Bolten: Bush Is "Not The Decider" But Petraeus Is The "Magic Judger"

[kpete]

Leadership in Iraq
JIM LEHRER: Mr. Bolten, how did we get into a situation where one general named Petraeus has suddenly become the master whatever, the master decider as to what is happening on the ground in Iraq?

JOSHUA BOLTEN: Well, he's not the decider.

JIM LEHRER: OK. Bad choice of words.

JOSHUA BOLTEN: He's the commander on the ground.

JIM LEHRER: I withdraw the word.

JOSHUA BOLTEN: Withdrawal permitted.

JIM LEHRER: OK, magic judger, all right? I mean, the man who said, "OK, it's working or it's not working." If Petraeus says it, everybody has to believe it. If everybody else, if everybody -- I'll stop right there. How did we get to that place?

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/white_house/july-dec07/bolten_09-05.html