Admiral Fallon: Petraeus is "an ass-kissing little chickenshit"... "I hate people like that."

A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235

U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge

By Gareth Porter

WASHINGTON, Sep 12 (IPS) -

In sharp contrast to the lionisation of Gen. David Petraeus by members

of the U.S. Congress during his testimony this week, Petraeus's

superior, Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command

(CENTCOM), derided Petraeus as a sycophant during their first meeting

in Baghdad last March, according to Pentagon sources familiar with

reports of the meeting.

Fallon told Petraeus that he considered him to be "an ass-kissing

little chickenshit" and added, "I hate people like that", the sources

say.

That remark reportedly came after Petraeus began the meeting by making

remarks that Fallon interpreted as trying to ingratiate himself with a

superior.

That extraordinarily contentious start of Fallon's mission to Baghdad

led to more meetings marked by acute tension between the two

commanders.

Fallon went on develop his own alternative to Petraeus's

recommendation for continued high levels of U.S. troops in Iraq during

the summer.

The enmity between the two commanders became public knowledge when the

Washington Post reported Sep. 9 on intense conflict within the

administration over Iraq.

The story quoted a senior official as saying that referring to "bad

relations" between them is "the understatement of the century".

Fallon's derision toward Petraeus reflected both the CENTCOM

commander's personal distaste for Petraeus's style of operating and

their fundamental policy differences over Iraq, according to the

sources.

The policy context of Fallon's extraordinarily abrasive treatment of

his subordinate was Petraeus's agreement in February to serve as front

man for the George W. Bush administration's effort to sell its policy

of increasing U.S. troop strength in Iraq to Congress.

In a highly unusual political role for an officer who had not yet

taken command of a war, Petraeus was installed in the office of

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, in early

February just before the Senate debated Bush's troop increase.

According to a report in The Washington Post Feb. 7, senators were

then approached on the floor and invited to go McConnell's office to

hear Petraeus make the case for the surge policy.

Fallon was strongly opposed to Petraeus's role as pitch man for the

surge policy in Iraq adopted by Bush in December as putting his own

interests ahead of a sound military posture in the Middle East and

Southwest Asia -- the area for which Fallon's CENTCOM is responsible.

The CENTCOM commander believed the United States should be withdrawing

troops from Iraq urgently, largely because he saw greater dangers

elsewhere in the region.

"He is very focused on Pakistan," said a source familiar with Fallon's

thinking, "and trying to maintain a difficult status quo with Iran."

By the time Fallon took command of CENTCOM in March, Pakistan had

become the main safe haven for Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda to plan and

carry out its worldwide operations, as well as being an extremely

unstable state with both nuclear weapons and the world's largest

population of Islamic extremists.

Plans for continued high troop levels in Iraq would leave no troops

available for other contingencies in the region.

Fallon was reported by the New York Times to have been determined to

achieve results "as soon as possible".

The notion of a long war, in contrast, seemed to connote an extended

conflict in which Iraq was but a chapter.

Fallon also expressed great scepticism about the basic assumption

underlying the surge strategy, which was that it could pave the way

for political reconciliation in Iraq.

In the lead story Sep. 9, The Washington Post quoted a "senior

administration official" as saying that Fallon had been "saying from

Day One, 'This isn't working.' "

One of Fallon's first moves upon taking command of CENTCOM was to

order his subordinates to avoid the term "long war" -- a phrase Bush

and Secretary of Defence Robert M. Gates had used to describe the

fight against terrorism.

Fallon was signaling his unhappiness with the policy of U.S.

occupation of Iraq for an indeterminate period.

Military sources explained that Fallon was concerned that the concept

of a long war would alienate Middle East publics by suggesting that

U.S. troops would remain in the region indefinitely.

During the summer, according to the Post Sep. 9 report, Fallon began

to develop his own plans for redefine the U.S. mission in Iraq,

including a plan for withdrawal of three-quarters of the U.S. troop

strength by the end of 2009.

The conflict between Fallon and Petraeus over Iraq came to a head in

early September.

According to the Post story, Fallon expressed views on Iraq that were

sharply at odds with those of Petraeus in a three-way conversation

with Bush on Iraq the previous weekend.

Petraeus argued for keeping as many troops in Iraq for as long as

possible to cement any security progress, but Fallon argued that a

strategic withdrawal from Iraq was necessary to have sufficient forces

to deal with other potential threats in the region.

Fallon's presentation to Bush of the case against Petraeus's

recommendation for keeping troop levels in Iraq at the highest

possible level just before Petraeus was to go public with his

recommendations was another sign that Petraeus's role as chief

spokesperson for the surge policy has created a deep rift between him

and the nation's highest military leaders.

Bush presumably would not have chosen to invite an opponent of the

surge policy to make such a presentation without lobbying by the top

brass.

Fallon had a "visceral distaste" for what he regarded as Petraeus's

sycophantic behaviour in general, which had deeper institutional

roots, according to a military source familiar with his thinking.

Fallon is a veteran of 35 years in the Navy, operating in an

institutional culture in which an officer is expected to make enemies

in the process of advancement.

"If you are Navy captain and don't have two or three enemies, you're

not doing your job," says the source.

Fallon acquired a reputation for a willingness to stand up to powerful

figures during his tenure as commander in chief of the Pacific Command

from February 2005 to March 2007.

He pushed hard for a conciliatory line toward and China, which put him

in conflict with senior military and civilian officials with a vested

interest in pointing to China as a future rival and threat.

He demonstrated his independence from the White House when he refused

in February to go along with a proposal to send a third naval carrier

task force to the Persian Gulf, as reported by IPS in May.

Fallon questioned the military necessity for the move, which would

have signaled to Iran a readiness to go to war.

Fallon also privately vowed that there would be no war against Iran on

his watch, implying that he would quit rather than accept such a

policy.

A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

He was assistant executive officer to the Army Chief of Staff, Gen.

Carl Vuono, and later executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint

Chiefs, Gen. Henry Shelton.

His experience taught him that cultivating senior officers is the key

to success.

The contrasting styles of the two men converged with their conflict

over Iraq to produce one of the most intense clashes between U.S.

military leaders in recent history.

___________________________________________________

Gareth Porter is an historian and national security policy analyst.

His latest book, "Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road

to War in Vietnam", was published in June 2005.

Harry

On Sep 12, 9:30 pm, Harry Hope <riv...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

> A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

> http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235

>

> U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge

>

> By Gareth Porter

>

> WASHINGTON, Sep 12 (IPS) -

>

> In sharp contrast to the lionisation of Gen. David Petraeus by members

> of the U.S. Congress during his testimony this week, Petraeus's

> superior, Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command

> (CENTCOM), derided Petraeus as a sycophant during their first meeting

> in Baghdad last March, according to Pentagon sources familiar with

> reports of the meeting.

>

> Fallon told Petraeus that he considered him to be "an ass-kissing

> little chickenshit" and added, "I hate people like that", the sources

> say.

That guy is a jerk. The White House loves him and knew Petraeus

could write an unbiased report. Look at the lovefest from the WH back

in July 2004:

"These boosters include many in the White House. "People's body

language shifts" when they talk about Petraeus there, says one

official. Yet critics regard Petraeus as one of a type they call

"perfumed princes," a derisive term for officers who have advanced

from one staff job to another, essentially working as efficient

courtiers to the four-stars.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5305713/site/newsweek/

Here is a lanother ink for you. At this one you get to see clips of

the unbiased Petraeus making the exact same points as Bush does.

>From the Daily Show

Look at 5min to 5:45

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Jon_Stewart_Daily_Show_covers_General_0912.html

Topset72

In article <bl4he3dmhpuje8b5updm39ch08f7pec1gm@4ax.com>

Harry Hope <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

>

>

> A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

>

> http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235

>

> U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge

>

> By Gareth Porter

>

> WASHINGTON, Sep 12 (IPS) -

>

> In sharp contrast to the lionisation of Gen. David Petraeus by members

> of the U.S. Congress during his testimony this week, Petraeus's

> superior, Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command

> (CENTCOM), derided Petraeus as a sycophant during their first meeting

> in Baghdad last March, according to Pentagon sources familiar with

> reports of the meeting.

>

> Fallon told Petraeus that he considered him to be "an ass-kissing

> little chickenshit" and added, "I hate people like that", the sources

> say.

>

> That remark reportedly came after Petraeus began the meeting by making

> remarks that Fallon interpreted as trying to ingratiate himself with a

> superior.

>

> That extraordinarily contentious start of Fallon's mission to Baghdad

> led to more meetings marked by acute tension between the two

> commanders.

>

> Fallon went on develop his own alternative to Petraeus's

> recommendation for continued high levels of U.S. troops in Iraq during

> the summer.

>

> The enmity between the two commanders became public knowledge when the

> Washington Post reported Sep. 9 on intense conflict within the

> administration over Iraq.

>

> The story quoted a senior official as saying that referring to "bad

> relations" between them is "the understatement of the century".

>

> Fallon's derision toward Petraeus reflected both the CENTCOM

> commander's personal distaste for Petraeus's style of operating and

> their fundamental policy differences over Iraq, according to the

> sources.

>

> The policy context of Fallon's extraordinarily abrasive treatment of

> his subordinate was Petraeus's agreement in February to serve as front

> man for the George W. Bush administration's effort to sell its policy

> of increasing U.S. troop strength in Iraq to Congress.

>

> In a highly unusual political role for an officer who had not yet

> taken command of a war, Petraeus was installed in the office of

> Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, in early

> February just before the Senate debated Bush's troop increase.

>

> According to a report in The Washington Post Feb. 7, senators were

> then approached on the floor and invited to go McConnell's office to

> hear Petraeus make the case for the surge policy.

>

> Fallon was strongly opposed to Petraeus's role as pitch man for the

> surge policy in Iraq adopted by Bush in December as putting his own

> interests ahead of a sound military posture in the Middle East and

> Southwest Asia -- the area for which Fallon's CENTCOM is responsible.

>

> The CENTCOM commander believed the United States should be withdrawing

> troops from Iraq urgently, largely because he saw greater dangers

> elsewhere in the region.

>

> "He is very focused on Pakistan," said a source familiar with Fallon's

> thinking, "and trying to maintain a difficult status quo with Iran."

>

> By the time Fallon took command of CENTCOM in March, Pakistan had

> become the main safe haven for Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda to plan and

> carry out its worldwide operations, as well as being an extremely

> unstable state with both nuclear weapons and the world's largest

> population of Islamic extremists.

>

> Plans for continued high troop levels in Iraq would leave no troops

> available for other contingencies in the region.

>

> Fallon was reported by the New York Times to have been determined to

> achieve results "as soon as possible".

>

> The notion of a long war, in contrast, seemed to connote an extended

> conflict in which Iraq was but a chapter.

>

> Fallon also expressed great scepticism about the basic assumption

> underlying the surge strategy, which was that it could pave the way

> for political reconciliation in Iraq.

>

> In the lead story Sep. 9, The Washington Post quoted a "senior

> administration official" as saying that Fallon had been "saying from

> Day One, 'This isn't working.' "

>

> One of Fallon's first moves upon taking command of CENTCOM was to

> order his subordinates to avoid the term "long war" -- a phrase Bush

> and Secretary of Defence Robert M. Gates had used to describe the

> fight against terrorism.

>

> Fallon was signaling his unhappiness with the policy of U.S.

> occupation of Iraq for an indeterminate period.

>

> Military sources explained that Fallon was concerned that the concept

> of a long war would alienate Middle East publics by suggesting that

> U.S. troops would remain in the region indefinitely.

>

> During the summer, according to the Post Sep. 9 report, Fallon began

> to develop his own plans for redefine the U.S. mission in Iraq,

> including a plan for withdrawal of three-quarters of the U.S. troop

> strength by the end of 2009.

>

> The conflict between Fallon and Petraeus over Iraq came to a head in

> early September.

>

> According to the Post story, Fallon expressed views on Iraq that were

> sharply at odds with those of Petraeus in a three-way conversation

> with Bush on Iraq the previous weekend.

>

> Petraeus argued for keeping as many troops in Iraq for as long as

> possible to cement any security progress, but Fallon argued that a

> strategic withdrawal from Iraq was necessary to have sufficient forces

> to deal with other potential threats in the region.

>

> Fallon's presentation to Bush of the case against Petraeus's

> recommendation for keeping troop levels in Iraq at the highest

> possible level just before Petraeus was to go public with his

> recommendations was another sign that Petraeus's role as chief

> spokesperson for the surge policy has created a deep rift between him

> and the nation's highest military leaders.

>

> Bush presumably would not have chosen to invite an opponent of the

> surge policy to make such a presentation without lobbying by the top

> brass.

>

> Fallon had a "visceral distaste" for what he regarded as Petraeus's

> sycophantic behaviour in general, which had deeper institutional

> roots, according to a military source familiar with his thinking.

>

> Fallon is a veteran of 35 years in the Navy, operating in an

> institutional culture in which an officer is expected to make enemies

> in the process of advancement.

>

> "If you are Navy captain and don't have two or three enemies, you're

> not doing your job," says the source.

>

> Fallon acquired a reputation for a willingness to stand up to powerful

> figures during his tenure as commander in chief of the Pacific Command

> from February 2005 to March 2007.

>

> He pushed hard for a conciliatory line toward and China, which put him

> in conflict with senior military and civilian officials with a vested

> interest in pointing to China as a future rival and threat.

>

> He demonstrated his independence from the White House when he refused

> in February to go along with a proposal to send a third naval carrier

> task force to the Persian Gulf, as reported by IPS in May.

>

> Fallon questioned the military necessity for the move, which would

> have signaled to Iran a readiness to go to war.

>

> Fallon also privately vowed that there would be no war against Iran on

> his watch, implying that he would quit rather than accept such a

> policy.

>

> A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

> He was assistant executive officer to the Army Chief of Staff, Gen.

> Carl Vuono, and later executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint

> Chiefs, Gen. Henry Shelton.

>

> His experience taught him that cultivating senior officers is the key

> to success.

>

> The contrasting styles of the two men converged with their conflict

> over Iraq to produce one of the most intense clashes between U.S.

> military leaders in recent history.

>

> ___________________________________________________

>

> Gareth Porter is an historian and national security policy analyst.

> His latest book, "Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road

> to War in Vietnam", was published in June 2005.

>

Wow.

THAT's certainly an eye-opener.

I guess the Bush-bots are gonna havta "Swift-boat" Fallon, now.

Can't let Petraeus' boss interfere with "the mission".

On Sep 13, 12:17 am, Ragna...@remailer.metacolo.com wrote:

> In article <bl4he3dmhpuje8b5updm39ch08f7pec...@4ax.com>

>

>

>

>

>

> Harry Hope <riv...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

>

> > A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> > the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

> >http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235

>

> > U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge

>

> > By Gareth Porter

>

> > WASHINGTON, Sep 12 (IPS) -

>

> > In sharp contrast to the lionisation of Gen. David Petraeus by members

> > of the U.S. Congress during his testimony this week, Petraeus's

> > superior, Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command

> > (CENTCOM), derided Petraeus as a sycophant during their first meeting

> > in Baghdad last March, according to Pentagon sources familiar with

> > reports of the meeting.

>

> > Fallon told Petraeus that he considered him to be "an ass-kissing

> > little chickenshit" and added, "I hate people like that", the sources

> > say.

>

> > That remark reportedly came after Petraeus began the meeting by making

> > remarks that Fallon interpreted as trying to ingratiate himself with a

> > superior.

>

> > That extraordinarily contentious start of Fallon's mission to Baghdad

> > led to more meetings marked by acute tension between the two

> > commanders.

>

> > Fallon went on develop his own alternative to Petraeus's

> > recommendation for continued high levels of U.S. troops in Iraq during

> > the summer.

>

> > The enmity between the two commanders became public knowledge when the

> > Washington Post reported Sep. 9 on intense conflict within the

> > administration over Iraq.

>

> > The story quoted a senior official as saying that referring to "bad

> > relations" between them is "the understatement of the century".

>

> > Fallon's derision toward Petraeus reflected both the CENTCOM

> > commander's personal distaste for Petraeus's style of operating and

> > their fundamental policy differences over Iraq, according to the

> > sources.

>

> > The policy context of Fallon's extraordinarily abrasive treatment of

> > his subordinate was Petraeus's agreement in February to serve as front

> > man for the George W. Bush administration's effort to sell its policy

> > of increasing U.S. troop strength in Iraq to Congress.

>

> > In a highly unusual political role for an officer who had not yet

> > taken command of a war, Petraeus was installed in the office of

> > Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, in early

> > February just before the Senate debated Bush's troop increase.

>

> > According to a report in The Washington Post Feb. 7, senators were

> > then approached on the floor and invited to go McConnell's office to

> > hear Petraeus make the case for the surge policy.

>

> > Fallon was strongly opposed to Petraeus's role as pitch man for the

> > surge policy in Iraq adopted by Bush in December as putting his own

> > interests ahead of a sound military posture in the Middle East and

> > Southwest Asia -- the area for which Fallon's CENTCOM is responsible.

>

> > The CENTCOM commander believed the United States should be withdrawing

> > troops from Iraq urgently, largely because he saw greater dangers

> > elsewhere in the region.

>

> > "He is very focused on Pakistan," said a source familiar with Fallon's

> > thinking, "and trying to maintain a difficult status quo with Iran."

>

> > By the time Fallon took command of CENTCOM in March, Pakistan had

> > become the main safe haven for Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda to plan and

> > carry out its worldwide operations, as well as being an extremely

> > unstable state with both nuclear weapons and the world's largest

> > population of Islamic extremists.

>

> > Plans for continued high troop levels in Iraq would leave no troops

> > available for other contingencies in the region.

>

> > Fallon was reported by the New York Times to have been determined to

> > achieve results "as soon as possible".

>

> > The notion of a long war, in contrast, seemed to connote an extended

> > conflict in which Iraq was but a chapter.

>

> > Fallon also expressed great scepticism about the basic assumption

> > underlying the surge strategy, which was that it could pave the way

> > for political reconciliation in Iraq.

>

> > In the lead story Sep. 9, The Washington Post quoted a "senior

> > administration official" as saying that Fallon had been "saying from

> > Day One, 'This isn't working.' "

>

> > One of Fallon's first moves upon taking command of CENTCOM was to

> > order his subordinates to avoid the term "long war" -- a phrase Bush

> > and Secretary of Defence Robert M. Gates had used to describe the

> > fight against terrorism.

>

> > Fallon was signaling his unhappiness with the policy of U.S.

> > occupation of Iraq for an indeterminate period.

>

> > Military sources explained that Fallon was concerned that the concept

> > of a long war would alienate Middle East publics by suggesting that

> > U.S. troops would remain in the region indefinitely.

>

> > During the summer, according to the Post Sep. 9 report, Fallon began

> > to develop his own plans for redefine the U.S. mission in Iraq,

> > including a plan for withdrawal of three-quarters of the U.S. troop

> > strength by the end of 2009.

>

> > The conflict between Fallon and Petraeus over Iraq came to a head in

> > early September.

>

> > According to the Post story, Fallon expressed views on Iraq that were

> > sharply at odds with those of Petraeus in a three-way conversation

> > with Bush on Iraq the previous weekend.

>

> > Petraeus argued for keeping as many troops in Iraq for as long as

> > possible to cement any security progress, but Fallon argued that a

> > strategic withdrawal from Iraq was necessary to have sufficient forces

> > to deal with other potential threats in the region.

>

> > Fallon's presentation to Bush of the case against Petraeus's

> > recommendation for keeping troop levels in Iraq at the highest

> > possible level just before Petraeus was to go public with his

> > recommendations was another sign that Petraeus's role as chief

> > spokesperson for the surge policy has created a deep rift between him

> > and the nation's highest military leaders.

>

> > Bush presumably would not have chosen to invite an opponent of the

> > surge policy to make such a presentation without lobbying by the top

> > brass.

>

> > Fallon had a "visceral distaste" for what he regarded as Petraeus's

> > sycophantic behaviour in general, which had deeper institutional

> > roots, according to a military source familiar with his thinking.

>

> > Fallon is a veteran of 35 years in the Navy, operating in an

> > institutional culture in which an officer is expected to make enemies

> > in the process of advancement.

>

> > "If you are Navy captain and don't have two or three enemies, you're

> > not doing your job," says the source.

>

> > Fallon acquired a reputation for a willingness to stand up to powerful

> > figures during his tenure as commander in chief of the Pacific Command

> > from February 2005 to March 2007.

>

> > He pushed hard for a conciliatory line toward and China, which put him

> > in conflict with senior military and civilian officials with a vested

> > interest in pointing to China as a future rival and threat.

>

> > He demonstrated his independence from the White House when he refused

> > in February to go along with a proposal to send a third naval carrier

> > task force to the Persian Gulf, as reported by IPS in May.

>

> > Fallon questioned the military necessity for the move, which would

> > have signaled to Iran a readiness to go to war.

>

> > Fallon also privately vowed that there would be no war against Iran on

> > his watch, implying that he would quit rather than accept such a

> > policy.

>

> > A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> > the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

> > He was assistant executive officer to the Army Chief of Staff, Gen.

> > Carl Vuono, and later executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint

> > Chiefs, Gen. Henry Shelton.

>

> > His experience taught him that cultivating senior officers is the key

> > to success.

>

> > The contrasting styles of the two men converged with their conflict

> > over Iraq to produce one of the most intense clashes between U.S.

> > military leaders in recent history.

>

> > ___________________________________________________

>

> > Gareth Porter is an historian and national security policy analyst.

> > His latest book, "Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road

> > to War in Vietnam", was published in June 2005.

>

> Wow.

>

> THAT's certainly an eye-opener.

>

> I guess the Bush-bots are gonna havta "Swift-boat" Fallon, now.

>

> Can't let Petraeus' boss interfere with "the mission".- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

What I do not understand is WHY BetrayUS has LITERALLY hitched his

ass to a falling star like AWOL Georgie?

I mean you just know the next Democrat who wins in 2008 is going to

Shit Can his ass...BIGTIME!!!

On Sep 12, 6:30 pm, Harry Hope <riv...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

> A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

> http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235

>

> U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge

>

> By Gareth Porter

>

> WASHINGTON, Sep 12 (IPS) -

>

> In sharp contrast to the lionisation of Gen. David Petraeus by members

> of the U.S. Congress during his testimony this week, Petraeus's

> superior, Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command

> (CENTCOM), derided Petraeus as a sycophant during their first meeting

> in Baghdad last March, according to Pentagon sources familiar with

> reports of the meeting.

>

> Fallon told Petraeus that he considered him to be "an ass-kissing

> little chickenshit" and added, "I hate people like that", the sources

> say.

>

> That remark reportedly came after Petraeus began the meeting by making

> remarks that Fallon interpreted as trying to ingratiate himself with a

> superior.

>

> That extraordinarily contentious start of Fallon's mission to Baghdad

> led to more meetings marked by acute tension between the two

> commanders.

>

> Fallon went on develop his own alternative to Petraeus's

> recommendation for continued high levels of U.S. troops in Iraq during

> the summer.

>

> The enmity between the two commanders became public knowledge when the

> Washington Post reported Sep. 9 on intense conflict within the

> administration over Iraq.

>

> The story quoted a senior official as saying that referring to "bad

> relations" between them is "the understatement of the century".

>

> Fallon's derision toward Petraeus reflected both the CENTCOM

> commander's personal distaste for Petraeus's style of operating and

> their fundamental policy differences over Iraq, according to the

> sources.

>

> The policy context of Fallon's extraordinarily abrasive treatment of

> his subordinate was Petraeus's agreement in February to serve as front

> man for the George W. Bush administration's effort to sell its policy

> of increasing U.S. troop strength in Iraq to Congress.

>

> In a highly unusual political role for an officer who had not yet

> taken command of a war, Petraeus was installed in the office of

> Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, in early

> February just before the Senate debated Bush's troop increase.

>

> According to a report in The Washington Post Feb. 7, senators were

> then approached on the floor and invited to go McConnell's office to

> hear Petraeus make the case for the surge policy.

>

> Fallon was strongly opposed to Petraeus's role as pitch man for the

> surge policy in Iraq adopted by Bush in December as putting his own

> interests ahead of a sound military posture in the Middle East and

> Southwest Asia -- the area for which Fallon's CENTCOM is responsible.

>

> The CENTCOM commander believed the United States should be withdrawing

> troops from Iraq urgently, largely because he saw greater dangers

> elsewhere in the region.

>

> "He is very focused on Pakistan," said a source familiar with Fallon's

> thinking, "and trying to maintain a difficult status quo with Iran."

>

> By the time Fallon took command of CENTCOM in March, Pakistan had

> become the main safe haven for Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda to plan and

> carry out its worldwide operations, as well as being an extremely

> unstable state with both nuclear weapons and the world's largest

> population of Islamic extremists.

>

> Plans for continued high troop levels in Iraq would leave no troops

> available for other contingencies in the region.

>

> Fallon was reported by the New York Times to have been determined to

> achieve results "as soon as possible".

>

> The notion of a long war, in contrast, seemed to connote an extended

> conflict in which Iraq was but a chapter.

>

> Fallon also expressed great scepticism about the basic assumption

> underlying the surge strategy, which was that it could pave the way

> for political reconciliation in Iraq.

>

> In the lead story Sep. 9, The Washington Post quoted a "senior

> administration official" as saying that Fallon had been "saying from

> Day One, 'This isn't working.' "

>

> One of Fallon's first moves upon taking command of CENTCOM was to

> order his subordinates to avoid the term "long war" -- a phrase Bush

> and Secretary of Defence Robert M. Gates had used to describe the

> fight against terrorism.

>

> Fallon was signaling his unhappiness with the policy of U.S.

> occupation of Iraq for an indeterminate period.

>

> Military sources explained that Fallon was concerned that the concept

> of a long war would alienate Middle East publics by suggesting that

> U.S. troops would remain in the region indefinitely.

>

> During the summer, according to the Post Sep. 9 report, Fallon began

> to develop his own plans for redefine the U.S. mission in Iraq,

> including a plan for withdrawal of three-quarters of the U.S. troop

> strength by the end of 2009.

>

> The conflict between Fallon and Petraeus over Iraq came to a head in

> early September.

>

> According to the Post story, Fallon expressed views on Iraq that were

> sharply at odds with those of Petraeus in a three-way conversation

> with Bush on Iraq the previous weekend.

>

> Petraeus argued for keeping as many troops in Iraq for as long as

> possible to cement any security progress, but Fallon argued that a

> strategic withdrawal from Iraq was necessary to have sufficient forces

> to deal with other potential threats in the region.

>

> Fallon's presentation to Bush of the case against Petraeus's

> recommendation for keeping troop levels in Iraq at the highest

> possible level just before Petraeus was to go public with his

> recommendations was another sign that Petraeus's role as chief

> spokesperson for the surge policy has created a deep rift between him

> and the nation's highest military leaders.

>

> Bush presumably would not have chosen to invite an opponent of the

> surge policy to make such a presentation without lobbying by the top

> brass.

>

> Fallon had a "visceral distaste" for what he regarded as Petraeus's

> sycophantic behaviour in general, which had deeper institutional

> roots, according to a military source familiar with his thinking.

>

> Fallon is a veteran of 35 years in the Navy, operating in an

> institutional culture in which an officer is expected to make enemies

> in the process of advancement.

>

> "If you are Navy captain and don't have two or three enemies, you're

> not doing your job," says the source.

>

> Fallon acquired a reputation for a willingness to stand up to powerful

> figures during his tenure as commander in chief of the Pacific Command

> from February 2005 to March 2007.

>

> He pushed hard for a conciliatory line toward and China, which put him

> in conflict with senior military and civilian officials with a vested

> interest in pointing to China as a future rival and threat.

>

> He demonstrated his independence from the White House when he refused

> in February to go along with a proposal to send a third naval carrier

> task force to the Persian Gulf, as reported by IPS in May.

>

> Fallon questioned the military necessity for the move, which would

> have signaled to Iran a readiness to go to war.

>

> Fallon also privately vowed that there would be no war against Iran on

> his watch, implying that he would quit rather than accept such a

> policy.

>

> A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

> He was assistant executive officer to the Army Chief of Staff, Gen.

> Carl Vuono, and later executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint

> Chiefs, Gen. Henry Shelton.

>

> His experience taught him that cultivating senior officers is the key

> to success.

>

> The contrasting styles of the two men converged with their conflict

> over Iraq to produce one of the most intense clashes between U.S.

> military leaders in recent history.

>

> ___________________________________________________

>

> Gareth Porter is an historian and national security policy analyst.

> His latest book, "Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road

> to War in Vietnam", was published in June 2005.

>

> Harry

The more I see of Fallon, the more I like him, given everything is

legitimate.

THIS is the kind of man I can get behind....

On Sep 13, 9:46 am, "Bob Eld" <nsmontas...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> "Harry Hope" <riv...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message

>

> news:bl4he3dmhpuje8b5updm39ch08f7pec1gm@4ax.com...

>

>

>

>

>

> > A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> > the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

> >http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235

>

> > U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge

>

> > By Gareth Porter

>

> > WASHINGTON, Sep 12 (IPS) -

>

> > In sharp contrast to the lionisation of Gen. David Petraeus by members

> > of the U.S. Congress during his testimony this week, Petraeus's

> > superior, Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command

> > (CENTCOM), derided Petraeus as a sycophant during their first meeting

> > in Baghdad last March, according to Pentagon sources familiar with

> > reports of the meeting.

>

> > Fallon told Petraeus that he considered him to be "an ass-kissing

> > little chickenshit" and added, "I hate people like that", the sources

> > say.

>

> > That remark reportedly came after Petraeus began the meeting by making

> > remarks that Fallon interpreted as trying to ingratiate himself with a

> > superior.

>

> snip......

>

> Can Fallon survive Bush. While Petraeus is ass kissing Bush and McConnell,

> Fallon may be making enemies in the WH. Will Fallon wind up under the Bus

> like past military leaders who didn't agree with Bush?

>

> Clearly Petraeus is ass kissing in the halls of the Republican party because

> he wants to run for President. He is now greasing the skids to make a slide

> into a nomination more possible. Look for him to run in 2012.- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

On Sep 13, 9:46 am, "Bob Eld" <nsmontas...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> "Harry Hope" <riv...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message

>

> news:bl4he3dmhpuje8b5updm39ch08f7pec1gm@4ax.com...

>

>

>

>

>

> > A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> > the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

> >http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235

>

> > U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge

>

> > By Gareth Porter

>

> > WASHINGTON, Sep 12 (IPS) -

>

> > In sharp contrast to the lionisation of Gen. David Petraeus by members

> > of the U.S. Congress during his testimony this week, Petraeus's

> > superior, Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command

> > (CENTCOM), derided Petraeus as a sycophant during their first meeting

> > in Baghdad last March, according to Pentagon sources familiar with

> > reports of the meeting.

>

> > Fallon told Petraeus that he considered him to be "an ass-kissing

> > little chickenshit" and added, "I hate people like that", the sources

> > say.

>

> > That remark reportedly came after Petraeus began the meeting by making

> > remarks that Fallon interpreted as trying to ingratiate himself with a

> > superior.

>

> snip......

>

> Can Fallon survive Bush. While Petraeus is ass kissing Bush and McConnell,

> Fallon may be making enemies in the WH. Will Fallon wind up under the Bus

> like past military leaders who didn't agree with Bush?

>

> Clearly Petraeus is ass kissing in the halls of the Republican party because

> he wants to run for President. He is now greasing the skids to make a slide

> into a nomination more possible. Look for him to run in 2012.- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

The surprise goes back a few years. How Bill Fallon became an Admiral

was a surprise, and how he became CENTCOM in an administration known

for seeking out cronies and toadies and promoting them to positions of

responsbility is a greater one. Bill Fallon is one of the few high-

ranking officers who has, from time to time, told truth to power,

regardless of consequences to his career.

Contrast that with both Petraeus and Powell, both of whom got their

stars by spouting the party line and kissing up to seniors, in uniform

and out.

Petraeus' record is particularly questionable. Most competent officers

seek independent command, where they are free to exercise discretion

and gain promotion by capable leadership. They generally hate staff

officers and don't apply for staff jobs. Petraeus is the opposite,

loving staff jobs and becoming close with seniors. The word

"sycophant" may have been coined with his personality-type in mind,

--as ever, Russ

"Harry Hope" <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message

news:bl4he3dmhpuje8b5updm39ch08f7pec1gm@4ax.com...

>

> A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

>

> http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235

>

> U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge

>

> By Gareth Porter

>

> WASHINGTON, Sep 12 (IPS) -

>

> In sharp contrast to the lionisation of Gen. David Petraeus by members

> of the U.S. Congress during his testimony this week, Petraeus's

> superior, Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command

> (CENTCOM), derided Petraeus as a sycophant during their first meeting

> in Baghdad last March, according to Pentagon sources familiar with

> reports of the meeting.

>

> Fallon told Petraeus that he considered him to be "an ass-kissing

> little chickenshit" and added, "I hate people like that", the sources

> say.

>

> That remark reportedly came after Petraeus began the meeting by making

> remarks that Fallon interpreted as trying to ingratiate himself with a

> superior.

>

snip......

Can Fallon survive Bush. While Petraeus is ass kissing Bush and McConnell,

Fallon may be making enemies in the WH. Will Fallon wind up under the Bus

like past military leaders who didn't agree with Bush?

Clearly Petraeus is ass kissing in the halls of the Republican party because

he wants to run for President. He is now greasing the skids to make a slide

into a nomination more possible. Look for him to run in 2012.

rbbomber@netzero.com wrote:

>

> Contrast that with both Petraeus and Powell, both of whom got their

> stars by spouting the party line and kissing up to seniors, in uniform

> and out.

Have truer words ever been written?

--

Impeach Bush

http://zzpat.bravehost.com

Impeach Search Engine

http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=012146513885108216046:rzesyut3kmm

Looks more like the Navy has a closet-liberal in it's admiral ranks.

I thought Bush was such a partisan conservative, he had all those types

purged as part of the un-Constitutional Homeland Security stuff.

I guess that ain't the case, as Bush still allows Harry Reid to mouth off

every day like the good little anti-American, closet-islamist he is.

Harry Hope wrote:

> A crucial element of Petraeus's path of advancement in the Army, on

> the other hand, was through serving as an aide to senior generals.

>

>

> http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235

>

> U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge

>

>

>

Since we know Iraq was never part of the war on terror and instead was a

war the GOP used against Democrats, it's safe to say Petraeus is as

worthless as they come. While I disagree with any wars that aren't

absolutely necessary, it seems prudent to keep our forces available to

fight real wars instead of made-for-tv wars like the Iraqi conflict.

Therefore, I reluctantly side with Admiral William Fallon.

--

Pat

Impeach Bush

http://zzpat.bravehost.com/

Articles of Impeachment

Center for Constitutional Rights

http://zzpat.bravehost.com/april_2006/articles_of_impeachment.html

In article <3LeGi.16797$d01.6373@trnddc08>

"Docky Wocky" <mrchuck@lst.net> wrote:

>

> Looks more like the Navy has a closet-liberal in it's admiral ranks.

>

> I thought Bush was such a partisan conservative, he had all those types

> purged as part of the un-Constitutional Homeland Security stuff.

He tried.

But as with everything else he's ever attempted, he screwed it up.

On Sep 13, 5:36 pm, Ragna...@remailer.metacolo.com wrote:

> In article <3LeGi.16797$d01.6373@trnddc08>

>

> "Docky Wocky" <mrch...@lst.net> wrote:

>

> > Looks more like the Navy has a closet-liberal in it's admiral ranks.

>

> > I thought Bush was such a partisan conservative, he had all those types

> > purged as part of the un-Constitutional Homeland Security stuff.

>

> He tried.

>

> But as with everything else he's ever attempted, he screwed it up.

fallon is correct, betrayus is a chickenhawk piece of shit like bush

and all fucked up loser stupid repigs like horatio who fucks his own

grandchildren

In article <lqlje3drnkrrj9pgckqlif0nvn6uf7fn1q@4ax.com>,

some nameless asshole wrote:

> Liberals are good at forgeries and publishing unidentified

> sources articles as fact. If they're unidentified sources

> you don't have to have proof. Right ? Liberals have

> more unidentified sources than carter has little liver pills.

In contrast, we all heard Petraeus admit that he did not know whether

the war in Iraq had made America any safer. Any response to that,

nameless asshole? In your estimation does that make Petraeus an

ass-kissing little chickenshit, or something worse?