War Czar poll on CNN

[panader0]

Will Gen Douglas Lute make a positive difference in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? (Not exact quote)
85% No 15% Yes with over 30,000 votes so far.
bush is hoping to defer blame again......
www.cnn.com

[williesgirl]

1. Still 85% "no" - recommended

[bdamomma]

2. we should all know by know, how * does not want to accept

blame for anything, now he has Petreaus and Lute, will they bow down before * and grant *'s wishes of continuous war??

[Kagemusha]

3. There was this Daily Kos diary on this guy having "power to order the military."

I looked into it a little and quickly discovered that this was total BS. It's an advisory position; it's not even at the level of the National Security Advisor, but rather, a deputy to the guy (Hadley - yes, that Hadley) tasked with co-ordinating. He's just there to take pressure off Hadley and people like the CIA director who don't want to be bothered with Iraq anymore when they have other parts of the world to worry about and blame to deflect. There's absolutely no prospect of this Lute guy actually giving orders that would actually be obeyed on the basis of his personal authority. He will advise and cross his fingers as to whether or not anyone listens. And, maybe he'll study the matter and be smart about it, but, will anyone care? Doubt it. Cheney's still in office after all.

There is a constitutional position empowering one individual to co-ordinate between different agencies during the course of a foreign conflict. That position is called The President of the United States.

[karlrschneider]

9. Heard someone this morning say he's a Lt. General...which is a 3 star

isn't Betrayus a 4? How the hell can a lower-ranked guy be "over" a higher one?
:wtf:

[sarge43]

10. "power to order the military" Please

He's a three star bureaucrat 'ordering' four star corps commanders? They'll either ignore him or tell him to squat and spin. "There's nothing quite like God on earth as a general on a battlefield."

[Kagemusha]

11. I've heard Gates finds the idea rather amusing as well

So yeah, I don't really see this working out all that well.

[sarge43]

13. Oh my, when the SecDef finds you rather amusing, you're

pretty much screwed. Well, he'll get a nice office, a staff, a minimum of deference around the Five Sided Circus and maybe another star. Then, he can bail. What he probably won't do is make a jot worth of difference.

[goclark]

4. Did I miss it?

[asjr]

5. I may be crazy but is this a

set-up? Shrub says he listens to his generals. Is this guy, Lute, going to tell him to get out of Iraq and then Shrub can say he ended the war on the advice of his generals, thus save face?

[panader0]

7. Gen Lute was said to be an opponent of the "surge"

[Kagemusha]

15. He obviously isn't in this job because he has an excess of self-respect.

This is just one more sign.

[leftwingnut]

6. Well if the question is about "positive difference"...

I might have to vote Yes. I mean ANYTHING is a positive difference regarding Iraq over (the) Shrub.

But is he actually going to "succeed" as defined by the WH? Hell NO!!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. 85% NO 15% yes

Will the White House's newly hired war manager have a positive impact in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Yes

15%
6160 votes

No

85%
33812 votes
Total: 39972 votes

[kimmylavin]

12. 85% and 15% still.

Little over 42,000 votes.

[GliderGuider]

14. somebody didn't like the way it was going

Poll question that I saw:

Do you think Jacques Chirac will be remembered as a great statesman?
Yes
No