Petraeus today: Inappropriate

[LuckyTheDog]

Has it occurred to anyone else that Bush is using David Petraeus in a very inappropriate way?

He is a general, not a political appointee. Petraeus' role is to advise the president behind closed doors and to follow orders. Period.

Petraeus has no business advocating for the president on Capitol Hill or doing anything related to influencing policy. Petraeus should limit his remarks to discussion of the tactical situation. Anything else is a matter of policy, which is under the control of civilians.

Questions about the strategic goals of the Iraqi occupation and other policy issues should be handled by the secretary of defense or the president himself.

Whatever one thinks about the Iraqi occupation or Petraeus, one thing is clear: Civilians are now and always should be the ones setting policy. Generals should stay out of it, except in private, with the president. It is inappropriate for a career military officer to become a public advocate for policy or to seek to influence the debate in Congress or in the public arena. The generals should leave politics to others.

[hlthe2b]

1. Like the fully uniformed current head of the CIA?

We really are a Banana Republic...

[niyad]

2. the fact that he is allowing himself to be used is despicable. no sense of honour, no sense

of his obligation to his oaths and his service. just as despicable as colin powell.

[lutefisk]

3. I agree, but everything about the Bush Regime is inappropriate

So this this type of thing doesn't surprise anymore.

The purge of the upper ranks of the military has been disgusting. Fewer and fewer honorable men and women left...

[bdamomma]

4. just another tool.

and I question his ideological concepts too, is he like bush too, good vs evil, views Islam as evil, and the list goes on and on.

[nashville_brook]

5. this was a major criticism during his last cheerleading tour.

right you are -- this is unseemly.

[atreides1]

6. But Petraeus likes it

Besides, his advocacy of Bush's agenda gives it credibility, and all the talking heads get to say that if Petraeus is for it then it's a good policy.

Petraeus' loyalty is to Bush, not America and definitely not the US Constitution!

[NewJeffCT]

7. I'm sure military personnel before Petraeus have testified before Congress

so, I don't think it's a big deal that he is testifying.

However, he is clearly being used as a political pawn by Team Bush because if you question him too hard, you'll have a week's worth of the media bashing the Dems as hating our troops because they asked too many tough questions.

[LuckyTheDog]

8. The testimony per say is not the issue

Congress has every right to call him to answer any questions they like. They SHOULD do that. But the thing here is that Petraeus is taking on a clearly political role.