Bush Taps New 'War Czar'

[cal04]

Source: MARTHA RADDATZ

ABC News Learns Pentagon Official Selected to Oversee Iraq, Afghanistan Wars

After a frustrating search for a new "war czar" to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, ABC News has learned that President Bush has chosen the Pentagon's director of operations, Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, for the role.

In the newly created position of assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan policy and implementation, Lute would have the power to direct the Pentagon, State Department and other agencies involved in the two conflicts.

Lute would report directly to the president and to National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

Filling the position had become a priority for the White House, after a handful of retired generals told the White House they did not want the job. Among them, retired Marine Corps four-star Gen. Jack Sheehan, who proved an embarrassment to the White House after he wrote an op-ed piece in the Washington Post saying there were "huge shortcomings" in the White House view of the strategy in Iraq.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3176644&page=1

[Stinky The Clown]

1. I think his title is spelled wrong ......

Isn't it S-C-A-P-E-G-O-A-T?

[Honeycombe8]

3. LOL LOL...... n/t

[LSparkle]

4. That's EXACTLY what I thought!

[Kikosexy2]

15. Poor...

sucker...in a matter of months, he'll be resigning...okay, make it weeks...

[Tempest]

2. Interesting. Lute called for a troop withdrawal

“We believe at some point, in order to break this dependence on the . . . coalition, you simply have to back off and let the Iraqis step forward. You have to undercut the perception of occupation in Iraq. It's very difficult to do that when you have 150,000-plus, largely western, foreign troops occupying the country.”
--Maj Gen Douglas Lute, of CENTCOM, 2005

[niyad]

5. does the salute get changed to a "seig heil"??

[pinto]

6. Is this position meant to 'negotiate' the feud between Pentagon and State?

I don't see a clear role other than this:

"Lute would have the power to direct the Pentagon, State Department and other agencies involved in the two conflicts."

[Up2Late]

22. The Daily Show explained it pretty well a few weeks ago, here's a link to the video...

<http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/media_player/play.jhtml?itemId=85477>

The part about the "War Czar" starts at about 3:30 into the clip, but the rest is pretty good too.

Trouble in Paradise? -- At this point in the war, the current administration is making Jon's job obsolete.

Btw, there are links to about 3 years worth of Daily Show video at this link: <http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/media_player/browseresults.jhtml?showId=934>

[liberal N proud]

7. 'War Czar' makes it official - we are a war mongering people

If we have someone in the cabinet whose job is to direct and wage war then there is nothing left that made this nation great.

I am ashamed to live in America anymore, the land of the war machine.

[partylessinOhio]

10. Bravo! Great post!

:applause:

[Vilis Veritas]

13. Really? This finally makes it official?

I thought:

The American Revolution
1775-1783

The Indian Wars
1775-1890

Shay's Rebellion
1786-1787
Rebellion
Anti-(state)Government Rebels vs. Massachusetts

The Whiskey Rebellion
1794
Rebellion
Anti-Tax Rebels in Western Pennsylvania

Quasi-War With France
1798-1800
Inter-State (Naval) War
France

Fries's Rebellion "The Hot Water War"
1799
Rebellion
Anti-Tax Rebels in Pennsylvania

The Barbary Wars
1800-1815
Inter-State War
The Barbary States
(Tripoli, Algiers & Morocco)

The War of 1812
1812-1815
Inter-State War
Great Britain
The Growing & Troubled Republic

Primary Name of Conflict Dates of Conflict
(U.S. Involvement Only)
Type of Conflict Primary Opponent(s)
of the United States

Mexican-American War
1846-1848
Inter-State War
Mexico

U.S. Slave Rebellions
1800-1865
Slave Rebellions
Various Slave groups

"Bleeding Kansas"
1855-1860
Civil War (state of Kansas)
Pro-Slavery vs. Anti-Slavery Kansans

Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
1859
Rebellion
Anti-Slavery Rebels (Led by John Brown)

United States Civil War
1861-1865
Civil War
United States (The North)
vs.
The Confederate States (The South)


U.S. Intervention in Hawaiian Revolution
1893
Internal Rebellion & Foreign Intervention

The Spanish-American War
1898
Inter-State War

U.S. Intervention in Samoan Civil War
1898-1899
Civil War & Foreign Intervention

U.S.-Philippine War
1899-1902
Colonial War, War of Imperialism

Boxer Rebellion
1900
Internal Rebellion & Foreign Intervention
Chinese Government & "Boxer" Rebels

The Moro Wars
1901-1913
Colonial Wars
Philippine Muslim Rebels

U.S. Intervention in Panamanian Revolution
1903
Secessionist Revolution & Foreign Intervention
Colombia

The Banana Wars
1909-1933
Civil Wars & Foreign Intervention
Various Rebel Groups In Central America

U.S. Occupation of Vera Cruz
1914
Inter-State War
Mexico

Pershing's Raid Into Mexico
1916-1917
Inter-State, Border War
Mexican Government & Mexican Rebels ("Bandits")

World War I
1917-1918 (American involvement only)
Inter-State War
Germany

Allied Intervention in Russian Civil War
1919-1921
Civil War & Foreign Intervention
Russian Bolshevik (Soviet) Government

World War II
1941-1945 (American involvement only)
Inter-State War
Germany, Japan & Italy

The Cold War
1945-1991
Global Inter-State Cold War
The Soviet Union & Communist China

The Korean War
1950-1953
Inter-State War
North Korea & China

The Second Indochina War "Vietnam War"
1956-1975
Civil War, Inter-State War
North Vietnam & South Vietnamese "Viet Cong" Rebels

U.S. Intervention in Lebanon
1958
Civil War & Foreign Intervention
No real foe for U.S. Troops landed to support Lebanon Gov.

Dominican Intervention
1965
Civil War & Foreign Intervention
Rebels in the Dominican Republic

The Mayaguez Rescue Operation

News Story 1975 (May 15)
Hostage Rescue & Inter-State Conflict
Khmer Rouge Guerrillas (the new government of Cambodia)

Iranian Hostage Rescue "Desert One" or "Operation Eagle Claw"
1980 (April 25)
Hostage Rescue & Inter-State Conflict
Iran

U.S. Libya Conflict
1981, 1986
Inter-State War
Libya

U.S. Intervention in Lebanon
1982-1984
Civil War,Foreign Intervention & Inter-State War
Syria & Various Muslim and Leftist Lebanese Militias

U.S. Invasion of Grenada
1983
Inter-State War
Marxist Grenadian Faction & Cuba

The Tanker War

"Operation Earnest Will"
1987-1988
Inter-State War
Iran

U.S. Invasion of Panama
1989
Inter-State War
Panama

Second Persian Gulf War "Operation Desert Storm"
1991
Inter-State War
Iraq

"No-Fly Zone" War
1991-2003
Inter-State War
Iraq

U.S. Intervention in Somalia
1992-1994
Civil War & Foreign Intervention
Various Somali Militias

NATO Intervention in Bosnia (Operation Deliberate Force) Summary
1994-1995
Civil War,Foreign Intervention & Inter-State War
Bosnian Serb Rebels

U.S. Occupation of Haiti
1994
Foreign Intervention
Haitian Government

U.S. Embassy bombings and strikes on Afghanistan and Sudan (The bin Laden War)
August, 1998
Terrorist Conflict

"Desert Fox" Campaign (part of U.S./Iraq Conflict)
December, 1998
Inter-State War
Iraq

Kosovo War
1999
Civil War, Foreign Intervention & Inter-State War
Yugoslavia/Serbia

Afghanistan War (Operation Enduring Freedom)
October 7, 2001-Present
War against Terrorism
The Taliban and Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaida organization

Third Persian Gulf War "Operation Iraqi Freedom"
March 19, 2003-Present
Inter-State War
Iraq

- Made it official long before today...

Not to mention that we were helping Osama's family before the WTC attacks...

Face it...we were a war mongering people long before today...peace.

[partylessinOhio]

8. How many layers....

do we need between the LiarBush and his BushWar?

It's all BUSH!

[conspirator]

9. America keeps living by the sword... nt

[cal04]

11. War Czar Finally Found

The new patsy war czar has finally been named. Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute will oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the newly created position of assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan policy and implementation, Lute would have the power to direct the Pentagon, State Department and other agencies involved in the two conflicts....

Lute is a widely respected officer, but is by no means a high-profile player in Washington. Before assuming his position at the Pentagon, he was the director of operations for Central Command while Gen. John Abizaid was the commander.

Lute's approach to this appointment will be interesting, judging by some past statements:

He said: "We believe at some point, in order to break this dependence on the . . . coalition, you simply have to back off and let the Iraqis step forward.

"You have to undercut the perception of occupation in Iraq. It's very difficult to do that when you have 150,000-plus, largely western, foreign troops occupying the country."

Of course, that was many FUs ago, way back in August of 2005, when they were telling us that, just around the corner, we were going to have significant withdrawal of forces from Iraq. It will be most interesting to hear what he has to say about the Iraqis standing up now, two years later, at his Senate confirmation hearings. I imagine we'll probably be hearing a lot about September.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/15/171958/246

[Roland99]

12. Reporting to HADLEY?!?!?!? WTF?!?!?

He's the mother-fucker that put those infamous words back in the SotU speech!!!!

[lapfog_1]

14. a LT. GENERAL??? - in a word, wow.

Couldn't find one so-called flag officer to take this turkey of a posting.

Unbelievable!


This is the kind of posting that demands a 4 star. A "field marshall". And all they could get was a luet.

[Paulie]

18. That was my first thought too... now, next step is to catapult the propaganda

They going to make him a brevet 5 star or does he become defacto "General of the Armies of the United States" Shudder...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_of_the_Armies_of_the_United_States

[Up2Late]

20. I wonder if he was ordered by a 4-star to take the position? Could they do that?

My feeling is, anyone dumb enough to take this job voluntarily is not someone I have much confidence in.

[Recursion]

35. Eh, there are rarely "orders" at that level

A 4-star could tell one of his 3-stars that if he wants to keep being a general he needs to take the job, but nobody would actually order an unwilling general into a command.

Also, keep in mind generals' ranks aren't like lower ranks: your stars are determined by your billet. That's why so many people pass through SOUTHCOM and JFCOM, because there are X 4-stars in the military and they need to keep juggling them through the 4-star billets.

[Recursion]

34. This would seem to be a job to resurrect the 5-star for

Though by protocol we're only supposed to bring back that rank if we have allies who have it since apparently the rank of Field Marshal is "unamerican" -- but this is precisely what this billet is: Field Marshal

[CANDO]

16. Outsourcing Constitutional role of Commander In Chief?

That should go over big with constitutional scholars.

[MasonJar]

17. I guess this means that W is no longer the decider and the Commander

in Thief.

[louis-t]

19. This is solely to take blame OFF of WH.

The base would be furious if stupidface withdrew troops. Now he can say to his base "mistakes were made in withdrawing troops" and be done with it.

[Blue_Tires]

21. I think DU needs a 'Bush Czar'

volunteers/nominees??

[tabasco]

23. Newly created position by the guys who claim to hate big guvmint.

I really don't recognize my Nation anymore.

The robber barons have corrupted our government completely.

FDR ran TWO MUCH larger wars than this. Pussy Bush will retreat to cut brush in Crawford. That's all he's good for.

[anotherdrew]

24. geee. doesn't the Director of Operations already HAVE a job to do?

this pathetic administration need to be removed from office.

[file83]

27. This tactic is TYPICAL of the Bush Administration. It's a stall tactic.

Have a problem? Create a new bureaucracy, say we are making "progress".

Rinse and repeat.

9/11? Patriot Act I, Department of Homeland Security, Patriot Act II
Katrina? Fire the old guy, reshuffle FEMA.
Failing War in Iraq? Set up fake government in Iraq, conduct elections, Plan B "The Surge", War Czar...etc.

The examples go on and on.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

25. The important thing here is that he IS only a ONE STAR

That means they couldn't find anything more
substantial who would agree to be a ball
licker.

[file83]

26. I'm surprised Bush didn't nominate a Private First Class for War Czar.

With the way he nominates totally unqualified people left and right.

[Hardrada]

29. Gomer Pyle, War Czar

[Recursion]

36. Lt. Gen is 3 stars

Unless I'm reading his rank wrong, he's a Lieutenant General

[porque no]

28. War Czar? This is just surreal.

This is perverse. What next, Anti-Insurgency Minister? IED Dismantler Chief? What the fuck?

[MGKrebs]

30. Well, Mrs. Krebs says that we call this a "surge" because

that's what you do to oppose an "inSURGEncy".

They are the insurgents, we are the surgents. Therefore, this must be a surge.

[Tom Joad]

31. Lute? Maybe it should be spelled L*o*o*t. As in loot and plunder.

[Amonester]

32. a new czar position for the new USSA

bushco killed the USA
then
the AWOL chimpy created the USSA
then
a new czar

RIP USA

back in the USSA (and beware if you talk to the press of the truths that you know about). :grr:

freedom's dead. :cry:

[Recursion]

33. Step 1: draw sword

Step 2: fall on sword

Replace czar and repeat as necessary

[BadGimp]

37. What does this mean for the Sec Def?

Does he matter anymore or is this intended to dilute his authority?

[rodeodance]

38. Pentagon general to be 'war czar'

Source: ap

Pentagon general to be 'war czar'

By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer 33 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Anxious to show progress to a nation weary of war,
President Bush is hoping a military leader with proven organizational skills can make the government's vast bureaucracy march in step in
Iraq and Afghanistan.



Bush's selection of Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute as war czar does not bring the promise of a change in policy, speedier progress or an end to the fighting for U.S. troops. Instead, he is billed as a bureaucracy buster.

Nothing is more important, Bush said Tuesday in announcing Lute's nomination, than getting the commanders and ambassadors in the war zones what they need.

"Douglas Lute can make sure that happens quickly and reliably," Bush said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070516/ap_on_go_pr_wh/war_czar_17;_ylt=AhW6kpcOL1Ppl9ysD9CfrFpH2ocA

[intaglio]

39. Scapegoat or sacrificial lamb? n/t

[Bobbieo]

40. The title "war czar' is repulsive. Bush won't give up on the war!

[rodeodance]

41. you are right---that title has a lot to be desired!

[radfringe]

42. I prefer to call him BUS-BAIT

4 years after the invasion, and 4 years into the occupation we now get someone in charge???

up until the appointment of the war czar - the "leader-guy face" on the invasion/occupation had been Rummy and Bush

from previous news stories, the hunt for a war czar wasn't going well. Many were asked and none accepted the job until the WH found some hidden "loot" in the form of Lieutenant General Douglas Lute.

yes you could characterize this as a set up for a "my pet scapegoat" or a "sacrificial lamb" because now the loyal bushies have someone specific to blame when things continue to go wrong. Although I prefer to refer to Lute as being bait waiting to be thrown under a bus.

[Cobalt-60]

43. Allah Alone knows what they've promised him

They can channel the payment through a scam book deal or regular feature on faux.

[aquart]

44. George is going to regret this sooooooooo much.

The decider who wants all the power in the world now wants to offload the responsibility cutrate?

He will never recover from the intense gutlessness of this. Basically, he's refusing to do his job.

[opihimoimoi]

45. The Wimp in charge is avoiding responsibility and blame...the new guy will soon meet the bus tires

[offthecurve]

49. Certainly, we need more distance between the CIC and the troops.

</sarcasm>

[Thor_MN]

46. Human mine sweeper

Job Responsibility: stomp around in unknown territories to clear a path for his superiors

[texpatriot2004]

47. I don't want a "War Czar" I want * to do his job...actually I want *

impeached for violating the rule of law and the US Constitution.

I cannot believe it has come to this and he is being allowed to appoint a "war czar" instead of having to do the job that he pretends to have.

"War Czar!" Seriously! What the hell is the US Constitution for then? Sounds like something you would find in the USSR not the USA.

Pathetic. Disgraceful. Infuriating.

Plus this thread got lost among all the Falwell news it seems. :grr:

[truthisfreedom]

48. Bush Traps New 'War Czar'

Another victim...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

50. Did he buy him flowers first?