned aroung and headed for our base at full speed. Not once was I on a patrol that stopped and engaged the enemy. “We didn’t want to hurt any civilians even though the “civilians” were carrying the rocket launchers, ieds, and rockets. For every strike we made, we let a dozen go by because the terrorists were near “civilian” houses. Counter insurgency and counter terrorism can co-exist, but you don’t excuse the civilians who aid and abet the terrorists. In the end, we were nothing but moving targets and forbidden to stop and engage the enemy. My Stryker was struck by an RKPG and five of us got out alive (but injured). We had 5 strykers in our patrol with probably over 25,000 rounds between us. We could have cut down every blade of grass in the field where the terrorist was hiding, but were forbidden to do so. One week later, in the same spot, the terrorist got lucky and penetrated the armor of the Stryker and killed all five soldiers inside. We should never, never, never go into a war without the total overwhelming force and supplies to win! Of course we would need a leader who doesn’t promise to quit by a certain date and who gives the enemy our exact troop strength and a laundry list of our equipment. I’d vote for David Petraeus tomorrow and I think most people who know this man would join me!

General Petraeus, like Gen. MacArthur, is from the old school, he wanted to stay there until we defeated the enemy. The problem is, the enemy was dispersed among people of Afghanistan who were not our enemy. Our action there was really a Police Action, and that will continue forever, like Korea and a few dozen other places.

If Petraeus was truly a principled man, and cared for the USA, he would have resigned in protest, to show the American people what a terrifically dire decission was made, that will put to waste all the sacrifices made by the US Military and the American people, but instead he took a pay-off of a touted government position, to ensure the extension of his government career. What you’ve seen is what we got from Pretaeus, no ifs, ands, or buts, the facts can be seen by all, and the outcome of the future of Afghanistan will tell the truth.

To his eternal shame, Petraeus (USMA74) did not stand with McChrystal (USMA76) when the obvious stand was to support McChrystal. So the one-world government power brokers now have one more new face for the future in which they control.

My problem with this is the fact he merely thought about it. When will we start getting men and woman that stand and act on principle and not just think about it? He has a bully pulpit use the darn thing to stand up for what is right. Imagine the damage we can do to this hostile take-over if we had people of influence gain a few nads and stand up and SPEAK! Enough of this thinking crap.

Of course he’s considered and outsider. He’s a Republican with several years of real training and leadership. Unfortunately Obama has him in his pocket and this retired 4 star general now knows he’s just a puppet taking orders from a party who couldn’t even run a candy store.

Is this really all that unusual? Isn’t it fairly common for “four stars” to step into the political arena before, during and after they have completed thirty to thirty-five years in the military? They too play the games necessary that will advance them further up the pole. So, Petraeus is in a way a “run of the norm” type. Yes, he is very good in the field but again, so many “four stars” are in pursuit of political recognition/position once they leave the military, retired or otherwise.