Comments on: How Bush Decided On The Surge http://floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-bush-decided-on-the-surge Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:28:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jonn Lilyea http://floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13432 Jonn Lilyea Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:31:54 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13432 I disagree with the McClellan/Casey comparison. McClellan was fighting the Crimean War in Virginia, Casey's strategy was at least within the context of his own generation's experience. Casey, unlike McClellan, wasn't losing the war in Iraq - he just wasn't winning. Not to take anything away from General Petreaus and his troops, I will always subscribe to the theory that the biggest factor in the surge's success is that President Bush committed more troops after the Republicans lost the 2006 election while Democrats were demanding an immediate withdrawal. al Sadr and al Qaeda were convinced all they had to do wait us out and we'd collapse under the weight of political pressure. Bush however proved that he was committed to Iraq and did the opposite of what everyone expected (the opposite of what either of his electoral opponents or his predecessor would have done) and all but ignored the Congressional Democrats. al Qaeda and al Sadr crumbled in the face of that commitment.

I disagree with the McClellan/Casey comparison. McClellan was fighting the Crimean War in Virginia, Casey’s strategy was at least within the context of his own generation’s experience. Casey, unlike McClellan, wasn’t losing the war in Iraq – he just wasn’t winning.

Not to take anything away from General Petreaus and his troops, I will always subscribe to the theory that the biggest factor in the surge’s success is that President Bush committed more troops after the Republicans lost the 2006 election while Democrats were demanding an immediate withdrawal.

al Sadr and al Qaeda were convinced all they had to do wait us out and we’d collapse under the weight of political pressure. Bush however proved that he was committed to Iraq and did the opposite of what everyone expected (the opposite of what either of his electoral opponents or his predecessor would have done) and all but ignored the Congressional Democrats. al Qaeda and al Sadr crumbled in the face of that commitment.

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]]> By: ChrisG http://floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13424 ChrisG Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:36:17 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13424 I served under general Casey when he commanded 1AD. He is a good officer and set the ground work for the Surge and the Sunni Awakening, even if he did not support the Surge. However, history may not be kind to him. Casey is no McClellan, but not a "Grant". Petraeus is more like McAurther/Patton/Eisenhower/Marshall if one must make comparrisons. He is the right man, at the right place, and at the right time with a President who listens to him and supports him. For that, GEN Petraeus gets full page discount adds in the NYTs calling him "betrayus". I also met General Jack Keane a few years ago at Ft. Knox. He is a very intelligent, and capable officer who is well spoken and committed to America. I also got to witness this entire thing while in Iraq in 2007. And yes, the DoS, for the most part, is a drunken POS. What I saw in Iraq was a President commited to victory, as the article states, and the left commited to America's defeat. I saw this as every time Pelosi, Ried, Murtha, or any of their ilk slandered us, the terrorist media, Imams, AQI, and internet message boards would light up parroting leftist quotes (or the left parroting their quotes... it was difficult to tell). After the House's "run away" vote last spring, the terrorists cried that they had won and tried to step up rocket attacks on the IZ. These terrorists ran into 1st CAV, the 82 ABN, a whole lot of Iraqi Soldiers, and very angry Sunni/Shia/Kurd Iraqi civilians who dashed the islamofascists' view on their Tet style "victory". And the rest is now, slowly, coming to light with the many other successes of the Surge.

I served under general Casey when he commanded 1AD. He is a good officer and set the ground work for the Surge and the Sunni Awakening, even if he did not support the Surge. However, history may not be kind to him. Casey is no McClellan, but not a “Grant”. Petraeus is more like McAurther/Patton/Eisenhower/Marshall if one must make comparrisons. He is the right man, at the right place, and at the right time with a President who listens to him and supports him. For that, GEN Petraeus gets full page discount adds in the NYTs calling him “betrayus”.

I also met General Jack Keane a few years ago at Ft. Knox. He is a very intelligent, and capable officer who is well spoken and committed to America.

I also got to witness this entire thing while in Iraq in 2007. And yes, the DoS, for the most part, is a drunken POS. What I saw in Iraq was a President commited to victory, as the article states, and the left commited to America’s defeat. I saw this as every time Pelosi, Ried, Murtha, or any of their ilk slandered us, the terrorist media, Imams, AQI, and internet message boards would light up parroting leftist quotes (or the left parroting their quotes… it was difficult to tell). After the House’s “run away” vote last spring, the terrorists cried that they had won and tried to step up rocket attacks on the IZ. These terrorists ran into 1st CAV, the 82 ABN, a whole lot of Iraqi Soldiers, and very angry Sunni/Shia/Kurd Iraqi civilians who dashed the islamofascists’ view on their Tet style “victory”.

And the rest is now, slowly, coming to light with the many other successes of the Surge.

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]]> By: DirtCrashr http://floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13405 DirtCrashr Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:49:23 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13405 The State Department is institutionally incapable of warfare as a solution or fighting any kind of battle outside a smoke-filled room, and will always go against it in favor of "Diplomacy" no matter how spastic and very frequently idiotic.

The State Department is institutionally incapable of warfare as a solution or fighting any kind of battle outside a smoke-filled room, and will always go against it in favor of “Diplomacy” no matter how spastic and very frequently idiotic.

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]]> By: Mike's America http://floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13351 Mike's America Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:51:04 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13351 I don't see much evidence of Barne's supporting McCheese jainphx. As for the State Dept., they are constantly trying to screw up the military. Can anyone name ONE THING the State Dept. has ever done right? It's an even bigger hotbed of liberal idiocy than CIA.

I don’t see much evidence of Barne’s supporting McCheese jainphx.

As for the State Dept., they are constantly trying to screw up the military. Can anyone name ONE THING the State Dept. has ever done right?

It’s an even bigger hotbed of liberal idiocy than CIA.

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]]> By: jainphx http://floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13255 jainphx Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:34:45 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13255 Fred Barnes has lost my respect. His behind the scenes manuvers for McCain has me very put of with him and Bill Crystal.

Fred Barnes has lost my respect. His behind the scenes manuvers for McCain has me very put of with him and Bill Crystal.

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]]> By: David http://floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13330 David Sun, 27 Jan 2008 22:47:15 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/01/27/how-bush-decided-on-the-surge/#comment-13330 A good accounting of how a plan came together. But, it also underscores President Bush had a better understanding of how things stood militarily than most are willing to give him credit for. Furthermore, it appears that Rumsfeld had come to a conclusion that the status quo at the time had to change. Why would he recommend Gen Petraeus for the job? As for the equating of McClellan/Grant analogy with Casey/Petraeus, you need to remember this President doesn't cast aspersions. During the Civil War, McClellan rarely (if ever) pressed any advantage when he had it. We do know Gen Casey reluctantly took the job. It didn't mean he wasn't ready, it meant he probably relied on his staff more heavily much in the same manner as Army Vice Chief of Staff would. Whether this is a correct assessment or not, that's for another time. Lastly, it shows this President knows how to lead. It's a rarity in politics. If there is a true "Profile in Courage," this is it. (I don't expect the Kennedy clan to present President Bush with that award.)

A good accounting of how a plan came together. But, it also underscores President Bush had a better understanding of how things stood militarily than most are willing to give him credit for. Furthermore, it appears that Rumsfeld had come to a conclusion that the status quo at the time had to change. Why would he recommend Gen Petraeus for the job?

As for the equating of McClellan/Grant analogy with Casey/Petraeus, you need to remember this President doesn’t cast aspersions. During the Civil War, McClellan rarely (if ever) pressed any advantage when he had it. We do know Gen Casey reluctantly took the job. It didn’t mean he wasn’t ready, it meant he probably relied on his staff more heavily much in the same manner as Army Vice Chief of Staff would. Whether this is a correct assessment or not, that’s for another time.

Lastly, it shows this President knows how to lead. It’s a rarity in politics. If there is a true “Profile in Courage,” this is it. (I don’t expect the Kennedy clan to present President Bush with that award.)

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