Gates Forced Pace To Resign To Avoid Congressional Oversight Of Iraq War

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/08/gates-pace-resign/

Gates Forced Pace To Resign To Avoid Congressional Oversight Of Iraq War

Gen. Peter Pace is the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff not to be renominated for a second term since the military was centralized under the joint chiefs position 21 years ago.

Today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the reason he made this unusual decision was because the administration wants to avoid a “contentious” nomination hearing with hard questions about the war in Iraq:

However, after consultations over the course of several weeks with Republican and Democratic senators, I concluded that because Gen. Pace has served as chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the last six years, the focus of his confirmation process would have been on the past, rather than the future.

Appointed as chairman by Donald Rumsfeld, Pace has been intimately involved in the U.S. failures in Iraq and has consistently touted the administration’s rosy rhetoric, despite the reality on the ground. Some highlights of his tenure:

On the situation in Iraq: “I’d say they’re going well. I wouldn’t put a great big smiley face on it, but I would say they’re going very, very well from everything you look at.”

On troop withdrawal: “e have published no orders saying come up with a complete plan for total drawdown.”

On civil war in Iraq: In 2006, Pace “said Iraq isn’t on the brink of civil war and that there isn’t any deadline for withdrawing American and coalition troops from the country.”

On U.S. troop casualties: On Memorial Day, Pace stated that “we had more than 3,000 Americans murdered on 11 September, 2001. The number who have died, sacrificed themselves since that time is approaching that number.” But in reality, the death toll in Iraq had already passed that of 9/11, with 3,455 troops killed.

On the back-up plan if escalation fails: “Plan B was to make Plan A work.”

On his support for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: “I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral, and that we should not condone immoral acts.”

On Rumsfeld: “He leads in a way that the good Lord tells him is best for our country.”

Transcript at link~

[Solly Mack]

1. Ding.Ding.Ding

[Captain Hilts]

2. That won't do it. No, I think Gates sees Pace as a toady associated with failure.

And he shouldn't have written that letter in support of Libby - a POLITICAL appointee.

[babylonsister]

4. That supposedly came from the horse's mouth:

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003394.php

So Long, "Perfect Pete"
By Spencer Ackerman - June 8, 2007, 1:06 PM

Breaking news: Marine General Peter Pace -- "Perfect Pete," as he's known inside the Pentagon -- is out as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after serving less than two years. Pace's announced departure comes just after the deputy joint chiefs chairman, Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, announced his own retirement last week.

ThinkProgress links to a report from defense expert Loren Thompson speculating that Pace's departure is "related more to the triggering of certain retirement benefits than his close association with the discredited former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld." Defense Secretary Bob Gates announced the nomination of Admiral Mike Mullen to replace Pace.

Update: Gates explained in a press conference that he feared Pace couldn't get through a nomination for another two-year term as chairman without it becoming a "contentious" forum on the administration's performance on Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Discussing the war will be on the table no matter who is the nominee. And Oversight is gonna happen

no matter what.

Pace is still a political toadie associated with Rumsfeld and a losing policy.

[global1]

7. But The New Guy Coming In Can Say He Had Nothing To Do With Past.....

actions, failures, etc in Iraq and quash that questioning.

Folks - this war/occupation is not going to end or begin to end in September. This war will be continued - and if this new guy gets to the point that he accepts that Iraq is a losing proposition - they just find another toadie to tow the line - we're fighting them there so we don't have to fight them here.

[Captain Hilts]

13. Pace will still be called in to explain stuff. He won't get off free. nt

[sandnsea]

8. Pace has been responsible

Oh how convenient to dismiss the person who has the information and made the decisions right before Congress has an opportunity to exercise their oversight. The new person can legimately plead ignorance. This is bullshit and I'm shocked so many DUers don't see it for what it is. Congress has been officially dismissed.

[Horse with no Name]

9. Astute observation.

And absolutely correct.:(

[Solly Mack]

10. Yep

Exactly

[Captain Hilts]

14. They STILL have the right to call in Pace for hearings. nt

[sandnsea]

20. But they won't n/t

[babylonsister]

12. Yes, and the failures of this war will be addressed, as Gates noted. nt

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. What about Paris Hilton?

Will there be anyone left of the Bush regime soon? They are dropping like flies!

[sandnsea]

5. We're officially a dictatorship

But never mind that, people driving on a suspended license is soooooo much more important.

We are fucked.

[flyarm]

11. didn't the Joint Chiefs say the surge would not work in december??

I know i remember the Joint Chiefs saying the surge would not work..so now they have to shut Pace up..some thank you he got for his Libby letter!!

I would place bets that Pace wouldn't go along with anything regarding Iran!!

He is probably saying our troops are over- extended and exhausted ..and at the breaking point..

i would call him anyway even if it takes a subpoena!!

fly

[Captain Hilts]

15. Most of the military hierarchy has gone into this war kicking and screaming.

[Nikki Stone1]

16. Hmmm

..K and R

[Swamp Rat]

17. "I don't need no stinkin' Congress no more!.. heh heh!"

... Go on, pinch yourselves!!..







:hide:

[EFerrari]

18. Bingo AND jinx! lol

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1071746#1071853

:hi:

[indepat]

19. I'm sure it was the good Lord who encouraged Misfield to inflict several hundred thousand

casualties displace millions more, and steal Iraq's oil for the benefit of big oil. Yes, these are surely the Lord's wishes for peace on earth and good will toward men.